Derrycassin Woodland Trail

Derrycassin Wood is scenically located on the shores of Lough Gowna in Dring, County Longford. The forest covers an area of 179 acres and includes three walks: the Nature Trail, the Walled Garden Walk and the Main Avenue Walk.

Distance: 3.5km-1.25km depending on your route
Signposted routes
Parking available
Picnic benches and playground

Biodiversity

There are a variety of tree species, wild flowers and fungi to admire, although what you find will depend on the time of year you visit.

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You may see some low linear hills that date back to the ice age, as well as the remains of a rath or ringfort, which dates between 500-1500 AD.

History of Derrycassin Woods

Derrycassin Woods were once part of a larger estate that belonged to the Dopping Heppenstall family.

Derrycassin House was built in 1760 and at the time boasted beautiful walled gardens and an orchard that supplied the main house with fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, the house no longer exists, but an afternoon spent walking the woods and taking in the splendid views of the lovely Lough Gowna transports the visitor back in time, as many of the tracks are broadly the same as those used by the original owners.

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The lands of Derrycassin were acquired by the forestry department in the 1960s and are now managed as a commercial forest by Coillte.

Explore the Water

Before or after your exploration of the woodland, you can push a boat out at Dring Lake and make your way across the waters of Lough Gowna to Inchmore Island. St Columba (or Columbcille) established a monastery there in the sixth century. The ruins are still there to be explored, allowing you to contemplate the monastic life in splendid natural surroundings.

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