Overview
Leebeen Park is a short lakeside stroll on the shore of Lough Leebeen, just outside the village of Aughnacliffe in County Longford. It pairs an easy loop with a playground and picnic spots, and the fields around it hold prehistoric monuments. If you’ve brought children, the playground and fairy garden are the draw; if you haven’t, come for the dolmen.
The lakeside walk and facilities
The heart of the park is a 1.5 km loop that passes the playground and crosses sections of boardwalk by the water. Use the marked route and take care on the boards when wet. The path stays close to the shore, with views of swans, ducks and other wetland birds.
Around the park you’ll find:
- Timber-frame playground – climbing structures and a zip wire over the lake.
- Fairy garden – a small, imaginative corner for younger children.
- Outdoor gym – exercise machines by the water’s edge.
- Picnic areas – benches and grassy spots dotted around the park.
Near the entrance, a 1916 Centenary Memorial Garden holds a copy of the Proclamation inscribed in granite.
Longford Sports Partnership describes the park trail and its facilities. Check that information when planning for different mobility needs.
The Aughnacliffe waterfall trail
Beside the park, the Aughnacliffe Waterfall Trail is a separate outing from the lakeside loop. It leads to Pulliness Waterfall, with a choice of a 1.40 km loop or a shorter 430 m there-and-back. The path follows the riverbank through mature trees and open fields to a viewing deck above the cascade. There’s a neat piece of engineering on the river too: a modern water turbine that generates power, an unexpected thing to come across on a small country trail.
The dolmen nearby
The Aughnacliffe area has a deep prehistoric record. Within a short walk of the park stands the Aughnacliffe dolmen, a portal tomb with two capstones, the upper one almost three metres long. Neolithic communities raised it four to five thousand years ago, and it sits in an open field, a stark jump from the modern park back to the area’s earliest settlers.
Accessibility and dogs
The park’s own information should settle whether it suits your pushchair or wheelchair, so check the Longford Sports Partnership page linked above. If you bring a dog, keep it under control around the wildlife, and check signage at the park for any rules.
Getting there and practical information
Address: 12 Líss Na Críose, Dunbeggan, Aughnacliffe, N39 WK74 Admission: free
By car: from Longford town, take the N4 south for about 20 km, then the R198 towards Aughnacliffe; after roughly 5 km turn onto Líss Na Críose. Parking is at the entrance. Check on arrival for any vehicle restrictions if you are in a tall vehicle. Public transport and taxis: check current bus options between Longford town and Aughnacliffe before you travel, and allow time to walk from the village.
Check what facilities are available in Aughnacliffe before you arrive, rather than relying on the park alone.
Nearby
- Aughnacliffe village – local shops, the community centre and the parish church.
- Lough Gowna and Upper Erne – a few minutes’ drive, with fishing, kayaking and more walking routes.
- Deserted village and heritage trail – interpretive signage around Aughnacliffe guides walkers through the old deserted village and the megalithic tombs.
It works best as a flexible half-day: pair the lakeside loop with the waterfall trail and the dolmen, and come on a weekday morning if you want the lakeshore to yourself.