Two Kildare forests among State's Top 20

Donadea Forest Park just north of Clane is the country’s fourth most visited recreational forests in the country, according to Coillte figures released this week (30 October).

And continuing with Kildare’s arborial excellence, Mullaghreelan Wood just outside Kilkea has also made it into the nation’s Top 20 most visited forests.

Donadea Forest Park formerly the Alymer Estate until 1935 - recorded almost 217,000 visits last year, placing it fourth among the most visited Coillte recreational forests.

The park offers scenic looped walking trails that feature notable sites such as Donadea Castle and Estate, along with historical landmarks including the walled gardens, boat and ice houses, St Peter’s Church, and a 9/11 memorial carved into limestone.

Meanwhile, Mullaghreelan Wood saw over 75,500 visits, with those visiting enjoying its extensive network of forest pathways and a hilltop rath that offers panoramic views of Kilkea Castle.

In first place with almost 350,000 visits, Avondale Forest Park in Wicklow is home to the visitor destination ‘Beyond the Trees’ which officially opened in July 2022.

In addition to Avondale House, the home of Charles Stewart Parnell, it now boasts a unique Treetop Walk and Viewing Tower, and Ireland’s longest slide.

Rossmore Forest Park in Monaghan, which boasts a variety of walking trails around Rossmore Castle, surrounding lakes where fishing is available, family cycling trails, and nature tracks, attracted the second highest number of visits in 2024, with over 340,000 recorded.

Ticknock in Co. Dublin, with its several walking and hiking trails, as well as mountain-bike tracks and orienteering courses, followed in third place with over 260,000 visits last year.

Over three million people visited Coillte’s top 50 most popular recreational woodlands and parks in 2024.

Coillte is the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Ireland with a total of 260 forest recreational areas, 12 forest parks and six mountain bike centres nationwide.