Explore Ireland’s Heartlands
Taking in the counties of Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, East Clare, North Tipperary, Galway and Offaly, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is a beautifully unspoiled part of Ireland. And right at the centre point, the heart of the Heartlands, you’ll find the beautiful heritage town of Birr and our magnificent country house, the County Arms. Explore miles of meandering waterways, acres of lush forests and bogland, and breathtaking mountains, hills, and valleys. Discover charming villages, bustling market towns, and dynamic modern cities. You’ll never run out of things to do in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, with the County Arms as your perfect base to experience it all.
Clara Bog Nature Reserve and Boardwalk
It has been said that you can experience ten thousand years of history in the ten square kilometres that accommodate Clara Bog and its surroundings, and here at the County Arms we think that’s a pretty good reason to put it on your itinerary. Bear in mind that it is, by nature, inclined to be cold and wet, so we’d advise you wrap up warm and enjoy a hearty breakfast here at the hotel before setting out.
As one of the best remaining examples in Western Europe, your walk-in Clara Bog will reveal all the classic components of a raised bog including fine examples of hummocks, hollows, lawns, pools, and flushes. Home to many protected wildlife species, this nature reserve is protected under a number of national and international designations and many lucky visitors have spotted some of its most interesting inhabitants including Ireland’s only native reptile, the viviparous lizard. Keep your eye out too for many other creatures including Newts, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, caterpillars, and frogs all make regular appearances. Listen for the curlew, snipe, stonechat, willow warbler, meadow pipet, and skylark and Birds of Prey including kestrel and merlin.
View our website and location.
The Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Experience
Celebrate the history of Tullamore D.E.W whiskey as you explore and discover the interesting heritage behind the whiskey.
You’ll be welcomed with an Irish coffee before walking through the still house floor where you’ll feel the heat of the bubbling stills as you taste the world’s second-largest Irish whiskey brand’s award-winning whiskeys.
One of the breathtaking parts of the tour takes place in Ireland’s only custom-built live maturation warehouse snug where you get to “dip the dog” which basically means tasting whiskey directly from the cask.
At the end of the tour, you’ll get the chance to “Be the Blender”, blending and bottling your own unique whiskey to buy and take away.
View our website and location.
Zipit Forest Adventures in Lough Key Forest Park
If you’re up for a great family day out during your stay at the County Arms, you’ll find just the thing at Lough Key Forest Park just a couple of hours drive away.
Fantastic for a fun-filled, environmentally friendly day, you and your mini adventure lovers will love the excitement of challenging activities in the treetops. You can fly down zip lines, run across rope bridges, and climb giant walls. Trained instructors are on hand to provide assistance and encouragement as you climb trees, ride BMX bikes across a suspended bridge, swing into cargo nets and even have a go on the base jump.
After your action-packed day, return to the comfort of the County Arms for a well-deserved slap upmeal.
View our website and location.
Irish Parachute Club
Just an hour’s drive from the County Arms in Birr, Co Offaly you’ll find Ireland’s home of parachuting grand skydiving. Located at Clonbullogue Airfield close to Edenderry, The Irish Parachute Club (IPC) was founded in 1956. It operates on weekends and bank holidays and offers tandem skydiving, Accelerated Freefall, Static Line Parachuting, and training programmes.
As a beginner you can take a tandem jump, freefalling from over 10,000 feet and over 200km per hour. Sounds daunting? No worries, the tandem master will be doing all the work, and training which takes around 30 minutes will include a briefing on all aspects of your jump to enjoy that you get the most from the experience in safety while you enjoy a bird’s eye view of some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery.
