Lough Key Forest Park covers 350 hectares of woodland on the shores of Lough Key in County Roscommon. The park includes ZipIt high ropes courses, a tree canopy walk, cycling and walking trails, kayaking, a visitor centre with café, and adventure playgrounds. This guide covers what to do, how to plan your visit, and what makes Lough Key worth the journey.
Ireland has forest parks. Most are pleasant enough. Walking trails, maybe a playground, a car park with a map board.
Lough Key is different. The scale is larger. The variety is greater. The setting, where ancient woodland meets lake shore, has something that manicured recreation areas lack.
You could spend an hour here. You could spend a full day. Families return repeatedly and still find sections they have not explored. The park rewards time in a way that simpler attractions do not.
The Setting
Lough Key Forest Park sits on the western shore of Lough Key, a lake in north Roscommon near the Sligo border. The forest is a mix of broadleaf and conifer woodland, with mature trees dating back centuries.
The Rockingham Estate once occupied this land. The big house burned down in 1957, but the landscape it created remains: designed woodland, lakeside walks, ornamental features now half-reclaimed by nature. History layers beneath the recreation.
The lake itself adds another dimension. Water visible through trees. Islands dotting the surface. The interplay of forest and lake creates atmosphere that pure woodland cannot match.
In spring, bluebells carpet sections of the forest floor. In autumn, the broadleaf trees turn. Each season offers something different.
ZipIt at Lough Key
ZipIt Lough Key operates high ropes courses within the forest park.
The Courses
Circuits graded from beginner to advanced, built through the mature woodland. Rope bridges, cargo nets, log crossings, platforms, and ziplines.
Sessions run approximately three hours. Minimum age 7. No experience needed. The courses work for families, groups of friends, birthday parties, corporate team building, and school tours.
What makes Lough Key different
The forest setting is exceptional. Mature broadleaf and conifer mix. The sense of being in a proper, established woodland rather than a young plantation. Glimpses of the lake through the trees from higher platforms.
This is the only ZipIt location in Connacht. For anyone in the western half of Ireland, Lough Key avoids the long journey to Dublin or Cork.
Tree Canopy Walk
Separate from the ZipIt courses, the Tree Canopy Walk offers a different kind of elevated experience.
A walkway through the treetops, no harness required. Suitable for all ages including young children and those who would not attempt high ropes. The walk ends at a viewing tower with panoramic views across the forest and lake.
Good as a standalone activity, a warm-up before the ropes courses, or an option for family members who cannot or prefer not to do the full adventure experience.
Walking and Cycling
The forest park has extensive trails:
Walking Routes
Various loops of different lengths through the woodland and along the lake shore. From short family strolls to longer circuits covering significant ground. Terrain varies from flat lakeside paths to hillier forest sections.
Cycling
Bike hire available in the park. The trails accommodate cycling, with routes through the forest and around the estate. A different pace from walking, covering more ground.
Bog Garden Walk
A boardwalk through wetland habitat. Different ecosystem from the main forest. Quieter, more contemplative, good for wildlife.
On the Water
Lough Key is a lake, and water activities are available:
Kayaking
Guided kayaking on the lake. A different perspective on the forest park, seeing the shoreline from the water. The islands of Lough Key add interest.
Boat Tours
Trips around the lake and to the islands. Castle Island has the ruins of a 19th-century castle. Trinity Island has the remains of an abbey.
Weather affects water activities more than forest activities. Check availability when planning.
Visitor Facilities
Lough Key has more infrastructure than most forest parks:
Visitor Centre
Information, ticketing for various activities, retail. The starting point for most visits.
Café
Food and drinks available on site. Useful for lunch during a full day visit. Saves packing picnics.
Adventure Playground
For younger children. Near the visitor centre. A place to burn energy before or after other activities.
Parking
On site. Coillte charges €6 per vehicle for entry to the forest park. This is separate from any activity bookings.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
Lough Key is off the N4 between Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle. Well signposted. Approximately two hours from Dublin, ninety minutes from Galway, one hour from Sligo.
How Long to Allow
Minimum half a day for a meaningful visit. A full day to explore properly or combine multiple activities.
Sample Itineraries
Half day (3-4 hours): ZipIt courses (3 hours), quick lunch at café, depart.
Full day (6-7 hours): Morning: ZipIt courses. Lunch: Café or picnic. Afternoon: Tree canopy walk, forest walking, or cycling.
Full day with variety: Morning: Kayaking (check availability). Lunch: Café. Afternoon: ZipIt courses.
Family day with young children: Tree canopy walk, adventure playground, short forest walk, café lunch, optional ZipIt if children are 7+.
Booking
Book ZipIt online in advance. Other activities may have separate booking, especially kayaking and boat tours. Check current arrangements.
Practical Information
Parking charge: €6 per vehicle (Coillte). Separate from activity costs.
ZipIt pricing: Check the website for current rates. Gift vouchers available.
What to wear: Outdoor clothes and closed-toe shoes with grip for ZipIt. Comfortable walking shoes for trails. Layers recommended as forest temperature varies.
Weather: ZipIt runs in rain. Other activities may be more affected. The forest provides shelter but you will get wet in heavy rain.
Toilets: Available at the visitor centre. Note these are approximately a five-minute walk from the ZipIt courses.
Food: Café on site. Picnic areas throughout the park.
Minimum age for ZipIt: 7 years old.
Who Lough Key Suits
Families wanting a full day out
Enough activities to fill a day without feeling forced. Different options for different ages and interests. Café on site means no complex food logistics.
Visitors from the west of Ireland
The only ZipIt in Connacht. Accessible from Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon without the trek to Dublin or Cork.
Those seeking variety
Forest, lake, adventure, walking, cycling, water activities. More dimensions than single-purpose attractions.
Multi-generational groups
Activities for different ages and abilities. Grandparents can walk while parents do the ropes courses with older children. Everyone meets at the café.
Corporate and school groups
Team building with options to extend the day. Schools can combine adventure with environmental education.
Overnight visitors
Accommodation in Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon. The park merits staying nearby rather than rushing through.
Accommodation Nearby
For those making a longer trip:
Carrick-on-Shannon
Twenty minutes from the park. Busy town with hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, pubs. Popular for group trips, so it handles visitors well.
Boyle
Ten minutes from the park. Quieter than Carrick. Sufficient accommodation and food options. Closer for early starts.
Rural options
Country houses and B&Bs scattered around the area. Quieter, more character, requires car.
Best Times to Visit
Spring: Bluebells in the forest. Longer days returning. Good availability before summer rush.
Summer: Busiest period. All activities running. Book well in advance for weekends.
Autumn: Forest colours in the broadleaf areas. Beautiful light. Less crowded than summer.
Winter: The park operates year-round, though some activities may be seasonal. Shorter days. The forest has a different character in winter. Dress warmly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately two hours by car via the N4.
Yes, Coillte charges €6 per vehicle for parking and park access. This is separate from activity bookings.
Yes. Three hours for ZipIt leaves time for the tree canopy walk, walking, or cycling. A full day allows more combinations.
Check current opening times, which may vary seasonally.
In the forest park generally, yes (on leads). Not on the ZipIt courses or tree canopy walk.
ZipIt runs in rain. The forest provides some shelter for walking. The visitor centre and café offer indoor time. Not ideal in heavy rain but manageable.
Book Your Visit
ZipIt Lough Key offers high ropes and ziplines in one of Ireland’s finest forest parks. Three hours of adventure, plus walking, cycling, kayaking, and more.
Book online or contact the team to check availability.
