Explore Ireland - Ep. 14 - Lough Key Forest & Activity Park - Part 1

Failte and Welcome to Eire Rider my name is Ben.
This Episode will take us to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
Lough Key Forest and land comprised 2400 acres back when the lands were occupied by the King family who were a prominent family in this area and Kings house in Boyle was the family home before moving to Kingston Hall on Castle Island in 1771.
In 1809/10 Lord Lorton commissioned the great architect John Nash to build what would become Rockingham House.
The entire estate cost a whopping £400 000 back in the day which is around €30m today!
Sadly the house is no more due to a Electrical fire in 1957 and we only see the basement foundations with the tunnels leading to the upper basement floor.
The Moylurg tower was erected in 1973 over the existing site and is named after the Kings of Moylurg who once ruled these lands many years ago.
The lands we see today are around 800 hectares as some of the land was sold to the department of forestry.
Lough Key park is full of interesting places and they have made some tours you can take to explore the area.
I took the Remembering Rockingham house tour which cost €10. (I was not sponsored for the making of this episode)
The attractions are the park include the following:
Zip Line adventure
Boat rental
Remembering Rockingham house which includes a Tree top canopy walk (only one in Ireland)
Walking and Cycling trails
Orienteering & Wheel O Trails
Boda Borg
Kayaking
Electric Bike trails
Cafe
Foods stalls
Lough Key Marina
Its very extensive with Picnic areas and benches to sit and view the area.
You could very easily spend hours here. I must of been here for 3 hours in all.
Pre Covid figures put visitors at around 150 000 a year.
Well worth a visit, I highly recommend it.
Thanks for watching.
Please like, comment and subscribe.
Part 2 will be out next week as we continue to explore Lough Key forest park.
Thanks for watching and see you in the next video.
Ben
EireRider
#exploreireland
#loughkey
#forest
#forestwalk
#walks
#ireland
#scenic
#roscommon
#kingfamily
#placestovisit
#placestoexplore
#treecanopywalk

[@danclear7901]

Excellent production quality. Enjoyed watching.

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Thank you Dan. That's fantastic. You are welcome to view my other videos.

[@lesleyhalkett5675]

Such a lovely place, the tunnels are fascinating and the canopy walk is great. Can't wait to go there. 😀

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Its such a lovely place. lots to do and see

[@rebeccaireland7218]

Silver arm of The Tuatha De Danann,."Ce [Prenounced in Irish "Key"] in English meaning Silver is where the lake got its name, after Silver Arm of The Tuatha De Danann...... Lough Ce/Key. Xx

[@EireRider.motorcycle.adventure]

Ah yes. Thank you. I saw that briefly on that information board and pronounced it incorrectly. Thanks Rebecca