Leinster has 25 visitable statutory nature reserves and one national park, spread across 8 of its 12 counties, from Dublin Bay’s wintering wildfowl to the raised bogs of the midlands and the oak woods of Wicklow. Wicklow Mountains National Park is the largest in Ireland and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of bog, heath and upland lake within reach of the city. Each is open to the public, and we have linked the county guide alongside so you can build a day around a visit.
Nature reserves & parks by county
| County | Reserves |
|---|---|
| Wicklow | 7 |
| Dublin | 4 |
| Kilkenny | 4 |
| Laois | 4 |
| Offaly | 4 |
| Wexford | 3 |
| Kildare | 1 |
| Westmeath | 1 |
The wild places worth the trip
The marquee parks and reserves, the ones to build a day out around:
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (National Park). Ireland’s largest national park and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of blanket bog, heath, oak woodland and upland lakes south of Dublin.
- Glendalough Nature Reserve. Ancient oak woodland in the glacial valley of the two lakes, alongside the early-medieval monastic city.
- North Bull Island Nature Reserve. A UNESCO biosphere on a sandy island in Dublin Bay, internationally important for wintering wildfowl and waders.
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. The North Slob polders by Wexford Harbour, winter home to a third of the world’s Greenland white-fronted geese, with a visitor centre and hides.
- Clara Bog Nature Reserve. One of the largest and best-preserved raised bogs left in Ireland, with a boardwalk and a visitor centre at Clara.
- Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve. Blanket bog and heath across the high Slieve Bloom plateau, with waymarked walking and the Glenbarrow trail.
- Pollardstown Fen Nature Reserve. The largest remaining spring-fed fen in Ireland, on the edge of the Curragh, with a boardwalk.
Nature reserves in Wicklow
Wicklow holds a national park and 6 reserves open to visitors:
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (National Park). Ireland’s largest national park and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of blanket bog, heath, oak woodland and upland lakes south of Dublin.
- Glendalough Nature Reserve. Ancient oak woodland in the glacial valley of the two lakes, alongside the early-medieval monastic city.
- Glenealo Valley Nature Reserve. Upland heath, blanket bog and the Glenealo river above Glendalough’s upper lake.
- Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve. A steep wooded glen of sessile oak, one of the few semi-natural oak woods left in the east.
- Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve. Mixed woodland and a fast river gorge at Enniskerry, with an NPWS education centre.
- Deputy’s Pass Nature Reserve. Oak and birch woodland on the slopes near Rathnew.
- Vale of Clara Nature Reserve. An extensive semi-natural oak woodland along the Avonmore river.
All Wicklow nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Wicklow →
Nature reserves in Dublin
Dublin holds a national park and 3 reserves open to visitors:
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (National Park). Ireland’s largest national park and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of blanket bog, heath, oak woodland and upland lakes south of Dublin.
- North Bull Island Nature Reserve. A UNESCO biosphere on a sandy island in Dublin Bay, internationally important for wintering wildfowl and waders.
- Rogerstown Estuary Nature Reserve. A tidal estuary near Rush that is a key roost for Brent geese and other wintering birds.
- Baldoyle Estuary Nature Reserve. A sheltered north Dublin estuary and saltmarsh, important for wintering waterfowl.
All Dublin nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Dublin →
Nature reserves in Wexford
Wexford has 3 nature reserves open to visitors:
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. The North Slob polders by Wexford Harbour, winter home to a third of the world’s Greenland white-fronted geese, with a visitor centre and hides.
- The Raven Nature Reserve. A planted pine forest on a sand spit north of Curracloe, fringed by dunes and a long beach.
- Ballyteigue Burrow Nature Reserve. A nine-kilometre sand-dune system on the south Wexford coast, rich in dune flora.
All Wexford nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Wexford →
Nature reserves in Kildare
Kildare has 1 nature reserve open to visitors:
- Pollardstown Fen Nature Reserve. The largest remaining spring-fed fen in Ireland, on the edge of the Curragh, with a boardwalk.
All Kildare nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Kildare →
Nature reserves in Offaly
Offaly has 4 nature reserves open to visitors:
- Clara Bog Nature Reserve. One of the largest and best-preserved raised bogs left in Ireland, with a boardwalk and a visitor centre at Clara.
- Raheenmore Bog Nature Reserve. A near-intact raised bog in a basin north-east of Tullamore.
- Mongan Bog Nature Reserve. A raised bog beside the monastic site of Clonmacnoise.
- Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve. Blanket bog and heath across the high Slieve Bloom plateau, with waymarked walking and the Glenbarrow trail.
All Offaly nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Offaly →
Nature reserves in Laois
Laois has 4 nature reserves open to visitors:
- Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve. Blanket bog and heath across the high Slieve Bloom plateau, with waymarked walking and the Glenbarrow trail.
- Timahoe Esker Nature Reserve. A wooded glacial esker ridge near Timahoe, a fine example of post-glacial landform.
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature Reserve. A semi-natural wet woodland in the Laois midlands.
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature Reserve. Ancient woodland and a marl lake, an unusual pairing of habitats in south Laois.
All Laois nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Laois →
Nature reserves in Kilkenny
Kilkenny has 4 nature reserves open to visitors:
- Ballykeeffe Wood Nature Reserve. Broadleaf woodland in a sheltered limestone valley west of Kilkenny city, with a walking loop.
- Fiddown Island Nature Reserve. A willow-wooded island in the River Suir, a rare riverine woodland habitat.
- Garryricken Wood Nature Reserve. Old broadleaf woodland in the south Kilkenny countryside.
- Kyleadohir Wood Nature Reserve. A small semi-natural woodland reserve in County Kilkenny.
All Kilkenny nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Kilkenny →
Nature reserves in Westmeath
Westmeath has 1 nature reserve open to visitors:
- Scragh Bog Nature Reserve. A small calcareous fen and bog north of Mullingar, noted for its rare plant communities.
All Westmeath nature reserves on npws.ie →
Make a day of it: things to do in Westmeath →
Source: National Parks & Wildlife Service (npws.ie).