Our National Parks are great places to discover what’s special about our wildlife, from the ponies in Connemara to the golden eagles in Glenveagh. The Owenduff bog in Ballycroy is one of the last of its kind in Europe, while Glendalough and Killarney National Parks are full of astonishing views, and there are many ways to enjoy them: on foot, by bike or boat, or in a jaunting car riding through the Gap of Dunloe.
And with dozens of forest parks throughout Ireland, that’s only the start. Lough Key Forest Park features Ireland’s only tree canopy walk. At Castlecomer Discovery Park you can follow the story of coal from the Carboniferous period (about 300 million years ago) to the present day, while Belvedere House offers bat walks at dusk.
For more things to do in our forests, see the website of Coillte, the national forestry service. The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) is charged with the conservation of a range of habitats and species in Ireland. For further information visit the NPWS website.