Clara Bog Visitor Centre moves closer to reopening

Almost four years from when it was last open, the Clara Bog Visitor Centre remains closed to the public.

However, it appears as if the centre is moving closer to a return, as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed it recently recruited guides to operate the facility.

The facility, (pictured right) located on the Ballycumber Road, has been closed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, in February 2020.

In July last the NPWS said it was “looking forward to reopening” the visitor centre once new guide appointments had been finalised.

Minister of State Pippa Hackett, at the time, also said the opening would happen “in the coming weeks”.

However, in October, the centre, in a post on Facebook and on its website, said it was “currently making preparations to re-open Clara Bog Visitor Centre”.

Just before Christmas, a spokesperson for NPWS said: “NPWS look forward to reopening the Clara Bog Visitor Centre to the public as soon as possible. The recently recruited NPWS guides are in situ and are in the process of developing an educational programme for the Centre and are working on re-establishing linkages with schools in the catchment area and the local community.

“The Clara Bog Nature Reserve boardwalks remain open and maintained by NPWS for the public to enjoy the site safely,” it added.

First opened in 2010, the award-winning visitor centre, which is co-located with Clara Library, offers a fascinating insight into what is one of the best remaining examples of a relatively intact raised bog in Western Europe.

The Clara/Rahan Road dissects the bog and nature reserve which is home to many protected wildlife species resulting in an east-side and west-side. The timber boardwalk is on the west-side and is a 1 km looped walk with information boards erected at four points.