26 Sep Getting OUTDOORS IN CARLOW

Getting OUTDOORS IN CARLOW

Everyone can benfit from getting outdoors more, and you can most defintely benefit from staying with us at Avlon house and getting involved with the countless activities all near by!

Golf:
Carlow’s golf courses offer an enjoyable experience for golfers of all ages and abilities. Three of these – Carlow Golf club (3 minutes away), Mount Wolseley (20 minutes away) and Bunclody Golf and Fishing Club (30 minutes away) – are championship courses which provide an exciting test of golfing skill, each course offering its own unique challenge. Beside the magnificent Blackstairs Mountains is the renowned 9-hole Borris Golf Club while an 18-hole par 3 course is located at Quinagh House in Carlow Town.

Gardens and houses:
The gardens of Carlow are a spectacular show of nature. The county is speckled
with grand estate houses, formal gardens and extensive parklands and forests waiting to be discovered. And as we are all eager to get out and about again they make for a really great day’s entertainment in relaxing and spacious surroundings. There are so many great places to explore, from the fabulous Altamont Gardens and Plant Sales Area to the gothic
mansion and walled gardens of Duckett’s Grove and the stunning Huntington Castle and Gardens. Then there’s Ireland’s largest garden centre, Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven in Leighlinbridge, the inspiring Delta Sensory Gardens in Carlow Town and a number of owner gardens where visitors can meet and learn from some of the best gardeners countrywide.

As Ireland’s big house capital, Carlow offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the great manor houses that once dominated the cultural, social and agricultural life of the county. Beyond the impressive facades of these ancestral homes, visitors can walk in the footsteps of fascinating historical figures and take in some of the most significant homes in Irish history. Whether you’re strolling through beautifully landscaped historical gardens or marvelling at interiors that have survived for centuries, you’ll be swept away by the magic of these very special Carlow treasures.

Walking and Hiking:
Carlow’s natural beauty, unspoilt landscapes and sweeping vistas make it an ideal place to get out of the car and into the great outdoors. This tour combines mountain and river – fabulous mountain views can be enjoyed from a walk at Kilbrannish Forest on the Blackstairs Mountains while flat walking is available near the River Barrow in Clashganny Forest. Both forests are most easily accessed from the south Carlow town of Borris.

The charming town of Borris with its traditional Irish street-front and spectacular mountain setting is home to Borris House, built by the McMorrough Kavanagh clan who were Celtic Kings of Leinster. A house tour which covers all aspects of the history of the house, from the original 15th century castle, through its many subsequent changes and alterations, comes highly recommended. Open most Wednesdays – Fridays and occasional weekends May – September. Visit www.borrishouse.com for exact opening times. Visitors are also invited to explore this charming town by following a series of storytelling panels located at the upper and lower end of the town

Canoeing:
A journey along the gentle River Barrow takes the traveller to a tranquil bygone time. Fringed with reeds and river flowers, and harbouring a wealth of wildlife in her banks, the River Barrow is widely recognised as one of the finest and most beautiful river experiences throughout Europe. is half day tour combines the thrill of a canoeing river trip from Clashganny, just south of
Borris Town over all the weirs and rapids to reach the abbey town of Graiguenamanagh. A canoeing trip with any of the three companies highlighted below is a particularly fun and engaging activity and a fantastic way to experience the river. Professionally guided, all tours are suitable for groups of friends, families and work colleagues and allow you to really appreciate the wide open spaces and unspoilt waterway of the River Barrow, Ireland’s second longest river system. Fantastic memories are guaranteed!

Go-With-the-Flow River Adventures, Paddle Your Own Canoe and Pure Adventure are the three companies to look up for this great activity.

Avlon House is a great central base to make the most of your stay and have some amazing outdoor experiences!