Lanesborough on the River Shannon and Lough Ree

Lanesborough lies on the eastern shore of the River Shannon, at the northern end of Lough Ree. Specific local attractions include Lough Ree Distillery, hands-on gin workshops and sightseeing trips departing from the marina. County Longford also offers a broader perspective on routes and landscapes throughout the county itself.

Whiskey and Gin in Lanesborough

A visit to Lough Ree Distillery offers a personal journey into the heart of Irish whiskey-making. The Lough Ree Distillery Gin School has a different focus: it offers hands-on workshops in making gin. Lanesborough therefore features two distinct ways to explore spirits production: a visit related to whiskey-making and hands-on gin-making.

Sightseeing Trips and Rathcline Castle

From the marina in Lanesborough, Lough Ree Access For All offers sightseeing trips to Quaker Island and Barley Harbour. Check the current trip schedule before making plans. Lough Ree Access For All offers roll-on/roll-off access without assistance being required. As operational accessibility details can change, check access arrangements before your visit.

Rathcline Castle is nearby, south of Lanesborough. The site includes a tower house, an enclosed bawn or courtyard, and a fortified 17th-century mansion that was later remodelled. The ruins are privately owned and not open to the public; they make a striking sight against a rural backdrop. This historical landmark differs from the sightseeing trips and workshops: Rathcline Castle is not an open-to-the-public visitor attraction.

Routes and Landscapes in County Longford

The Royal Canal Greenway is a 130 km walking and cycling route from Maynooth in County Kildare to Clondra in County Longford. Its infrastructure includes 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. The National Famine Way runs through County Longford, where it follows the Royal Canal Greenway. This waymarked walking and cycling route follows the last known journey on Irish soil of 1,490 people who were forced to leave Strokestown in County Roscommon in 1847. The routes have different emphases: the Greenway offers a perspective on the distance and canal structures, while the National Famine Way focuses on a specific historical journey.

Newcastle Woodland near Newcastle, close to Ballymahon in County Longford, offers a different kind of walking. Managed by Coillte, the mixed forest covers 325 hectares and extends along both sides of the River Inny, a major tributary of the River Shannon. The network includes 14 km of trails, with routes of varying lengths. There is also a 400 m Access for All trail and a 1 km wheelchair-accessible trail through the forest. Compare the two trail lengths given; check the accessibility of the infrastructure before your visit, as it may change.

Another walking option is the Edenmore Bog Walk in Ballinamuck, County Longford, a 4.5 km national loop trail through the landscape. This describes a single circular route, whereas Newcastle Woodland has a network of trails with routes of varying lengths. Trail conditions and access at the Edenmore Bog Walk may change; check them before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Killashee, Moyne, Edgeworthstown, Longford, Cloondara, Mosstown, Ballymahon, Granard

For the broader travel overview: County Longford.