Marl Bog
Overview
The Marl Bog, or the ‘Duck Pond’ as it is known locally, once formed part of the greater Dundrum Demesne belonging to the Viscount Hawarden who would have owned nearby Dundrum House. The man-made duck pond, that is one of the main features of the site, used to fed water across the main public road into a holding pond that turned the mill wheel of the original Dundrum Saw Mills. Today the pond is the home of many water birds and insect life and interesting plant species.
The gentle gradients of the Marl Bog make it very popular with walkers and joggers of all ages. Members of the local Dundrum Athletic Club use it for training running laps of the various trails. The geology here is a mixture of fen peat and marl lying on a sandstone till. A much loved site.
Things to do
Walk: There are two waymarked trails in the Marl Bog. The Lakeside walk (2 kms, 40mins, easy) is an easy amble around the man-made lake with loads of opportunity to observe the waterfowl and insect life that the habitat supports. The Forest Walk (3km, 1 hour, easy) takes in the wider forest.
Don’t miss our hidden gem
Take some time to explore the pretty village of Dundrum that has wide streets and interesting shop fronts and buildings.