LOCAL ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

Is the perfect location to avail of a tasty lunch, a homemade dessert, a shopping trip, and a chance to treat the family. There is a gift shop and an extensive garden. The bird of prey centre holds approximately thirty birds, while children will love a wonderful twenty-minute trip on the Rathwood train down through the woods, around the duck pond and back to the courtyard. The animal park and the adjacent woods are a great place for a stroll. For RATHWOOD EVENTS click HERE

Is a chocolate and ice cream factory, which offers tours of the factory where you can sample handmade chocolate, hot chocolate, and ice-cream. The chocolate garden offers daily chocolate mould making, where you can decorate your own chocolate creation.  Workshops are also held where you can learn all about Chocolate and ice-cream. The Chocolate Garden is sure to be a favourite with kids, they also have slides, sandpits, and other leisure activities in the play zones.

Is a cultural gem in the middle of Carlow town and displays, local and international, contemporary art with free admission. This theatre hosts a diverse range of theatre, talks, and events. There is a free Make and Do space for families to sit and make art with the themes of the season exhibition.

These scenic gardens consist of 2.5 acres of land, decorated by of the country’s top designers. Beginning as a centre for people with intellectual disabilities, it has now become one of Ireland’s leading attractions. The Delta Sensory Gardens also a craft shop, cafe and hosts events throughout the year.

Offers guided tours about the rich history of Carlow. This includes everything from the ancient burial sites to the county’s landmark sugar factory. The museum also has a focus on more recent cultural achievements from influential personalities and Carlow sports clubs.

Is the ultimate location for family fun. This Ranch in the Carlow countryside has everything your kids could possibly want. A pet farm, crazy golf, sunken trampolines and picnic tables, are just some of the many things in the outdoor area. The more easy-going, indoor area contains a soft area for children aged 3-11 and a comfortable coffee shop, with a burning stove so the adults can relax.

If you a fan of the Tudors then you’ll love the Tudor Gothic Mansion. Borris House was modelled after an 18th-century house and a former 15th-century castle, making it a landmark of Irish architectural history.

Is one of the largest breweries in Ireland. After 100 years this brewery revived Carlow’s long tradition of malt and hop production. During the Carlow Brewing Company tour, you can meet the brewing team and discover Ireland’s wonderful craft beer history. The tour also includes the chance to taste and compare award-winning brews.

If you enjoy outdoor activities then this is the place for you. Go with The Flow Adventures has canoe fun for every level, this includes water rapids and a river safari.

Serene, tranquil forest walks, extending more than 4km, were carefully designed at Rathwood, County Carlow. The walks, a part of the Carlow Garden Trail, include a short, leisurely, wheelchair-accessible walk to a pond and a longer looped ‘Molloy Walk’ with seating at regular intervals. Joe Molloy was a local historian and farmer, who was involved in the first planting of the forest more than half a century ago. On a visit, expect to see deer, rabbits, mink, foxes, pheasants, and dragonflies among others. The forest contains a great variety of tree species including beech, oak, Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, birch, Douglas fir, and alder. Train rides around the forest are available from Rathwood.

The heavenly 16-hectare gardens of Altamont in County Carlow combine formal and informal gardens with a variety of flora. Strolling through the tranquil area, visitors will also find a lake and a river walk. An unmissable highlight of a visit to Altamont Gardens is the walled garden situated within the grounds of the estate and run privately by gardener and nurseryman Robert Miller.

Was built in the mid-to-late 1700s, but the main attraction here has always been the gardens, which sit on the banks of the River Slaney. Several the oak trees pre-date the estate considerable, estimated to be over 500 years old. The gardens include an ice age glen, bog garden, and arboretum, with views of the Blackstairs Mountains, Wicklow Mountains, and Mount Leinster.

In Carlow pre-dates written Irish history. The most notable prehistoric site in Carlow is Brownshill Dolmen, a megalithic portal tomb. Dating back to pre-historical times, the great dolmen at Brownshill has a granite capstone weighing over 100 tons, making it the largest of its kind in Europe. This magnificent capstone has excited the interest of many antiquarians and tourists down through the years and it is thought that religious rites, possibly even human sacrifice, were performed there circa 2500 B.C. It is believed to have been built by some of the earliest farmers in Ireland between 4000 and 3000 BC.

Is counted among the finest and most fascinating ruins in Ireland. The Gothic Revival-style castle was built and refurbished from a pre-existing Georgian structure in the 1830s for the Duckett family. After acquiring Duckett’s Grove in 2005, the Carlow County Council began an extensive renovation of the estate – primarily the walled gardens – and it was re-opened as a public park in 2007. Perhaps due to its dramatic history, Duckett’s Grove is also believed to be haunted and has been a site of investigation by the SyFy Channel show “Destination Truth.”

Oak Park Forest Park, on the outskirts of Carlow Town, is a peaceful 120-acre woodland popular with walkers and joggers. The forest is made up of beech, oak, Scots pine, silver fir, larch, and sycamore, and offers nearly 4km of wheelchair-accessible trails, including Butler’s Wood Loop, the Lake Path, Fox Covert Trail, and Lost Forest Trail. Visitor facilities include car parking, picnic tables, public toilets, outdoor exercise equipment, and a fully accessible playground.

St Mullins Bike Hire is a convenient and eco-friendly way to explore this historic sixth-century site and the surrounding countryside. A range of high-quality bikes is available for all skill levels, and friendly staff are on hand to help you choose the right one and offer tips on the best routes. Cycle through scenic landscapes, taking in ancient ruins, peaceful waterways, and stunning views along the way.

Huntington Castle and Gardens date back to the 17th century and feature formal lawns, a French lime avenue, and some of Ireland’s notable trees, including hickory, cut-leaved oak, Siberian crab, and buckeye chestnut. Visitors can explore the kitchen gardens, greenhouse, restored Rose Gardens, and the charming Italian Gardens. The ruins of the old Abbey lead into the ‘Wilderness’ woodland, ending at the River Derry, which marks the boundary between County Carlow and Wexford.