Acres of beautifully landscaped walks around the estate. I didn't have any expectations when…read morevisiting the first time last week and was really surprised at how well kept it is. The old Oak/Beech trees are enormous, they must be hundreds of years old.

Doneraile Wildlife Park is beautiful park, full of rolling hills and secluded trails. There's a few…read moredeer herds on site, and the excellent playground to keeps the smallies busy as well. There's plenty of great spots for a picnic. There's also a tea room, just make sure to check the Heritage Ireland site for opening hours as these change seasonally.

I spent some time at this park after walking miles through Cork. My feet were throbbing and I was…read morein desperate need of a break. I found a bench by the river and sat for a while. The wind was lovely and it wasn't raining and the bench was in the shade so I got to sit for a good long while. I popped in my earbuds and listened to an audiobook and it was peaceful bliss. There are public bathrooms but they are paid so I avoided them. There are lots of benches and trash cans around so the park is fairly clean. Once you move away from the playground there aren't too many children and it's not too noisy, so it's the perfect place to relax for a bit.

A lovely little park (a mile or so outside the centre of Cork) which flanks the River Lee, well…read morelooked after and very green and full of flowers (in season of course)! Daly's Bridge is worth walking over and you'll realise why its other name is the Shaky Bridge - it moves slightly when you walk or run.

I went to Farran Wood with my husband recently and I'm so glad that I did. There is plenty of…read moreparking, toilets and a playground. I found this place to be beautiful and looking forward to going back again

FARRAN WOOD Been a while since I visited Farran Wood or…read moreFarran Forest Park to give it its full title. It is signposted from the main Cork-Macroom Road at Srelane (Ovens) and the entry fee is a fiver per vehicle. There is plenty of parking, toilets and a playground. The first and probably main attraction is the wildlife enclosure with large pond. Here, the red and fallow deer (including some very young inquisitive animals) come right up to the fence to say hello. The pond attracts duck and geese. There are two signed walks around the wood, the longer of which takes you down to the banks of the Inniscarra Reservoir, where the River Llee is held up to form a lake. The National Rowing Centre, which has its own entrance, is located within the park on the shores of the lake. Enjoyed my walk around the other day, even though the rain came down before the finish. Still, there was ample shelter under the trees. Headed then for the old shooting lodge which has been converted into a woodland ecology display centre but that was locked up. Temporary or permanent? There was no sign up but I have sent a query off to the Coillte and I'll let you know the answer.

MARDYKE SKATE PARK Many complaints when the kids were…read moreskate-boarding in front of the Opera House. Somebody heard and now there are at least two dedicated "parks", one in the Regional Park (Ballincollig) and the other in the Mardyke Walk. Passed the Mardyke facility this morning and there was just one dedicated skater practising but I'm sure, like the Ballincollig one, it is much busier at the weekends.

I have only been in the Regional Park a few times now and absolutely love wandering around. I have…read morewent for strolls with my husband or gone to exercise by myself and I really enjoy it. They have done up the park over the past few years and it looks great. There is a river, some streams and canals and much more to see in this park. I even found a fairy path this morning and I absolutely loved it, it is a great idea for kids and adults a like! There are places to play soccer/football and a playground for children as well. I really enjoy this park and recommend to go there if you are in the Ballincollig area

This is a fantastic out door space. There plenty of walks on even ground, greenery to view and a…read moreplayground for kids to play in. There are some outdoor exercise structures for adults to use too. I only wish I had more time to spend here. This is all paid for by the town's support so it is a wonderful place to enjoy for free! There is a nice coffee truck in the parking lot. I anticipate it gets full so try to visit in the morning!

THE GLEN RECREATIONAL PARK…read more The Glen Recreational Park is a good spot to take the dog for a walk. A little river runs through it and, split by a low level bridge (which has a Gaudi like sculpture alongside), there are two "lagoons" where the ducks and waterhens thrive. And in the middle of all this there is a soccer pitch, which is busy most Sunday mornings. The park also forms part of one of the now common Sli Na Slainte (Healthy Walk). But the 5k walk, which starts up by Mayfield Community School, is mostly outside of the Glen. Indeed, as the park is largely under-utilised, there is a standing caution against walking on one's own there, especially towards dusk and that despite the fact that City Council has a depot there. Still, on a good day, it is a very pleasant walk and I must say I enjoy my trips to the western end, which you must reach if you are to cover the full 5 kilometres of the Sli Na Slainte.

The Rock of Cashel is a historic site in County Tipperary that was the seat of the Kings of Munster…read morebefore becoming a religious site. It is a complex of medieval buildings on a limestone outcrop, including a 13th-century cathedral, a round tower, and a 12th-century Romanesque chapel called Cormac's Chapel. Legend states that Saint Patrick converted the King of Munster here in the 5th century, and the site is also known as St. Patrick's Rock. This description just scratches the historical surface as centuries of church, government, and colonial generations have come and gone here. As our tour bus pulled into Cashel, you really can't miss this place as it dominates the skyline. We hiked up the hill and it was damn cold and windy up there! And as we wandered through the Cathedral and around other buildings, a historical timeline unfolded with the help of our guide. It's really a spectacular sight of which my posted pictures don't really get to the heart of this place or which only shells remain.

We drove up and entered right around opening. We had to pay for parking. The only bathrooms were…read morelocated here as an FYI. The walk up was not difficult for us just at an incline. With our Heritage Card we gained free admission and did the self tour. Unfortunately the guided tour of the chapel wasn't until late morning so we could not see it due to our schedule. The chapel undergoes UV radiation as a means to conserve the remaining 12th century wall paintings. Only a limited number of people can visit per day. The original St Patrick's cross had been moved indoors for preservation but that room was under renovation so wasn't accessible. We settled for the panoramic views of the countryside which was beautiful on the sunny, clear day. The cavernous ruins were quite nice to walk around and we came across some very faint wall paintings on the wall behind the chapel. A taste of what we missed inside the chapel.

LEE FIELDS WALK 21.07.10 Nowadays, you may begin the Lee…read moreFields Walk at the southern side of Wellington Bridge but if you have a car you'd be better off to park it at the start of the Straight Road (on the right). As you move along the tarmac path, the river is on your right and there are good views of the Municipal Waterworks and the long building (formerly the hospital) and, on the left, the County Hall. Continue now behind the Kingsley Hotel which seems to have suffered a fatal blow in last winter's floods and soon you are in the traditional Lee Fields walk where quite a few other people are normally out and about. The river is often a hive of activity, canoes and swimmers in the water. There is an extension to the Lee Fields Walk along the farm fields of Carrigrohane. The river is close on your right and some decent views open out: houses on the opposite bank and in the higher ground above, perhaps horses grazing, river birdlife, nice stands of trees, wild flowers and fishermen also. The path at the start of the extended walk is packed earth, a few feet wide. Later this becomes just a single line in the grass, but easily followed, all the way to a gate and exit at the end of the straight road. THE LEE FIELDS 10.11.09 Though its main attraction, the public swimming baths, has long since gone, the Lee Fields on the Western side of the city, is still used by citizens and visitors alike. The baths may be gone but there is still a small group of hardy swimmers that can be seen in all seasons taking a dip in the river. Here the walks are relatively long so you can exercise yourself and the dog or vice versa. Plenty of space to walk and jog along the riverside path and the grassy area can be used to stretch out on the sunny days. Workers from nearby offices (including the County Hall) can take the air and have a snack on the grass during lunchtime. Impromptu games of football take place here and, from the river bank, you can also see the fishermen and canoeists in action. The Lee Fields "where we sported and played" have been occasionally used for open air concerts but are generally left to the joggers and the strollers and the courting couples!

CORK ESTUARY WALK Great day today to sample the estuary walk…read morethat starts near Blackrock Castle, where there are two car parks, and ends near the Rochestown Inn. Or vice versa, of course. It is a pleasant walk by the harbour where you can see the ships coming and going and the birds feeding (if the tide is out). It was in this morning and that made the scenic side of it all the more attractive. It is not the most scenic walk in the city but it is very popular and that should make it safer if you are on your own. It is also a very clean walk as a solid pathway is laid out for your convenience. Perhaps the high point comes as you return towards the castle and take in the fine view of one of Cork's most famous buildings.

We love visiting zoos and this one is very well maintained and reasonably priced. An easy train…read moreride from Cork City which stops right at the Zoo entrance. The park is well maintained and an easy loop trail gets you up and close with the animals. We are most impressed with the free roaming (careless) Lemurs who would walk right around you and up the walls and doors as you toured their exhibit. Very cool. They also have feeding opportunities for giraffes. We enjoyed the cool grounds and various animals.

Since we were staying for a few days in Cork for my baby's first family vacation, we were looking…read morefor some family-friendly things to do, and my husband found Fota Wildlife Park. We bought tickets online (I believe you can save a few Euro per ticket). Kids 3 and under are free. We opted for the 9:30 to 11:30 time slot and got there at around 11. I'm not sure how strict they are with it, but it wasn't too crowded on the Tuesday that we went. Though there were some camp/school groups that started rolling in at around 12 or so. I believe you can also bring your own food if you choose, since there was a picnic area with plenty of tables. The bathrooms are relatively clean, for a zoo. The park is pretty big. There is a train that goes from one end of the park to the other for €1, or €2 for a roundtrip. It made no sense since it's not like you're saving any money by buying a roundtrip, but we did anyway. You just purchase the ticket before you board. We didn't end up using the ticket on the way back because we had just missed the train and it was quicker to walk back - so we just ended up giving it to someone who was entering the park as we left. We spent a leisurely two hours there and saw everything. Of course, the most impressive animals to see were the giraffes, which are near the entrance, so you won't miss it. Tip - they don't have paper maps for free at the park, so you can either print your own ahead of time (the sizing is weird though) or just take a picture of it at the park and look at it through your phone.