LOUGH KEY
Co. Roscommon
What’s Local

Get Active In Nature
Explore the green heartlands of Ireland’s natural beauty, where activity and relaxation are centred around rural communities. The Hidden Heartlands lifestyle can be discovered across a lattice work of land and water trails, showcased by the iconic river Shannon and the Beara Breifne Way.

Lough Key Visitor Centre & Activity Park
Zipit Lough Key is nestled in the stunning Lough Key Forest Park, which surrounds the waterway of Lough Key. Only 15 minutes drive from the cruising hub of Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim and only 10 minutes from the historic town of Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
After your exhilarating Zipit experience, you are likely to be be ravenous! Take the 10 minute stroll to the Lakeside Visitor Centre and Café, which will leave you spoilt for choice with it’s daily offerings of home baked food, childrens menu and gluten free options.
The ice-cream bar is a popular choice for cooling off after you have worked up a sweat at Zipit. On those glorious Irish sunny days, enjoy sitting outside on the decking, overlooking the marina, and the stunning Lough Key Lake.
If you are celebrating a birthday or family get together at Zipit, the Lough Key Café has a great party food menu (pre-booking required), with a private function room for business meetings or larger groups.
Inside the Visitor Centre, reception staff have a wealth of knowledge on the history of Lough Key and the surrounding areas. The gift shop has a variety of merchandise and the Centre has toilets and baby changing facilities.
Another attraction is Boda Borg – a ‘crystal maze’ experience. There is also Adventure Kingdom for the young adventurers and the Treetop Canopy Walk offers a leisurely stroll through the treetops.
Allow extra time to explore the beautiful lakeside, taking a rowing boat out to ‘Castle Island’ or stay on land and explore the 800 acres of parkland which has walking trails, cycling trails for bikes, electric bikes and segways and the recently developed Wheel-O trail for wheelchair users.
For more information on above please see www.loughkey.ie
Lough Key Visitor Centre & Activity Park

Carrick On Shannon & Boyle
Stay overnight at the on-site camping facilities in Lough Key for campervans, caravans and tents. Pre-booking is strongly advised, as this popular spot books up fast. Carrick and Boyle offer plenty of alternative accommodation, for families, couples and large groups.
Head into Carrick on Shannon for an amazing choice of food – pubs and restaurants abound, along with take-aways. See our food and drink tab for more information.
When you can pull yourself away from Lough Key and all its amenities, take time to explore with
Intriguing castles, lakeside trails and endless blueways. Cruising and Carrick on Shannon are synonymous, allowing you to experience panoramic views of the local countryside that simply cannot be accessed through any other form of transport.
Options to get off the beaten track are never far away in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and a cruise with Moon River Cruises delivers on panoramic views of the softly undulating horizon that simply cannot be accessed through any other form of transport!
Carrickcraft, Emerald Star and Silverline Cruisers, all offer a range of rental options from 2 – 10 berths. They will be able to suggest a variety of itineraries to help you on your way.
Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands – Yours to Uncover
Vittos Restaurant
Located in Carrick-on-Shannon, just a 15 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key.
Located in the heart of the beautiful and vibrant riverside town of Carrick On Shannon, Vittos Restaurant offers the very best in casual Italian and European in relaxed and informal surroundings.
The Oarsman
Just a 10 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key. Award winning restaurant in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
King House Tea Rooms
Military Road, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
The Stairs Gastro Pub
The Crescent, Termon, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, F52 KH95.
The Bazaar
The Bazaar Coffee Shop, Knocknashee, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, F52 KP96.
An Craoibhín
N61, Termon, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
Lough Keel Scout Campsite
Lough Keel Scout Campsite is situated 5 km from Boyle town and 10 km from Carrick-on-Shannon just off the N4 Dublin – Sligo route, adjacent to the renowned Lough Key Forest Park.
Courtyard Apartments
Located in Carrick-on-Shannon, just a 15 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key.
Courtyard Apartments offer a number of self catering accommodation options to comfortably cater for whatever size group you might have.
Carrick Self Catering
Carrick Self Catering accommodation is ideal for a relaxing getaway in the popular tourist town of Carrick on Shannon, just a 15 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key.
Carrick Plaza Suites
Located in Carrick-on-Shannon, just a 15 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key. At Carrick Plaza Suites you will find accommodation that is just a 2-minute walk to Carrick on Shannon town centre.
Lough Rynn Self Catering
3-bed houses located in Mohill, on the grounds of Lough Rynn Castle. Just a 30 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key.
The Landmark Hotel
Located in Carrick-on-Shannon, just a 15 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key. Enjoy 4* luxury hotel accommodation in a central location in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Bush Hotel
Located in Carrick-on-Shannon, just a 15 minute drive from Zipit Lough Key. Charming award-winning boutique heritage hotel in the centre of Carrick on Shannon, with open fires, themed lounges and bars, coffee shop and restaurant.
Rosdarrig B&B
R294 Carrick Rd, Letfordspark, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, F52 WO86
Riverhaven Log Cabins
Knockvicar House, Kilteasheen, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
Linsfort Guest House and Bed and Breakfast
Linsfort, Main Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
Lough Key House
Kilbryan, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
T: +353 87 678 7257
Forest Park House B&B
Ballykeevican, Boyle, Co. Roscommon
Athlone Springs Hotel
Just 5 Minutes from Athlone Town. Centrally located for activities in the midland region. Fully Equipped Gym and relaxing swimming pool.
Boda Borg
The innovative, Weather Independent Boda Borg is a Swedish concept unique to Ireland and is challenging for both adults and children.
Segway’s
Segway’s are two wheeled, battery powered Personal Transporters that are easy to use and so much fun.
Lough Key Tour Boat & Hire
Experience the history and tranquility that Lough Key has to offer by spending an hour relaxing, meeting new people and simply just enjoying the lake and sights with Lough Key Boat Tours.
Arigna Mining Experience
Arigna Mining Experience 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.
Electric Bike Trails
Electric Bike Trails provide a range of regular hybrid and electric bikes as well as a full range of children’s bikes, child carts and seats for hire at Leitrim Village for customers to cycle on the
Shannon Blueway between Leitrim Village and Drumshanbo (20km round trip, traffic free cycle suitable for all the family.
Baysports, Westmeath
Baysports is home to Irelands largest inflatable waterpark and holds the Guinness World Record for the Tallest floating slide in the World!
Shannon River Adventure, Roscommon
Shannon River Adventure is an outdoor adventure centre located on the banks of Lough Bofin providing water and land based activities on an instructor led basis.
Way To Go Adventures, Leitrim
Way To Go Adventures offers guided canoe tours, bike hire and advise on where to access the best walking or trekking routes in the Shannon Erne region of south Leitrim.
Irish Boat Rental Association, IBRA
The IBRA companies, Emerald Star, Carrickcraft, Locaboat and Silverline Cruisers, hire a total of 224 hire cruisers from 5 bases along the Shannon.
Lough Key Gardens
The Gardens is located 3.5km from Boyle town centre in the beautiful surroundings of Lough Key Forest Park. It is a family owned business run by the Mullarkey family who have have been serving the local people for over 40 years.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Learn a new skill and explore the scenic beauty of Lough Key and it’s Islands.