SLIEVE BLOOM MOUNTAINS
The Slieve Bloom Mountains are ideal for those who seek the tranquility of an unspoilt landscape. Located at the crossroads of Ireland they are easily accessible from anywhere in Ireland.
Linking across the borders of Offaly and Laois the Slieve Bloom Mountain range is the source of the many rivers that flow through its glens. These include the Camcor, Delour River, Silver River and the River Barrow. The visitor to the Slieve Blooms will be rewarded by a glimpse of a wild and wonderful landscape which has become a rare commodity in modern times. The mountains are home to sika deer, wild goats, foxes, badgers and is one of the few remaining areas in Ireland where grouse is still a common bird in the summer months.
Much of the higher reaches of the Slieve Blooms are a National Nature reserve of some 2,100 hectares of protected blanket bog which allows the visitor to get up close to nature. The highest point Ard Erin only 527m can be reached from the Gap of Glendine.
Kinnitty nestles at the foot of Knocknamann on the western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Knocknamann is the site where the Festival of Bealtaine was held in pre- Christian times. The Slieve Blooms are steeped in history and folklore, from megalithic times though Ireland’s golden era of Saints and Scholars to more modern history of settlement and conflict of the Ely O’Carroll. According to legend the Slieve Bloom Mountains was home to Fionn Mac Cumhaill where as a child he lived with his mother for the first 7 years of his life. The name Bloom is said to commemorate an ancient Connaught hero Bladhma, who took refuge in the mountains.
The Slieve Bloom Mountains are brimful of outstanding trails that bring you through breathtaking scenery, hidden valleys some 450 million years old, deserted homesteads and open countryside.
Feast on breathtaking views, feel the fresh air on you cheeks, listen to the twittering of the birds and enjoy the freedom of a tranquil location on a wonderful hike, exhilarating mountain bike ride or thrilling horseback adventure. The Slieve Blooms is an extremely peaceful area will amaze with all it has to offer.
There is a vast network of looped walking trails from each of the villages of the Slieve Blooms that will delight and excite every level of walker whether you want a leisurely stroll or a more challenging hill walk. All are designed to explore the beauty and nature of this unspoilt landscape. Meander along walking trails through deep ravines and glens dissected by gentle flowing streams or stroll along the banks of rivers at Kinnitty Cadamstown and Glenbarrow. There is so much to choose from.
Long distance walks The Slieve Bloom Way. The Offaly Way from Cadamstown Special Offers
Day Treks from Glenbarrow to Clonaslee, Clonaslee to Cadamstown, Cadamstown to Kinnitty.
Loop Walks at Glenbarrow near Rosenallis, Clonaslee, Cadamstown, Kinnitty
Eco Trails at Glenbarrow, Cadamstown, Knockbarron, Glenafelly and Gorteennameale.
Wild Life, Wheelchair accessible and Heritage Walks at Lough Boora Parklands just 10k from the Slieve Blooms.
The Eco walks at the Silver River Cadamstown, Knockbarron wood near Kinnitty and Glenbarrow are opportunities to explore a landscape that is 400 million years old. If you venture further into the upper regions of the mountains you will find a broad plateau above 450m that is dominated by a blanket bog landscape. You can meander along walking routes dissected by streams that flow through deep ravines and glens. The Slieve Bloom Mountain range is the source of the many rivers that flow through its glens. These include the Camcor River, Delour River, Silver River and the River Barrow.
I am a keen walker and at Ardmore Country House I can provide you with walking maps and advise on the best routes to take whether it be the long distance Slieve Bloom Way or some of the shorter loop walks. Check out or offers page for Walking Breaks in the Slieve Blooms.
We are delighted to be ranked in the top 10% of hotels worldwide on Trip Advisor and receive the Traveller’s Choice Award 2020
This place is magic! Chris is amazing, knowledgeable and fun. We were only here for one night and wish we had stayed for more. It was clean,... read more cozy and perfect. We compared every other stay to this one and Ardmore Country House was our favorite. Rooms were clean, super comfy and well equipped. Breakfast was delish and great brown bread!! We went to the local pub and had an super fun night - Thanks Chris for joining us and for the laughs and for all the recommendations that we used on the rest of our trip. More
We stayed but one night and wished we had had longer. Christina is the ultimate as a warm and welcoming hostess. From welcoming us upon our arrival with tea and... read more treats and providing a wide and delicious breakfast - cooked to order. Our room was tastefully decorated with a comfortable bed and a choice of pillows so that our nights sleep could not have been better. A hot and strong shower was an added plus to make our stay comfortable.
Christina is happy to offer suggestions of activities and sights around the area as well - including out of ordinary places to see and explore.
We give 5 stars to this lovely accommodation and would gladly return.
This place is magic! Chris is amazing, knowledgeable and fun. We were only here for one night and wish we had stayed for more. It was clean,... read more cozy and perfect. We compared every other stay to this one and Ardmore Country House was our favorite. Rooms were clean, super comfy and well equipped. Breakfast was delish and great brown bread!! We went to the local pub and had an super fun night - Thanks Chris for joining us and for the laughs and for all the recommendations that we used on the rest of our trip.
Just returned to the UK after 4 great nights at Ardmore Court House. The house is beautifully decorated with great rooms and an amazing garden. Chris is a fabulous host... read more who made our stay so enjoyable with her hospitality, local knowledge and great sense of humour. We enjoyed amazing breakfasts every morning. The local area too has so much to offer to walkers cyclists and traditional music lovers. Loved it,
I stayed here overnight for an adventure race in the village. I had a warm Irish welcome on arrival with a cup of tea and a wee cake. ... read more Christina was a font of knowledge for the local area and suggested a local place to eat. My room was spotlessly clean and I had a great peaceful nights sleep. Breakfast was included and all freshly cooked. I had the porridge which was fab. Ardmore Country House is a perfect base for those wishing to explore the local area and I’d be delighted to have the opportunity to return and stay here again. Thanks Christina !
This was our fourth and final B & B and by far the best! Chris is the definition of a hostess. She welcomes you into her home and offers you... read more tea or coffee. She shows you your room and tells you she will light a fire downstairs so you can drink your wine by it.
The bedroom was a giant hug! The fluffy bed smelled slightly of lavender Her breakfast is fresh off the farm or at least it tastes like it is. I could fan girl all day about this place.
Thank you, Chris!
Arrived here completely wet, but it was nice and well-organised. Nice breakfast, also very pleasant and decent lady. The building itself is quite well-maintained, with a beautiful virginia creeper all... read more over it. More
First of all, Chris our hostess was awesome!
She steered us in the right direction for sights we would be interested in and not too far away. The breakfasts are... read more HUGE and delicious!! The cheese scones are a must!
I highly recommend the B&B! We were there for 3 nights and had a wonderful visit.
Myself and 2 friends stayed 6 days in this lovely home. We were impressed the moment we arrived. Our room was roomy, even with 3 beds, lovely antiques, beds and... read more pillows were super comfy, and I am picky! The host, Chris,is so welcoming and agreeable, and a wonderful cook. Breakfast was delightful, homemade scones, bread, jams and each dish we tried was perfect. An easy walk to Catholic Church, Post offce, pub, just a lovely village. Chris is very knowledgeable about the area and made great recommendations for us. We used this as a base and drove all over Ireland from here each day. We felt it was a great central location. We will definitely stay here again when we go to Ireland next time. We were upstairs with beautiful views of the mountains in this lovely rural setting. Thanks again to Chris for our memorable first stay in Ireland!!
Our trip in Kinnitty was very fantastic. Chris welcomed us during two weeks. The room was really clean and beautiful. It’s a great opportunity to try mountain bike available in... read more Chris house. Chris is really sympathetic and help us to discover the region and her lifestyle. The breakfasts were really good.
For sure, everything was perfect.
We were so pleased that we selected Ardmore Country House for our three-night stay. Chris was super helpful during our stay and we found her very friendly, easy-going and a... read more great cook! Our room was lovely, nice and spacious and with a very comfy bed. The central location was brilliant - perfect for our day trips. Chris's local knowledge was great and we enjoyed the destinations she recommended. We were also lucky enough to enjoy a Wednesday evening at the pub across the road, where Chris played fiddle alongside other local musicians during a wonderful informal evening of music and singing. This was one of the highlights of our trip, along with the amazing Ardmore Country House Soda Bread made by Chris. We would gladly stay here again.
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