BERNICE HARRISONon alternatives to movies and the mall
Laois Walks Festival
It’s not often you can say that the start of the week was too hot for walking. This weekend promises to be cooler, however, and next week could be perfect, particularly if you’re heading for Co Laois, whose eighth annual walks festival continues until July 18th.
This year’s event features 18 guided walks through some of the most scenic parts of the county, taking in the Glen of Monicknew, the magnificent Emo Court demesne and Spink, the townland traversing the hills of the 16th-century Cooper estate, where you’ll arrive at a panoramic viewing point of six counties: Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Kildare and Tipperary. Many walks include sections of the Slieve Bloom Way, a great taster of a beautiful walk.
The walks are graded. Routes marked with an A are quite difficult; Y walks are buggy friendly; and a W means they are wheelchair accessible. They start in 12 locations throughout the county.
Today’s walk starts at the cattle mart in Mountrath at 5pm. It’s a three-hour grade B, seven kilometres long, through the glens of the Slieve Blooms. It’s unsuitable for very small children, though older ones should manage.
You register before each walk, paying €2 per walk or €20 for a festival ticket.
Bring water, a snack and raingear (you never know), and wear suitable footwear. Details of all 18 walks are on www.laoistourism.ie