Lough Key Forest and Activity Park was our very first stop on day two of our Ireland road trip. Set on the shores of Lough Key in County Roscommon, this sprawling former estate turned public park is one of the region’s best-known outdoor destinations — and while our own visit didn’t go entirely to plan, it was still a genuinely nice way to start the day.

Getting There and Parking

The park sits at coordinates 53.98538542736189, -8.234404913029252 and is easy to find, well signposted off the main roads around Boyle. One thing worth knowing before you go: parking right by the lake and the main visitor centre isn’t free. We paid €5 for parking on the day, so don’t expect to just pull in and wander off for free — budget for it as part of your visit.

What Lough Key Forest and Activity Park Actually Is

This isn’t just a car park and a viewpoint — it’s a genuinely large estate with plenty of space to walk, explore, and spend a few hours. The land was once part of the Rockingham estate, home to a grand house designed in the early 1800s by the architect John Nash (also known for London’s Regent’s Park and Regent Street). The house itself burned down in 1957, and today the grounds have been turned into a public forest park with walking trails, landscaped lawns, and views out across the lake to its islands.

McDermott’s Castle: What You’d Hope to See

The main reason many visitors — us included — come to Lough Key is the view out to McDermott’s Castle, a striking ruined structure perched on Castle Island just off the shore. The island has a long history tied to the McDermott clan, who ruled the surrounding area (once known as Moylurg) from the 12th century onward, with the original castle here dating back centuries and playing a role in medieval sieges of Connacht. What stands on the island today is actually a 19th-century folly castle, built by Lord Lorton as a decorative summerhouse in the style of the earlier ruin, which was later gutted by fire shortly before the Second World War and remains in that condition today.

We’d planned to get a proper look at the castle and fly our drone around it, but with a lot of other visitors around at the time, we decided against it and left the drone in the van. If you’re hoping for the same shot, it’s worth checking how busy the area is first, or coming a little earlier or later in the day.

Other Activities on Offer

Lough Key Forest and Activity Park is set up as a proper family activity destination, and even though we only did the walk and visitor centre on this visit, there’s a lot more available if you have more time:

• Rockingham Remembered Tour — a self-guided walking tour covering 19th-century servant tunnels beneath the old house’s footprint, the Moylurg Viewing Tower, and Ireland’s first Tree Canopy Walk, rising 10 metres above the ground and running 350 metres in length.
• Boda Borg: Experience the Quest — described as Ireland’s only real-life computer game, a team-based challenge requiring 3–5 people working together through dozens of physical and mental puzzles with no instructions given.
• Adventure Play Kingdom — an outdoor playground suitable for children up to 12 years old.
• Zipit Forest Adventures — a high-wire forest adventure course with ziplines, cargo nets, and obstacles through the treetops, run as an independent activity within the park.
• Lough Key Boats — guided boat tours around the lake and its islands, including the legends tied to the area, plus rowing boat hire.
• Kayaking with P Mac’s Kayaks — guided kayak tours along the estate’s original canals and out to Trinity Island’s monastic ruins.
• Combination Day Pass — a bundled ticket covering the Rockingham Remembered Tour, Boda Borg, and Adventure Play Kingdom for better value if you’re planning to do more than one activity.

With this much on offer, it’s easy to see why the park attracts everything from a quick lakeside walk to a full day out for families.

Our Lough Key Forest Park visit on video

The drone plan didn’t work out, but the lake walk made up for it. Here’s what our first stop of Day 2 looked like.

Lough Key Forest Park: 🎥 See our morning walk along the lake and a look inside the visitor centre – watch from 0:44.

Or watch the full video of our second day in Ireland, from Lough Key to the wild Gleniff Horseshoe.

Practical Information

• Parking: not free — we paid €5 on the day; check current signage on-site, as rates can change.
• Grounds access: the walking trails and lawns around the lake are open to explore as part of your visit.
• Paid activities: Rockingham Remembered Tour, Boda Borg, Adventure Play Kingdom, and Zipit are all separately ticketed, with combination passes available for better value.
• Boat trips and kayaking: run as independent operators within the park, best booked in advance.

For exact current prices and opening times, it’s worth checking the official Lough Key Forest and Activity Park website before you go, as admission charges are subject to change.

Where We Went Next

From here, we headed on to the Arigna Mining Experience, a former coal mine turned underground tour a short drive away on the Roscommon–Leitrim border — a genuine highlight of the day and a solid follow-up if you’re doing this route yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is parking free at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park? No. Parking near the lake and visitor centre is paid — we were charged €5 on the day of our visit.

Can you visit McDermott’s Castle on Castle Island? The castle itself is a ruin on an island in the lake and isn’t open for public access on foot — it’s viewed from the shore or via boat tours around the lake.

Is Lough Key Forest and Activity Park good for a short visit? Yes. Even without booking any of the paid activities, a walk around part of the lake and a stop at the visitor centre make for a worthwhile, relaxed hour or two.

What activities are available at the park? The main paid attractions include the Rockingham Remembered Tour (tunnels, viewing tower, tree canopy walk), Boda Borg, Adventure Play Kingdom, Zipit Forest Adventures, plus boat tours and guided kayaking.

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Planning your own Ireland road trip? Check our Rindoon Castle post, our Three Ireland prepaid SIM post, and our Ireland facts before you go.