Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail
Walking Trail · Laois
Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail is a 2.2 km easy waymarked loop in Laois, starting near Rathdowney 6.7km and Ballacolla Services M8.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 30 mins |
Getting there
Starts at Car Park at Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve, near Rathdowney 6.7km and Ballacolla Services M8 1.1km.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.86586, -7.49789
- Irish Grid reference
- S 337 796
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 60
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
Irregular local services
About the trail
Managed by National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, this trail follows well constructed tracks through this woodland nature reserve along the shore and through the adjacent woodland around secluded Granstown Lake hidden within the surrounding woodland in this serene nature reserve with pleasant views.
- Waymarking
- Green arrow on white background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
National Parks & Wildlife Service Granstown
National Parks & Wildlife Service Granstown
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Lake Trail 0 m away · 2.2 km trail
- Cullahill - Binnianea Loop 5.6 km away · 9.7 km trail
- Cullahill - Heathy Way Loop Walk 5.6 km away · 6.3 km trail
- Durrow Leafy Loops - Dunmore Woods Loop 7.3 km away · 20 km trail
- Durrow Leafy Loops - Leafy Loop 7.3 km away · 14.3 km trail
- Abbeyleix Loops - Collins Bog Loop 11 km away · 4.4 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail?
2.2 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 30 mins.
How hard is the Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail start?
Starts at Car Park at Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve, near Rathdowney 6.7km and Ballacolla Services M8 1.1km. The trailhead is at 52.86586, -7.49789 (Irish Grid S 337 796).
Can you bring a dog on the Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Can you get to the Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail without a car?
Irregular local services.
Who manages the Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland Trail?
National Parks & Wildlife Service Granstown. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Laois
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.