Cratloe Woods

Cratloe Woods lies just outside the village of Cratloe in the south-east of County Clare, on the slopes of Woodcock Hill. Managed by Coillte as part of a state forest that extends to some 700 hectares, the woodland looks out over the estuary of the River Shannon and makes an easy, welcoming spot for a woodland walk close to Shannon Airport and Limerick.

The name comes from the Irish for ‘land of sallow trees’, and the site was originally primeval oak woodland. A walking trail of around two kilometres leads out from the car park, and an extensive network of forest roads beyond it allows visitors to extend the walk over several hours or follow one of the longer signposted loops. On higher ground the woods open up to views across the Shannon and the surrounding countryside.

The site is geared towards families, with a children’s playground, picnic tables and seating near a small lake, making it well suited to a relaxed day out. Parking is available beside the woods.

Cratloe’s oak has long featured in local tradition: the timber is said to have been used for the roof of Westminster Hall in London, and older accounts link the woods to the building of royal halls in early Ireland. These stories are part of the area’s folklore rather than firmly documented history, but they reflect the long-standing reputation of Cratloe’s oak.