Knockbarron Wood, Kinnitty, Co Offaly

What It's always a great time to visit Knockbarron Wood and exploring the 5km Eco Walk is the ideal way to understand all there is to see here. The most dramatic features are the two eskers that were deposited here when the glaciers that once covered Ireland melted. These ridge-like mounds are made of sand, gravel and rock that the glaciers picked up as they moved across the landscape. The best time of year to view these eskers is winter when the vegetation is least abundant. If you visit in spring however, you'll be treated to woodland carpeted in a blaze of bluebells. In summer, the rare smooth newt, Ireland's only tailed amphibian, breeds in The Marsh. And, in autumn, there are all manner of fungi and mushrooms to marvel at.

Start/Finish From Knockbarron Wood car park

Getting there Follow the Rath/Kilcormack road from Kinnitty for 2.2km. At the crossroads, turn right and you'll see a sign indicating the start of the walk. Continue a further 1km to the car park.

Level Moderate - while relatively quick, this walk has some short but punchy climbs and descents so is more suited to older kids.

Length/Time 5km /2 hours