Jana Mannion, Tourism & Marketing Officer, Ballyhoura Development CLG, and Chris O’Callaghan from Trailriders at Ballyhoura Forest at the launch of the new Ballyhoura Trails Guide App. Photos: Diarmuid Greene

There's an app for that

A staycation is what you make of it from breakfast in bed to a relaxing massage but if the outdoors is what is calling you, read on.

With its reputation as a hidden tourist gem, Ballyhoura Country situated at the crossroads of Munster on the borders of counties Limerick, Cork and Tipperary is cementing this status with the launch of its new, modern and interactive app.

The Ballyhoura Trail Guide App is your personal guide to discover the region’s trails, where a world of outdoor adventure and cultural heritage is waiting to be explored. It will guide you effortlessly through the walking, road cycling and mountain biking trails, and help you discover places to stay, eat and explore nearby.

For walkers, hikers and nature lovers, the app contains Ballyhoura’s 21 waymarked trails, ranging in distance from 5km to 18km. They vary from easy strolls to challenging hikes through sandy roadways, woodland trails and forest paths.

Meanwhile, mountain bikers and adventure seekers can consult the app to see which of the 98km of trails on Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail, the largest trail network of its kind in Ireland they’d like to tackle.

From forest road climbs to tight twisty singletrack to technical rocky sections, the app will make it simple to plan your day’s adventure. The app also looks after road cyclists and bike touring enthusiasts, offering information on Ireland’s largest cycling hub’s four cycling routes in Kilmallock.

With distances varying from 16km to 82km, the Cycling Hub offers quiet country roads through some of Ireland’s most scenic countryside, while you will also encounter some of Ireland’s best Neolithic and medieval history in villages and towns on your route.

Jana Mannion, Tourism & Marketing Officer, Ballyhoura Development CLG said: “The new app will play a critical role in promoting outdoor and recreational infrastructure in Ballyhoura region to visitors, while also allowing local communities to explore all of the outdoors experiences in their area.”

See visitballyhoura.com.