Destination Ireland - Summer 2021 - Destination Focus
A Burren that ’ s not in Clare , an ancient castle that ’ s only accessible by boat , the birthplace of the Shannon but it ’ s not in the West - these are some of the wonders you ’ ll discover in Ireland ’ s Hidden Heartlands . The regional tourism brand encompasses the midlands of the country - basically all that ’ s bookended either side by the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland ’ s Ancient East - but our particular exploration concentrated on Cavan and Longford . The region is laced with the Shannon ’ s waterways and , with Cavan liberally dotted with lakes , a boat ride seemed the perfect place to start - so we took a kayak out on the water with the informative guides at Cavan Adventure Centre . Before long , any trepidation we had about tumbling out of our craft into wet stuff disappeared . Our two-person kayak could not have been sturdier , and there is also a selection of single kayaks and canoes to suit all levels and abilities . There are various routes through the ribbon of lakes to choose from and the still , placid waters around Lough Oughter provide a tranquil experience for a family day out , but with plenty of craic too . Disembarking our vessel onto a jetty with all the grace of newborn giraffes wearing stilettos , we entered the foreboding Clough Oughter Castle - a ruined circular fortress whose thick , ivy-laced walls have seen their fair share of bloodshed and battle through the ages , and which can only be reached by boat . We returned to base after a very pleasant couple of hours on the
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