Doon Forest

Doon Forest sits on the shores of Doon Lake in County Clare, a short drive northwest of the village of Broadford. Woodland has grown here since prehistoric times, and the setting combines lakeshore, farmland and forestry into a quiet spot for a walk close to nature. The trees around the lake are chiefly birch and alder, while the older oak woodland at nearby Violet Hill dates back to the mid-nineteenth century.

The forest is a good place to look for wildlife. Red squirrels and pine marten live in the woods, and the lake and its margins draw a range of birds, among them owls, wood pigeons, jays, and waterbirds such as swans, herons and coots. Walkers can follow forest paths and lakeside routes, and the East Clare Way long-distance trail passes to the west of Doon Lake for those wanting to continue further afield.

There is real history layered into the landscape. The site once held Doon Mulvihill, a tower house raised on the location of an ancient fort, and the ruined Teerovannan Castle, a fifteenth-century McNamara stronghold, stands nearby. In 1986 three submerged canoes, estimated to be some 2,000 to 2,500 years old, were recovered from the lake, a reminder of how long people have lived and travelled along these waters.

Facilities at Doon are straightforward and low-key, with a car park and lay-by, a lakeshore picnic area, and opportunities for fishing. It suits a relaxed couple of hours outdoors and is well suited to families and to walkers bringing a dog.