- Slieve Bloom Mountains Loop (Kinnitty Circuit): A classic hilly route through the heart of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, starting from Kinnitty village with challenging climbs, forested descents, and panoramic views over midland boglands and glens.
- Slieve Bloom Way Cycle Route (Cadamstown to Clonaslee): A scenic circuit on minor roads and forest tracks around the northern Slieve Blooms, passing waterfalls, ancient woodlands, and quiet valleys in this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Grand Canal Greenway (Portarlington to Vicarstown): A flat, traffic-free towpath section along the historic Grand Canal through east Laois, offering peaceful waterside cycling with barges, locks, and easy connections to Kildare trails.
- Rock of Dunamase Loop: A gentle undulating route from Portlaoise to the iconic Rock of Dunamase ruins, using quiet country lanes with views of the dramatic hilltop castle and surrounding fertile plains.
- Emo Court and Gardens Circuit: A relaxed loop starting near Emo village, combining quiet roads with estate paths around the neoclassical Emo Court demesne, featuring parkland, lakes, and tree-lined avenues ideal for leisurely rides.
- Abbeyleix to Timahoe Rural Lanes: A peaceful circuit through south Laois on minor roads, linking the heritage town of Abbeyleix with the picturesque round tower at Timahoe, passing demesnes, woodlands, and traditional farmland.
- Stradbally to Mountmellick Green Corridor: A moderate route on backroads and quiet lanes through central Laois, connecting historic market towns with views of the Slieve Blooms and opportunities to visit steam railway heritage in Stradbally.
- Durrow to Cullohill Quiet Lanes Loop: A serene southern Laois circuit using bóithríns and minor roads past Castle Durrow estate, ancient ring forts, and rolling countryside, offering a tranquil immersion in the county’s hidden rural charm.
Laois offers a serene blend of historic sites and natural landscapes, with the Rock of Dunamase providing panoramic views from its ancient castle ruins. Emo Court’s elegant Georgian mansion and gardens offer a peaceful retreat, while the Slieve Bloom Mountains provide hiking trails through rolling hills. The historic town of Portlaoise and its markets make Laois an inviting choice for heritage and outdoor pursuits. Laois is Ireland’s ninth smallest county by size (1,719 square km) and tenth smallest by population (91,877).
Laois:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
Cycling
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
