The Laois Walks Festival is into its final week and already well over one thousand of you have taken to routes all over the county.
Rosenallis, Mountrath, Ballacolla, Ballybrittas, Cullahill and Wolfhill were just some of the locations that the Festival visited last week.
And we have a selection of pictures from the walks below.
The Laois Walks Festival adheres to the ‘Countryside Code’ of leaving no trace, walking in single file and respecting private property and the rural environment.
No dogs are allowed. The cost per walk is €2.
For further information contact Susan Lawlor, who is the festival co-ordinator, on 087 2574477 or Peter Maher, who is the Rural Recreation Officer in Laois County Council, on 057 8661900 or by emailing info@
Walkers are advised to register 30 minutes prior to the start of each walk and to wear comfortable walking boots/shoes.
They are also encouraged to bring raingear, sufficient food and water for the duration of the walk.
Grade A – Strenuous; Grade B – Difficult; Grade C – Moderate
SATURDAY, JULY 28
Ballykilcavan
Beautiful walk through one of Irelands oldest preserved
Heritage woodlands, farm fields, oak avenues, a hidden
part of undiscovered Laois.
Meet: Farm Entrance
Time: 2.30pm
Distance: 8km
Difficulty: Grade B
Length: 2.5hours
SUNDAY, JULY 29
Rickets Rocks, Clonaslee
A mix of minor roads, sandy roadways and forestry tracks up
into the Slieve Bloom passing Rickets Rocks waterfall.
Meet: The Heritage Centre
Time: 2.30pm
Distance: 10 km
Difficulty: Grade A
Length: 3 hours
MONDAY, JULY 30
Portlaoise Togher Wood Family Walk
This is a beautiful forest walk on the edge of Portlaoise
town through mature woodland and forest trails.
Meet: The Rugby Club
Time: 7.30pm
Distance: 7km
Difficulty: Grade C
Length: 1.5 hours
TUESDAY, JULY 31
Durrow Leafy Loop Walk
The Leafy Loop brings you through woodland, farmland &
riverbanks with a delightfully rich abundance of flora & fauna.
Meet: The Square, Durrow
Time: 7.30pm
Distance: 12 km
Difficulty: Grade A
Length: 3-4 hours
SEE ALSO – The full list of what’s on in July in the Laois Walks Festival
