Crookedwood: Art, Wellness and Folklore

This can help you decide whether to focus your trip planning more on creative activities, scenery, or historical traditions.

Art, Classes and Retreats

Devine Art Studios in Crookedwood is close to the shores of Lough Derravaragh and surrounded by rolling hills and lush forests. It offers arts and crafts workshops as well as art retreats. The wellness retreats focus on relaxation, yoga, tai chi, and meditation. This means creative activities and wellness-focused retreats are available as distinct options.

A gallery of original art complements the studios’ profile. Workshops and classes are led by professional instructors; chocolate workshops are also available. After workshops, handcrafted lunch, dessert, and light snacks are offered. The range of themes therefore extends from art and crafts to chocolate, complemented by food after the workshops.

Lough Derravaragh and Nearby Places

Lough Derravaragh is designated a Ramsar site and is of national importance for pochard, mute swan, little grebe, and coot. The lake is also associated with the legend of the Children of Lir. Natural history and storytelling tradition offer two distinct perspectives on the same body of water.

St. Munna’s Church, also known as Taghmon, is 1.8 km east of Crookedwood. The church is a state-owned National Monument in the care of the Office of Public Works. The slopes near the church offer views of Lough Derravaragh. The combination of the monument and the lake views makes the site appealing to travellers who want to include a historical topic in their plans as well as scenery.

For anglers, Clintons Bay near Crooked Wood is a possible reference point on Lough Derravaragh: a 2015 report describes the bay as an access point for anglers. Check access information before you arrive. Irish Angling Safaris offers visiting anglers at Lough Derravaragh a complete fishing package and arranges accommodation in hotels, guesthouses, or self-catering holiday homes. As these arrangements may change, confirm the current details before making plans.

Walking and Local Traditions

A marked circular route up Knockeyon starts near Crookedwood, off the R394. The loop is approximately 5.5 km long. Check access conditions locally, as private land needs to be taken into account. The approximate route length provides a specific guide for planning the walk; check access separately on site.

Traditional customs also offer insight into local history. Historical folklore records report that large crowds gathered in Crookedwood on Cora Sunday. A different custom is recorded for St. Stephen’s Day: boys, girls, and adult men went from house to house carrying a dead wren or a feather on a stick. One tradition describes a large gathering, the other a door-to-door custom.

A Regional Perspective on County Westmeath

As a distinct regional perspective, County Westmeath offers further routes and landscape themes. The county has more than 100 kilometres of walking and cycling trails. The Old Rail Trail is a 40-kilometre route from Athlone to Mullingar along a converted section of the Midlands Great Western Railway. The Royal Canal is also fully navigable through County Westmeath and runs past Mullingar on its way to the River Shannon. Check navigation status before planning a boat trip.

Discover more destinations: Killinure, Rathowen, Castlepollard, Glasson, Killachonna, Mullingar, Athlone, Tang

For the wider travel overview: County Westmeath.