Leitrim

Leitrim makes an asset of its peacefulness, beguiling visitors with tranquil landscapes and a slower pace of life. Located on Europe’s longest inland navigable waterway, this county is famous for cruising. It also has a great reputation for angling thanks to its pristine lakes and rivers. Friendly pubs with impromptu music sessions in lively riverside towns like Carrick-on-Shannon, Dromod and Kinlough complete the picture. Adrenaline junkies will enjoy windsurfing, white-water kayaking, archery and mountain biking in and around Lough Allen. And Leitrim’s tiny coastline boasts some of the West’s best surf breaks. If you’d prefer to get your fresh air in a more relaxed manner, what about a round of golf at Carrick-on-Shannon. The course offers spectacular views of the Boyle River and Drumharlow Lake. The 48km Sli Liatroma hiking trail is another great way to get a lungful of oxygen. Leitrim’s colourful history is also worth exploring. Parke’s Castle, the 17th Century manor house on the shores of Lough Gill, Drumkeerin Heritage Centre and the Kinlough Folk Museum help to paint a vivid picture of days gone by. The Costello Chapel, the smallest church in Europe, and Glencar Waterfall, which inspired Yeats’s poem ‘The Stolen Child’ should also be added to the must-see list. And if you reckon a festival could add sparkle to your break, check out An Tostal Festival. Expect a weekend of live trad music workshops. Meanwhile, Drumshambo’s Sliabh an Iarann Music and Arts Festival offers a mix of traditional and modern sounds, child-friendly fun and night-time madness.