Tucked away in County Cavan, Dún a Rí Forest Park feels like stepping into an enchanted woodland. This 565-acre forest, once a royal hunting ground, now offers winding trails beneath ancient oaks, mossy bridges over the River Cabra, and the romantic ruins of a 19th-century gate lodge. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs before hitting Dublin—listen for woodpeckers and watch sunlight dapple the forest floor.

Parking: €5 fee (honesty box system). Open dawn to dusk.