Things to do in Kildare that embrace the great outdoors.
Bracing wilderness walks. Blooming gorgeous gardens. Brilliant heritage houses.
Welcome to the great outdoors of Kildare in Ireland’s Ancient East, where raw landscapes, cultural treasures and surprising experiences await.
Looking for some destination inspiration? Here are six outdoor experiences to explore Kildare’s wild side.
Castletown House and Parklands
Did you know that the building that inspired the design of The White House is in Celbridge in Kildare?
Castletown House, built in 1729, was the muse for Irish architect James Hoban, who built the White House in Washington. It is Ireland’s largest and oldest Palladian house, which means it is based on the classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
Admire the building’s elegance and symmetry before stepping into the grand entrance hall and taking a self-guided tour of the magnificent mansion, which has authentic interiors filled with period furniture and incredible artwork.
Of course, what is a stately home without extensive grounds filled with all manner of things to do? Castletown House and Parklands delivers on this front, too, with a biodiversity garden, meadows, waterways and woodlands to wander, as well as parkland filled with curiosities like the Wonderful Barn and the Conolly Folly. With so much to see and do for all ages, it is a perfect place for a fun-filled family day out. When you’ve worked up an appetite, find the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic and the beautiful space. You can also grab a delicious bite to eat in The Courtyard Café, which is surrounded by nature and history.
Speaking of history, from Castletown House, you can follow in the footsteps of Arthur Guinness along the Arthur’s Way heritage trail. This picturesque walking and cycling route passes through the estate and takes you on a journey to many of the historic sites associated with Ireland’s most famous brewers – the Guinness family.
Burtown House and Gardens
Burtown House and Gardens, near the town of Athy, is a 17th-century villa. Beautiful flower, vegetable, and woodland gardens surround it. This is the only original Quaker house in Ireland that you can visit that is still lived in by the family that built it. What’s even more special is that you can take guided tours given by family members. What a treat for history lovers!
Another treat is dining at Burtown’s Green Barn Restaurant, which serves only the freshest seasonal produce. And guess where most of it comes from? Straight from the gardens that surround the house. You can literally see your food growing right in front of you. You can’t get much fresher or more sustainable than that.
Athy Historic Trail
Whilst you are in Athy, dig deeper into its rich history on an award-winning walking tour with the Athy Heritage Centre Museum. With each step, you’ll step back in time as you visit medieval walls and ruins, Norman tower and castles, museums and monuments that tell the story of this picturesque town. You’ll also learn all about Athy’s links to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the great polar explorer.
Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park
Fancy going on holiday to the bog? No, really. This year, the peatland is the new Disneyland, and the Disneyland of all Irish bogs is the Bog of Allen in Kildare.
Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park is located in the heart of the Bog of Allen. Surrounded by breathtaking views, you’ll learn about the biodiversity, heritage and archaeology of the bog, as well as feel the sea of peat squelch beneath your feet.
Enjoy a ride on the Peatland Heritage Railway, explore the Biodiversity Boardwalk and play a game of mini golf on the bog. Then, take to the tracks, trails, and outdoor areas and run wild and free. Prepare to spend the day here; there’s just so much to do. Once you’ve worked up an appetite – and you will – unwind in the sheltered picnic area with delicious food and drink from The Purple Heather Café.
The Curragh Plains
The Curragh Plains has existed for over 2,000 years and is one of the oldest semi-natural grasslands in Europe. It is a beautiful, sweeping expanse of green fields with an exceptional diversity of flora and fauna. It is a wonderful place to enjoy a long walk and mingle with the free-roaming sheep.
But the area is much more closely connected to another animal, the horse. Legend has it that Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fianna raced their horses along the plains. Nowadays, you’ll see Thoroughbreds from The Curragh Racecourse exercising here.
Living up to its nickname as the Thoroughbred County, across from the plains is the Irish National Stud and Gardens. This is the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public, and on a tour, you can admire the frolicking foals, magnificent mares and spectacular stallions.
The farm is also home to the tranquil Japanese Gardens, where art, philosophy and nature combine to create a contemplative haven. It’s a little piece of the Far East in Ireland’s Ancient East.
Donadea Forest Park
Donadea Castle was home to the Anglo-Norman Aylmer family from 1550 to 1935. Today, the castle ruins and walled gardens have been reclaimed by nature and are surrounded by tranquil parkland.
You can explore Donadea Forest Park by following three leafy woodland trails. The 5km Aylmer Walk is the longest and takes you across streams and along the lovely Lime Tree Avenue. On The Nature Trail, you’ll see scurrying squirrels and nesting birds, plus lots more flora and fauna. For those with restricted mobility, the Lake Walk is fully accessible, and you can watch ducks playing on the water, which is adorned with pretty lily pads during the summer.
A wonderful feature of the park is the 9/11 Memorial, a scaled replica of the Twin Towers inscribed with the names of the New York Fire Department, Police Officers, and Port Authority officials who died in the Twin Towers. Set in an area of native oak trees, this part of the park is scenic and serene and a great place to relax and reflect.
As you can see, Kildare has a unique blend of old and new, wild landscapes and formal gardens. Whether you are into leisure or learning, heritage, houses or horticulture, there is something here for everyone. Being so compact, Kildare is a great day trip destination. However, planning a longer stay really gives you a chance to dig a little deeper and discover the hidden charms of this historic, horsey county.
Pollardstown Fen
Just 5km from Newbridge, you’ll find Pollardstown Fen, a spring-fed, postglacial sweeping expanse of alkaline peatland. Undisturbed fens like this one are rare in Ireland, and because of the rarity of the habitat, they are recognised as an internationally important ecosystem. All the flora and fauna are protected by law.
A beautiful boardwalk through the fen immerses you in the wildness of the habitat. You’ll soon feel like David Attenborough as you identify birdsong, spot otters, hares and pygmy shrews and catch sight of frogs and newts. As you stroll, the black bog rush and saw-sedge plants gently sway beside you as colourful flowering shrubs perfume the air. It really is a remarkable wilderness walk where you can truly get reacquainted with nature.
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