With the Summer holidays quickly approaching, it’s time to soak up as much outdoor time as possible. Kilkenny has a great variety of places to visit to suit kids of all ages, including the little kids at heart! Run wild in parks and gardens, take a dive in our rivers or head to the mountains for some fresh air, Kilkenny is all about encouraging movement, soaking up the natural world and providing lots of fun for all the family.
Kilkenny is your one-stop shop for family fun this Summer! Let’s make it a BIG ONE so you can make unforgettable memories!
MOUNTAIN VIEW MARKETS
A great Sunday activity for all the family, Mountain View Markets have something for everyone with food & drink trucks, quirky art, retro fashion and artisan producers. Don’t forget to bring your furry friends along for the ride, the markets are dog friendly and it’s a great place to meet other puppy parents! Mountain View Markets are champions of sustainability and supporting Irish brands. Meet the faces behind some of your favourite brands, taste test some local produce or head up to The Greenhouse for a Sunday lunch overlooking the luscious, green Kilkenny countryside.
BARROW VALLEY ACTIVITIES HUB
The Barrow Valley Activities Hub is a great place for an active weekend away with the whole family. Come down, pitch up a tent or park up the camper van and spend your days in the great outdoors! The hub is situated on 4-acres of natural beauty with direct access to a range of local walks, swimming facilities and a peaceful pathway into lovely Graiguenamanagh. The community facility also features an all-weather pitch and hosts Graiguefest, a weekend of live music, tribute bands and loads of fun, every Summer!
HIGHBANK ORCHARDS
Enjoy a relaxing, educational day out with the kids at Highbank Orchards, where you’ll learn about organic farming and get to taste test some of their delicious apple products! Hop on the orchard train and take a guided tour with the owners, explore the orchards, swing through the skies beneath the grand oak tree before heading back to the farm shop to stock up on some tasty Highbank products before heading home.
JURASSIC NEWPARK
Put Jurassic Newpark at the Tricera-top of your list for a day out with the kids. Run wild around the park whilst learning about the prehistoric creatures that once roamed the earth, head to Jurassic Bounce and jump ‘til you’re tired or play make-believe as fearsome knights in the Jurassic Castle playpark! There’s so much to explore in Jurassic Newpark with a Dinosaur Trail, the Jurassic Express train, Pterosaur Mountain, Fairy Village and a mini wildlife farm, they’ll be begging to come back every year!
KILTORCAN RACEWAY
3…2…1… GO! Take on all the family in a race for the podium at Kiltorcan Raceway. Choose to speed around the track or take things at a leisurely pace, with 2-seater options so you can tear around the track with a passenger or go your own way in a single seater. For the more serious drivers, opt to take part in more competitive races and try to break the track record! If driving isn’t your thing, you can embrace your inner Rory McIlroy and pass the time with their golf simulator.
NATIONAL REPTILE ZOO
Who said a family day out can’t be fun AND informative? At The National Reptile Zoo, you’ll learn tons of new facts about some incredible creatures that call Kilkenny their ‘home from home’, you’ll get the chance to meet (and touch) some of the reptiles, learn about their natural habitats and explore the incredible conservation work that they do around the world. You might even opt to take on the VIP Keeper Experience and help the keepers feed the different species in the zoo!
WOODSTOCK GARDENS & ARBORETUM
There is so much to explore in Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum, it’s a child’s dream! With plenty of green spaces to run around, a playground on-site and an array of trails that wind their way around the woods, down to the waterfall . Woodstock Gardens are a great place to unwind and bask in the sunshine, pack a picnic, bring a blanket and a book and enjoy the stillness as you look out across the Nore Valley.
NORE VALLEY PARK
Perfect for big kids, little kids and the little kids at heart! Nore Valley Park is suitable for all ages, offering hands-on experiences with fluffy friends including baby chicks, lambs, guinea pigs and bunnies. Be prepared for lots of ooh-ing and aah-ing at the cute farm animals with the cuddly highland cows and the magnificent herd of deer. After the animal farm, challenge your family to a game of mini golf overlooking the peaceful Nore Valley.
CASTLECOMER DISCOVERY PARK
Reach for the sky, soar through the air or plant your feet firmly on the ground with tons of activities at Castlecomer Discovery Park. Take to the lake for a relaxing canoe whilst your pals fly overhead on Ireland’s longest over water zipline or bring the little ones to explore the sprawling woodlands or head to the Bouncy Net for hours of fun. No trip to Castlecomer Discovery Park is complete without taking to the skies on their selection of high ropes courses (and low ropes for the younger kids!)
Tag us in your Kilkenny family adventure this Summer
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