29 Dec Top 10 Attractions in Carlow

Here at Avlon House we pride ourselves on giving you the best experience possible. We do this with our perfect location which gives you access to all the great activities in and around Carlow for you and the whole family. We have listed below 10 fun things you could do in Carlow whilst staying with us!

Rancho Reilly Pet Farm
Not just a farm where you can enjoy lots of different animals, here they have Outdoor Play Areas with Swings, slides, roundabout, sand pits, ride on tracks, football pitch, obstacle course, forts, sandpit boat etc. Tractors, tricycles, bikes etc. to cylce/ride around our cycle/ride on track.
We have a designated area where the children can enjoy a pony or donkey ride. Another favourite with the kids is the Barrel Train. A bumpy ride across the fields.

Go With the Flow River Adventures
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. Go With The Flow also organise Hen and Stag day outs, which will make your special day, original and unforgettably fun.

Rathwood Forest Trails
The Rathwood Forest Walks are very easy trails, suitable for walkers of all ages and abilities. The woodland walks expand over 4km and benches are placed at regular intervals so you can have a rest or simply absorb the tranquility of the forest. The woodlands at Rathwood have a rich variety of native trees and flora, as well as wildlife. Deer, mink, rabbits, foxes, pheasants and dragonflies are some of residents and regular visitors to the Rathwood Forest. The Forest Walks are an ideal activity for families that enjoy nature, the outdoors and a bit of fresh air.

Forest walks are accessible during business hours. The walk trail to the lake is wheelchair accessible.

Delta Sensory Gardens
Beginning as a centre for people with intellectual disabilities, it has now become one of Ireland’s leading attractions. The Delta Sensory Gardens has a craft shop, cafe and hosts events throughout the year. Winner of the Trip Advisor certificate of excellence, Delta is a perfect space for anyone wanting peace and tranquility. These scenic gardens consist of 2.5 acres of land, decorated by of the country’s top designers. Visual Carlow VISUAL centre is a cultural gem in the middle of Carlow town and displays, local and international, contemporary art with free admission.

Experience your world in a new way, in the largest art gallery in Ireland. This theatre hosts a diverse range of theatre, talks and events. There is a permanent free Make and Do space for families to sit and make art with the themes of the season exhibition Chocolate Garden of Ireland; The chocolate Garden of Ireland is a modern chocolate and ice cream factory. Offering tours where you can try award winning handmade chocolate, hot chocolate and ice cream. The chocolate garden also offers daily chocolate mold making. Here you can decorate your own cocoa creation and enjoy delicious ice cream while you wait for your mold to set.

The Gardens is sure to be a favorite with kids, boasting slides and sandpits and other leisure activities in the play zones.

Ducketts Grove
Duckett’s Grove considered to be one of the finest Gothic Mansions and demesne in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, consisted of twelve thousand acres spread across five counties. You can visit the grounds & walled gardens of this fantastic mansion and take a guided tour through it and even the ruins.

Carlow Brewing Company
When it comes to brewing companies people tend to think of Smithwicks and Guinness. However the Carlow Brewing company or as it’s also known the O’Hara Brewing company, is one of the largest brewery in Ireland. After 100 years this brewery revived, Carlows 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.

Huntington Castle
Originally constructed in 1625 Huntington castle screams authenticity. So much so that the relatives of the original owner still live there today. The Huntington Castle boasts some impressive features, such as the Georgian terraces and castellated victorian extensions. The castle offers 45 minute tours where you visit the Victorian kitchen, Jacobean hall, 17th century pond and even a spooky temple in the basement of the castle. Outside Huntington Castle there is also some 500 years old stunning gardens to enjoy, making for a perfect outdoor walk.

County Carlow Museum Carlow County Museum
Located in Carlow’s Cultural Quarter, just off the town’s main street and is entered through the tourist office. Spanning four galleries, the museum has a wide collection of items and artefacts from Carlow county including: -the original gallows trapdoor from Carlow Jail -the 6m carved pulpit from Carlow Cathedral -items from Carlow’s Sugar Factory, which operated for almost 80 years -the smoking pipe of Captain Myles Keogh, killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn; -items relating to John Tyndall, the Carlow scientist who discovered the greenhouse effect; -a 340 million-year-old fossilized squid; -a special exhibition on St. Willibrord, an English monk who trained in Carlow before becoming the Patron Saint of Luxembourg. -the last cigarette smoked by Kevin Barry, an 18-year-old medical student who was executed for his role in the Irish War of Independence. -the printing press used