Flavours of the Heartlands

Start your tour of County Cavan’s lakelands as you mean to continue: sampling signature local flavours courtesy of The Oak Room Restaurant, where chef Norbert Neylon brings a modern touch to traditional produce such as herb-crusted Cavan lamb.

Relax at McCaul’s Bar with a taster from a menu of 60 Irish whiskies, paired with Aine’s Hand Made Chocolates and Belturbet’s raw-milk trilogy of Corleggy cheese. Alternatively, stock up on Corleggy at Friday morning’s Cavan’s Farmers Market, where you can pick up more local cheeses, preserves, and delicious home-baked goods.

The Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark takes in some of Cavan and Fermanagh’s most intriguing landscapes. On the Fermanagh side, the Marble Arch Caves offer subterranean boat tours and a glimpse of a mysterious underground world. If you prefer to stick to the surface, head to the adjacent Cavan Burren Park which is home to prehistoric tombs and amazing geological wonders that are said to have been formed in a tropical sea some 340 million years ago. Once you’ve finished exploring one of the five walking trails and the interpretative centre on site, recharge your batteries with lunch or dinner at the 200-year-old Olde Post Inn. Afterwards, stick around and stay for the night in one of its luxurious en-suite rooms, ready for your next adventure tomorrow!

If you have more time, book a themed class at the Neven Maguire Cookery School to meet Ireland’s most amenable chef, cookery author and champion of local produce.

Lough Melvin in north Leitrim is angling heaven, with plentiful trout and often salmon, too. Mere miles from the seashore, the menu at The Courthouse in Kinlough is shellfish heavy, featuring Mullaghmore lobster, mussels and cockles, crab and sea urchins handled with skilful simplicity by Sardinian chef Piero Melis.

South of Lough Melvin, The Organic Centre is Ireland’s leading organic horticultural educational hub. Tour the gardens for inspiration on growing your own food, book a class or catch a seasonal celebration such as the Apple Day Harvest held every year in September.

Carrick-on-Shannon town has contemporary culture and historic heritage, high-adrenaline thrills, laidback waterways and lively nightlife – and some exceptional eating for all appetites. Try the award-winning The Oarsman for elevated pub fare such as lamb belly and pan fried hake; the Buffalo Boy steakhouse and whiskey bar for a protein fix; or The Barrelstore for pizza and local Carrig Brewing beers. Detour to The Cottage Restaurant in Jamestown for Malaysian-born chef Shamzuri Hanifa’s fusion twist on meticulously sourced and homegrown produce.

If you have more time, head to Mohill to indulge in afternoon tea at Lough Rynn Castle Estate, set within 300 acres of idyllic natural beauty. You could stay at the castle overnight as well if you’re feeling really fancy!

Looking for incredible adventure and great food? Then you’ve come to the right place. County Roscommon may not be a household name, but it’s the very definition of hidden gem with the gorgeous Lough Key and its 350 hectares of woodlands, local myths and legends at the Royal Site of Rathcroghan, and fantastic history, such as the 12th century Boyle Abbey and 13th century Roscommon Castle.

Once you’ve finished exploring, it’s time to tuck into lunch at Benny’s Deli, a family-run bakery, restaurant and delicatessen in Castlerea. Benny O’Connell opened the shop in 1981 and it has thrived ever since! It even has a refill section for those who’d like to try zero waste living.

For dinner, you have to stop at Gleeson’s Townhouse in Roscommon town. They serve up classic comforts such as lasagne and fish and chips alongside simple, yet hearty sandwiches such as Cajun chicken on ciabatta bread. If that sends you into a delightful food coma, you can settle in for the night in a room upstairs. An alternative would be the award-winning Old Stone Restaurant, where head chefs and owners, Ray and Mags O’Connor deliver delicious dishes such as fresh fig and goats cheese or wild mushroom and vegetable roulade.

Join husband and wife team, Fiona and Michael Egan, at Cloughan Farm & Cookery School where not only will they teach you how to cook an excellent breakfast, lunch or dinner, they will even introduce you to their hens and let you feed the lambs! If you’re interested in developing your skills in the kitchen, you can sign up for an evening, half-day or full day cookery class where you’ll work with ingredients grown and picked from the farm. After preparing a delicious meal, you can sit down with your fellow classmates and chat over drinks about your amazing experience.

If you have more time, get to know more of the incredible lands in Longford by heading to the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre where you’ll find the preserved remains of a wooden Iron Age bog road, dating back to around 148BC.

Named after Luain, an innkeeper who manned an ancient ford in the mighty Shannon, the town of Athlone has kept those traditions of friendly hospitality alive. That inn is now Sean’s Bar, one of Ireland’s oldest pubs. It’s tucked beside Athlone Castle, a 12th-century Norman stronghold, in the medieval Left Bank, a hub of great places to eat.

Try the Left Bank Bistro for a baked ham and farmhouse cheddar sandwich; Kin Khao Thai for a fine curry; or Lowe & Co. organic grocery store to browse local treats such as Feighery’s Farm beetroot and apple juice. Across the river, Thyme Restaurant is an ode to Midlands producers, while vegetarians are surprisingly well catered for at The Fatted Calf, with dishes such as Uchi Chi Kuri squash risotto with chestnut pesto.

Discover the heritage of Midlands whiskey at Tullamore D.E.W. and Kilbeggan distilleries, and taste the sublime whiskies on offer here. There’s also Dead Centre Brewing which offers an interactive and hands-on brewing experience where you can try three Dead Centre Beers at the end of the tour.

If you have more time, stop by The Thatch pub in Crinkill, County Offaly. It’s been owned by the Connole family for over 200 years, and offers contemporary Irish cuisine or delicious light bites alongside a Guinness under its thatched roof.

If you want to try fine dining in Ireland, there’s no better place to go than Lignum in County Galway. Its simple ethos is to showcase the amazing local ingredients and the producers that grow them. While you won’t know what’s on the menu before you go, you can see what’s in their “larder”, a list of seasonal ingredients and foods that will be featured throughout the meal. The food may be sophisticated, but the emphasis here is on offering guests a fun atmosphere, so you can relax and enjoy the experience.

Stay the night at Lough Rea Hotel which has fabulous views overlooking Lough Rea. You can even treat yourself to a pamper session at the spa!

The cluster of villages at the southerly tip of Lough Derg are fertile ground for delicious experiences. After an evening spent enjoying the Lough Derg Gin Cruise from Ballina Quay, the Killaloe Farmers Market is a perfect way to enjoy your Sunday morning. If you’re here during the week, head to The Wooden Spoon café, which is beloved for its healthy lunches alongside its indulgent home-baked goodies.

A 20-minute spin away in Scarriff, Irish Seed Savers Association is a must for gardeners and horticulturists with 20 acres of beautiful organic seed gardens, heritage orchards and native woodland trails. Drop in to browse, catch a workshop or head to an open day when they fire up the cobb oven. In August, the Scariff Harbour Festival often host events at the Community Co-Op Gardens, where you’ll find the plant-based Garden Café and a friendly welcome year-round.

If you have more time, sample complimentary tasters of chocolate deliciousness at Wilde Irish Chocolates real life chocolate factory!

Around the market town of Nenagh is a walker’s paradise, from the dramatic Silvermine Mountains to Lough Derg’s gentle shoreline. Good starting points for packing a picnic are Nenagh’s Country Market and Nenagh’s Farmers’ Market, held on Fridays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, Country Choice Delicatessen and Café is a trove of gourmet treasures such as local farmhouse sheep’s milk, Cáis na Tíre.

Alternatively, book into The Derg Inn in picturesque Terryglass for decent pub grub. Nearby, Brookfield Farm’s event days offer a behind-the-scenes introduction to Ailbhe Gerrard’s wildflower honey and hand-dipped beeswax candles, while Ashley Park House is fly fishing heaven.

If you have more time, explore Cloughjordan Ecovillage, a hub for sustainable living and Community Supported Agriculture and home to Riot Rye Bakehouse & Bread School, as well as the Sheelagh na Gig bookshop and café.