Lough Boora Parklands

This walk combines the Leabeg and Mesolithic trails in a 5 km circular route. Beginning in the Boora Lake car park, the route follows the southern shore of Lake Boora before veering north after crossing the old railway embankment and then following the eastern bank of the ‘canal’ known locally as the Canoe Course. On reaching the end of the canal the trail runs south along a ride-line in the forestry and then turns west along a broad, peat access road which leads to the Mesolithic site.

The Leabeg wetland section of the walk does not have any way-markers and should not be attempted during the winter or early spring due to flooding. Once at the Mesolithic site, following the ‘yellow-man’ posts that mark the route of the Mesolithic Walk will bring you back to the Boora Lake car park.

Things to look out for:

Leabeg is a seasonally flooding wetland, much of which dries out in spring giving rise to a rich natural grassland. Purple moor-grass, Yorkshire fog and Soft rush provide cover for ground nesting birds such as Skylark and Meadow pipit and mammals including hares, which are common in the area, and hunting foxes.

Reed buntings and Kingfishers

The areas that remain flooded well into the summer are home to Lapwing, Moorhen, Common sandpiper, Redshank and Little grebe. Reed buntings call from the rushes and willows while Kingfishers may be seen along the canal.