Knockvicar on the Boyle River

Knockvicar lies at the outflow of Lough Key and is shaped by the Boyle River. When looking for a hotel, the waterside location, an alpaca farm in the village and a walking route in the surrounding area offer different points of reference. Selected cultural and walking themes in County Roscommon can also be considered as a separate regional layer.

Boyle River and Tow Path

There is public access to the Boyle River at Knockvicar Tow Path. If you include this point in your plans, confirm current path conditions locally. The Boyle River flows east through Knockvicar. Fish found in the river include bream, roach, hybrids, perch, pike and trout. These species add to the picture of the Boyle River as a habitat. Together with its location at the outflow of Lough Key, the river and lake outflow provide specific points of reference for Knockvicar.

Walking routes and local points of interest

Knockvicar Alpacas is an alpaca farm in Knockvicar, adding a distinct local point of interest to the river and walking themes. Tara Marina provides easy access to the village of Knockvicar; check the facilities before your trip. Nearby, the Miners Way/Historical Trail heads towards Knockvicar and continues to Lough Key Forest Park and Boyle. For walkers, the route offers a challenging and interesting experience, crossing landscapes from mountains to lowlands. This allows you to distinguish between a specific access point by the river and a challenging walking route through changing landscapes.

County Roscommon: culture and walking

In Boyle, County Roscommon, stands Boyle Abbey, a well-preserved 12th-century Cistercian monastery. The restored gatehouse houses an interpretation centre. The abbey thus combines a medieval building with a place of interpretation.

Strokestown Park is also in County Roscommon. Strokestown Park House offers tours of the Palladian mansion; as tour dates may change, check them before visiting. The park includes walled gardens, ornamental gardens and wilder woodland areas. The National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park uses exhibits and interactive displays to explore the Great Irish Famine. The park therefore encompasses historic architecture, a variety of garden and woodland landscapes, and a museum focused on the famine.

The Suck Valley Way is a loop trail in County Roscommon. It runs from Mount Talbot along the western side of the Suck to the outskirts of Castlerea, then returns along the eastern side with a short interruption. The trail offers lowland walks through bogs, flood meadows, forests and traditional farmland, partly following the river. Its lowland profile differs from the landscapes between mountains and lowlands crossed by the Miners Way/Historical Trail. Check current route conditions before setting out.

For a wider selection of cultural attractions, Roscommon County Council offers a map tour of 20 historic or cultural sites in County Roscommon. The South Roscommon Heritage Route includes 20 historic sites in South Roscommon. These provide two different ways to explore the region’s cultural history: a map tour across the county and a route featuring sites in the south.

Discover more destinations: Tulsk, Ballintober, Ballaghaderreen, Lisacul, Roscommon, Cootehall, Ballyfarnon, Ballinlough.

For the wider travel overview: County Roscommon.