Review of Wilderness Therapy Weekend, Lough Allen Adventure Centre

The Wilderness Therapy weekend is one of the specials on the menu here at Lough Allen, so when I phoned to ask for directions, Kevin, the owner told me, “The nearest town is Drumshanbo”. “Is there a sign?” I asked, “No, we’re in the hills, we don’t want anyone to find us”, he said. I took this to be my first test. Of course, Kevin was teasing, and in fact it is not hard to find the Centre, which hugs the Lough shore just outside Ballinagleragh.

This Centre is not about tests, and nor is the Wilderness Therapy Weekend. The name of it sounds more like a military-style putting you through your paces, than a fun get away. “I just want people to find out what wilderness really means. There isn’t much of it left in Ireland and after participating in this weekend, people can go off and discover a bit of wilderness close to home, even if it’s at the bottom of their garden.”

Kevin devised this weekend escape to the islands of Lough Allen, for school groups. It became so popular, that adult groups started to enquire about it. They make rafts by tying canoes together with barrels, shelters out of ponchos, build fires and forage, cook outdoors, sleep in hammocks, and laugh a lot. My memories of outward bound sadistic teachers from my youth were, thankfully, shattered. It is quite the opposite here, and not at all intimidating as the eternally effervescent Kevin’s love of the outdoors is totally infectious.

Lough Allen recently opened a new state-of-the-art Donegal cedarwood building, where Kevin leads all his classes, meals are served and is a general hanging-out area. In the new changing area, there are showers running off solar-generated hot water, which also heats the new buildings, backed up by a wood-burning boiler. At the Centre, you can hire canoes, windsurfers, have swimming lessons or just use it as base for going hiking. However, best bet is to get a big enough group together, minimum six, and book in for a Wilderness Therapy Weekend on the islands. Be even braver and do it in winter. Just don’t forget to pack a sense of humour. 

Top tip: It is worth the cycle (just under 5km) to Dowra to have a pint at the Melrose Inn, locally known as Mel’s. This is a very friendly, cosy village pub, where there is always a welcoming fire, bar food and traditional music at weekends. 

Verdict: Superb way to de-stress. Laugh the whole weekend, and see a part of Ireland that you rarely find in a guidebook. See Lough Allen Adventure Centre's listing in greentraveller.

Getting there: Train to Carrick-on-Shannon and bus to Drumshanbo. Or bus to Dowra. The Centre can arrange pick-ups if necessary.

Catherine Mack is the author of  ecoescape: Ireland, £8.99 (+£1.50 UK p&p)

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