FARRANWOOD Been a while since I visited Farran Wood or Farran Forest Park to give it its full title. It is signposted from the main Cork-Macroom Road at Srelane(Ovens) and the entry fee is a fiver per vehicle. There is plenty of parking, toilets and a playground. The first and probably main attraction is the wildlife enclosure with large pond. Here, the red and fallow deer(including some very young inquisitive animals) come right up to the fence to say hello. The pond attracts duck and geese. There are two signed walks around the wood, the longer of which takes you down to the banks of the Inniscarra Reservoir, where the River Llee is held up to form a lake. The National Rowing Centre, which has its own entrance, is located within the park on the shores of the lake. Enjoyed my walk around the other day, even though the rain came down before the finish. Still, there was ample shelter under the trees. Headed then for the old shooting lodge which has been converted into a woodland ecology display centre but that was locked up. Temporary or permanent? There was no sign up but I have sent a query off to the Coillte and I’ll let you know the answer.
