Activities
Lough Key has for many centuries drawn people to its spectacular views, abundant wildlife, historic buildings and evocative islands. This beautiful landscape is steeped in a rich history.
Now after major development the historic backdrop encompasses a landmark cluster of unique attractions serving the needs of a 21st century visitor with a new lakeside centre providing an ideal gateway for gentle leisurely activities or more energetic pursuits in the Park.
The park is now home to:
- “The Lough Key Experience” including Tree Canopy Walk, 19th Century Underground Tunnels and Moylurg Viewing Tower
- “Boda Borg” adventure house
- Children’s “Adventure Kingdom” playground
- “The Lakeside Cafe”
- “The Lough Key Gift Shop”
- “The Lough Key Caravan & Camping Park”
- Forest & Parkland walking Trails,
- The Bog Gardens,
- Lakeside Walks &
- 19th Century Bridges
Lough Key Forest & Activity Park provides ample entertainment for all the family and more information can be found at www.loughkey.ie
The innovative, All-Weather Boda Borg Adventure House is a Swedish concept unique to Ireland and is challenging for both adults and children. Once you enter the two-storey Boda Borg only teamwork, ingenuity, trial and error and skills you probably didn’t know you have will allow you to progress through its 47 rooms! It contains fun-filled activities, imaginative puzzles and enjoyable tasks but no instructions Every adventure starts in your own mind… new paths are explored… together… with curiosity, laughter and excitement.
Guests staying at Riverhaven enjoy a 10% discount on tickets to Boda Borg and if you book while we are operating our Riverhaven special offers we’ll even give you tickets for free with your booking!!
For more information on Boda Borg check out Loughkey.ie/BodaBorg
Zipit Forest Adventures is a unique and exciting tree-top activity centre located in Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. The Zipit experience provides great entertainment for both adults and children over the age of 7 and is made up of a series of challenges, set out in 5 tracks of various lengths and difficulties. Each of the tracks has a number of challenges involving zip-lines and guarantees a fun day out for all involved. Those who do not want to try the challenges themselves can simply walk along beneath the zip-line tracks enjoying in the entertainment and fun of their friends taking part. More information can be found at http://www.zipit.ie/.
Kayaking on Lough Key is an incredible way to take in the local scenery, explore islands on the lake and experience the untouched local environment from the perspective of the waterfront.
Guests are welcome to bring their own Kayaks which can be easily launched at our private jetty and safely stored below your cabin, or alternatively kayaks can be rented at Lough Key Forest Park from "P Mac's Kayaks at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park" who can be contacted via their Facebook page.
If guests at Riverhaven have a passion for fishing, fishing by Kayak can be an excellent way to quietly access top fishing areas.
The Arigna Mining Experience Centre was developed to preserve the energy heritage of the Arigna Valley and to ensure that Arigna maintains its link with Energy themes: Past, Present & Future. This Centre provides visitors with a unique insight into what coal mining life was like in the Arigna Valley, since its beginning in the 1700′s until closure in 1990.
Underground Experience During the underground tour, visitors will experience what it was like to work in some of the narrowest coal seams in the western world. The tour, which lasts 45 minutes brings visitors to the mines coalface where the methods used to extract the coal are demonstrated. All tour guides in the centre are former miners in the Arigna mines and throughout the tour lighting and sound effects add to the reality of the experience. The tour is enjoyed by all visitor to the centre and guests staying at Riverhaven always return with positive reviews.
Exhibition Space Local geology and the formation of coal deposits are explained in the exhibition area of the Arigna Mining Centre, as is the history of energy production. The exhibition also explains the concepts and operation of different renewable energy systems and some of these systems can then be viewed in operation in the Energy Centre Building, in the energy playground, and on the nearby wind farms.
A history tour presents the origins and history of the Arigna coal mines. It explores its impact on the local community, through a photo gallery & displays. The Renewable Energy Demonstrations can be viewed on site in the Centre, while the wind farms can be seen on the nearby Kilronan Mountain.
A 10% discount on all admissions to the Arigna Mining Centre can be enjoyed by guests staying at Riverhaven and more information on the centre can be found at www.arignaminingexperience.ie
The Shed Distillery tour gives visitors a fun and interactive insight into the adventures of creator PJ Rigney on his journey to develop the "Gunpowder Gin", "Drumshanbo Whiskey" and "Sausage Tree Vodka" ranges.
Visitors to The Shed can also enjoy quality food for breakfast or lunch either before or after a tour of The Shed or simply when touring the area.
A visit to The Shed distillery is always enjoyed by guests staying at Riverhaven Log Cabins and well worth the short drive to the scenic town of Drumshanbo.
More information is available at www.thesheddistillery.com
King House is a magnificently restored Georgian Mansion located in Boyle, County Roscommon. It was built in the early 1700’s for Sir Henry King, whose family were one of the most powerful and wealthy in Ireland. After its first life as a home, King House was converted into a military barracks in the 19th century for the famous Connaught Rangers regiment. At the end of Civil War in 1923 the barracks passed into the control of the newly formed Irish Free State Army.
Following many years as a merchants store, King House was saved from demolition in the late 1980s and restored to its former Georgian style by Roscommon County Council. Marvel at the grandeur, savour the magnificence of the period rooms, or just have fun exploring our interpretive exhibitions designed for both adults and children alike!
Writing with a quill and ink or building a brick vault are just some of the many things to do, and a tour of King House would not be complete without a visit to the cold and foreboding jail cells!
The Attraction For All The Family. Excitement, Fun, Photo opportunities and much more at affordable Prices.
Nestled in the green hills of south Sligo, Eagles Flying is Ireland's largest sanctuary for raptors and owls. Situated near Ballymote it is the home of many different species of eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures. There are also many different species of other birds and animals such as raccoon, skunk and foxes.
Eagles Flying is one of the major tourist attractions in the northern part of Ireland attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually to see the spectacular interactive bird shows with eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures and owls.
Twice daily, starting at 11 am and 3 pm specialists train these birds for visitors and give information about the biology of these magnificent creatures. During these entertaining interactive bird shows visitors can experience different types of raptors flying right over their head or landing next to them. Some have a wingspan of up to 3 metres. It is also possible to touch some of them and some members of the audience may even have one flying to their own hand. At Eagles
These shows are unique - you have never been that close to raptors!
Even rain can not spoil this experience, as the shows can be presented indoors.
More information is available at www.eaglesflying.com
Located a mere 2 minute drive or 10 minute walk (all off road) from Riverhaven Log Cabins Knockvicar Alpacas farm is a wonderful experience for all the family.
Visitors to the farm will experience a guided tour of the working Aplaca farm, information on breeds, herd management and produce along with getting to pet and feed the Alpacas and even take some for a walk.
More information is available on the Knockvicar Aplacas facebook page here.
Lough Allen Adventure Centre located in the nearby town of Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim is an eco-friendly outdoor pursuits centre focussed on water-sports activities. The centre is owned and managed by a capable and highly qualified team of trainers and guides and can cater for both large and small groups. Activities available include Canoeing, Kayaking and Windsurfing and more information can be found at www.loughallenadventure.com.
Aura Fitness and Leisure Centre located in nearby Carrick on Shannon provides great fitness & leisure facilities. Aura has an award winning swimming pool and separate children’s pool, along with parents viewing area, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Steam room, an extremely well equipped gym and two floodlit all weather astro-turf football pitches. Individual showers lockers and changing rooms are available for swimming pool users, as are family changing rooms.
Aura Fitness and Leisure is ideal for rainy day activities and is open to non-members on a pay-per-visit basis. More information on Aura can be found at www.auraleisure.ie/leitrim
Guests staying at Riverhaven Log Cabins have a multitude of options when it comes to walks in the area. Short looped walks are available starting at the accommodation and several longer looped walks are available within a 5 - 10 minute drive. Almost all of these walks can be enjoyed in the company of canines.
Riverhaven itself boasts a beautiful lake and riverside walk which allows guests to stroll for over 3 km without ever using the public road. The local park, Lough Key Forest Park also holds many varied scenic walks of varied lengths.
Riverhaven is also perfect base for walking holidays. There are several looped, trail and hill walks to enjoy within a short drive of the accommodation.
Numerous looped walks of varying lengths from 2km to 120km are available in the area as can be found on www.alltrails.com.
There are a number of horseriding stables within a short distance of Riverhaven who offer lessons/sessions to persons of all ages and all abilities.
Moorlands Equestrian Centre, operated by the McManus family in the local town of Drumshanbo has been in operation since 1993 and offers lessons, treks, cross-country ride-outs, hunting and pony camps all year round. More information can be found at www.moorlands.ie and guests staying at Riverhaven can avail of a 10% discount on all lessons.
Lough Gara Riding Stables also offer horse riding and other country pursuits in an idyllic rural setting in County Sligo. As well as horse riding lessons Lough Gara Riding Stables provide clay pigeon shooting, archery, falconry and Air rifle Shooting.
The Centre is run by husband and wife, Adrian and Jimmy Kneale. Activities at Lough Gara Riding Stables are available to suit young children and teenagers as well as adults. They also run tailor made events for corporate team building, school tours, family get togethers, kids’ birthday parties and stag and hen parties.
More information on Lough Gara Riding Stables can be found at www.loughgararidingstables.com and a 10% discount can be enjoyed by all guests staying at Riverhaven.
Riverhaven Log Cabins are the ideal location for those who have a passion for fishing. The accommodation has private lakeside and riverside access where the casual fishing enthusiast can easily walk to fishing locations within minutes.
For the more enthusiastic fishing enthusiasts Riverhaven is perfectly suited, being on the shores of Lough Key which is highly renowned for it's pike fishing in particular and also within a short drive of several other excellent course fishing lakes, many of which do not require fishing licences.
The Riverhaven log cabins are ideally suited for groups of anglers and both row boats or row boats with outboard engines are available to rent at Riverhaven, either on a daily or weekly basis. Riverhaven Log Cabins also have fish finders, rod holders and landing nets available for rent, however reservation in advance is essential. If required, the proprietors can arrange a fishing ghillie for guests, with the cost of same being dealt with privately between guests and the ghillie.
Riverhaven Log Cabins is also located close to many rivers and lakes where excellent trout and salmon fishing is available.
As the proprietors have been accommodating fishing guests for many years an abundance of fishing knowledge and assistance to guests is available free of charge.
There are many locations close to Riverhaven where guests can enjoy either a long or short cycle. As Riverhaven is located on it’s own lake and riverside site there is some scope for cycling on site, especially for younger guests staying at Riverhaven.
The nearby Lough Key Forest & Activity Park also provides plenty of different routes for cycling. These routes are of varied lengths and some travel along very well surfaced public roadways within the former estate walls, while others travel through the various forests in the park itself and around Drummond’s Island.
There are many other extremely scenic long cycling trails/routes in the locality which provide for spectacular views of Lough Key, Lough Arrow, Lough Meelagh and Arigna Mountain, Sí Mór Mountain, Sliabh An Iarainn and Lough Allen. Though these trails/routes are extremely enjoyable and provide for panoramic views of the landscape. Great care must be taken when cycling and safety equipment must be used at all times. It is also important to only cycle these routes during daylight hours only for safety purposes.
Both adult’s and children’s bicycles are available for rent from a number of places locally, either on a daily or weekly rental basis. Delivery of the bicycles directly to your cabin can be arranged and if you require any more information we at Riverhaven will be happy to help.
There are a number of fantastic restaurants close to Riverhaven where a romantic meal for two or a family night out can be enjoyed at reasonable cost. There are also plenty of delicious cafes to grab a quick lunch or stop in to while shopping.
Just 5 minutes drive from Riverhaven is The Waterfront restaurant in Cootehall which serves high quality Wednesday to Sunday.
Carrick on Shannon is home wonderful restaurants such as "The Oarsman”, "The Red Bank" and "Di Vinos", all of which have one several food awards and acknowledgements. Nearby in the small town of Jamestown “The Cottage” restaurant overlooks the Shannon at Jamestown weir. The cottage is a consistent award winner and all of these restaurants are highly recommended. Carrick on Shannon also has a number of cafés and coffee shops with "My Kitchen" and "The Olive Tree" being the stand out options.
There are also many very good take-away restaurants locally serving quality Indian, Italian, European and Asian food which can be collected from the restaurant or delivered directly to your cabin. At Riverhaven we recommend "Himalayan" Indian, "David's" and "Sliced" pizza and Chip shops and "Phoenix Court" asian fusion takeaway.
The proprietors are more than happy to assist with any food or takeaway recommendations.
There are a number of locations within a short distance of Riverhaven where guests can enjoy performances of theatre and the arts. Amateur dramatic associations in the community in which Riverhaven is located (Crossna), in Boyle and also in Carrick on Shannon stage annual productions which are always enjoyable and will either be comedic drama or musical productions. These are always worth going to see and will be advertised locally in or around the opening date.
THE DOCK in nearby Carrick on Shannon is home to an intimate theatre space and musical, comedy and theatrical performances are staged here on a regular basis throughout the year at very reasonable rates. More information on the programme of events for The Dock can be found at www.thedock.ie.
THE BACKSTAGE theatre in Longford is a well established theatre who also have a good calender of theatrical events throughout the year. Tickets for performances at The Backstage are always reasonable and more information on the programme of events can be found at www.backstage.ie.
THE HAWK’S WELL theatre in Sligo is a fantastic 340 seat theatre in Sligo town. The Hawk’s Well will always have a packed schedule of events throughout the year and is guaranteed to provide an enjoyable night’s entertainment. More information on the programme of events can be found at www.hawkswell.com.
THE MODEL arts centre in Sligo town is also an interesting theatre, cinema and exhibition space. The Model is located in the heart of Sligo town on “The Mall” and often provides the opportunity to enjoy smaller, independent productions. Information on the programme of events can be found at themodel.ie.
There are a number of local pubs within a short distance of Riverhaven which provide an authentic homely Irish pub experience. These cosy pubs “Clancy's Bar”, "Dickie Beirnes" and "Anderson's Thatch pub" guarantee a good pint of Guinness, local conversation and entertainment and often an impromptu music session. In the nearby towns of Carrick on Shannon and Boyle there are also a number of bars to take in the local atmosphere.
If traditional Irish Music is what you are looking for a music session is guaranteed every night from Thursday to Sunday in either “Anderson’s Thatch Pub” just outside Carrick on Shannon or in “Cryan’s Bar” in Carrick on Shannon itself.
For those who seek out a busy night-life environment the town of Carrick on Shannon is ideal where there a number of busy sports bars such as “Dunnes” and “Murtaghs” and also a number of late bars to continue on to afterwards. If a quieter bar in a busy town is what you seek “Flynn’s Bar” should whet the appetite, as should “Cryan's” where a warm setting, cosy seating and good Guinness will be found.
If any more local information on local entertainment or local taxis is required we at Riverhaven will be happy to help.