Bahana Forest

Bahana Forest is an old woodland site in County Carlow, sloping down to the banks of the River Barrow between Graiguenamanagh and St Mullins. The name is thought to derive from ‘beith’, the Irish word for birch. Managed by Coillte, the forest includes remnants of old oak woodland along with a fine stand of beech, and there is a diverse range of ground flora, with woodrush and broom particularly abundant.

The Bahana Forest Loop is an easy 4.5km trail of around an hour, starting from the car park at St Mullins Quay, where there is a picnic area and a seasonal restaurant and shop. Following river towpaths and forestry tracks, the route suits both beginner and more experienced walkers.

Thanks to its riverside setting, the forest supports a good variety of wildlife. Woodcock and pheasant are among the resident birds, while rabbits and red squirrels are often seen and the otter is occasionally glimpsed on the riverbank. Walkers can also continue along the towpath towards Tinnahinch and Graiguenamanagh, a route that forms part of the long-distance Barrow Way, which runs some 114km from St Mullins to Robertstown in County Kildare.