Lough Boora Parklands

Beginning in the northern most car park on the Pollagh side of the Turraun Wetland, follow the gravel road toward Pollagh (north east) for approximately 200 m. Turn east (right) down the gravel path that leads off the access road. After approximately 25 m you will come to a fork in the path by an information board, take the left-hand path, the right leads to the Turraun bird hide. After a short distance the path turns sharply to the north west (left) in front of a high clay bank.

The path then runs between a high embankment on the right and a drainage channel on the left before emerging in a more open grassy area. A yellow post with a Turraun walking map directs you north east through an area of birch-willow woodland until you encounter another yellow post bearing a route map, at which point the path swings sharply to the right and heads south east toward a knoll called Cocta Hill.

At the next route map post the path swings south west (right)and the gravel path meanders toward the wetlands before swinging north west, yellow posts bearing route maps marking the way. The trail then rejoins the path by which you entered and by turning west (left) you retrace the first part of the walk and thus return to your starting point.

Things to look out for:

Turraun has been out of peat production longer than any of the other Parkland sites and, having had longer to develop, is the most diverse in terms of both habitats and the number of species present. At the beginning, the path passes through an open area which is quite wet in winter, the insectivorous Round-leaved sundews can be found to the right of the path to the bird hide and the yellow spikes of Bog asphodel are visible in July. In summer, this is a good area to see dragonflies and damselflies including the Brown hawker, Red darter and Banded demoiselle.

Birch-Willow woodland

In several places, the path runs through areas of naturally recolonising Birch-Willow woodland. In some areas the birch and willow grow in rows having germinated in the old drainage channels that divided the working peat-fields. Spotted orchids, Twayblade and several types of St John’s Wort grow in these areas and the trees provide cover and feeding for birds including residents such as Wrens, Great Tits and Blue Tits as well as Summer visitors such as Willow warbler and Whinchat.

Cocta hill

A short diversion on to Cocta hill is worthwhile. This gravely, lime-rich knoll is home to the Bee orchid which flowers in July, Yellow-wort, Field Scabious and Common centaury – a white flowered variant of which may be spotted amongst the more normal pink - Knotted Pearlwort and Fairy Flax.

Purple Moor-grass and Heather

After Cocta Hill the path runs through an area of open Purple Moor-grass and Heather. From late July onwards purple and blue are the dominant colours as the Purple Moor-grass flowers revealing the source of its name, as does the Heather and the Devils-bit Scabious. The latter is the food plant of the caterpillar of the Marsh Fritillary, a rare and protected butterfly that has been seen in Turraun..