An enormous reservoir serving much of Dublin city's water, the Blessington Lakes (aka Poulaphouca…read morereservoir) seem natural enough - but were, in fact, made by damming the Liffey in the '30s. The dam at Poulaphouca is still used to generate electricity. Why the lakes don't show up on Google Maps is uncertain. Since then the lakes have proved popular with day trippers from Dublin - fishing, hiking and nature-watching are all typical pasttimes. There's a leisure centre in the area, focal point for many of these activities. Don't trip over the fishing poles on the bus on the way down. Motor boating is banned on the lakes, but canoeing and sailing are popular. Pity about the swimming though - it's strictly prohibited due to dangerous underwater currents and obstructions, the legacy of the flooded valley. Get there via the 65 bus from Eden Quay, Dublin. A drink in one of Blessington's numerous pubs is often an adventure before setting home.

A lovely holiday-park, in the picturesque village of Rathdrum. The site has beautiful view, great…read morefacilities and plenty to keep the kids entertained. Irish weather been what it is....ensure you come prepared. If you are going for a day trip and the weather isn't great, i would highly recommend that you ring ahead to see if all activities are open....otherwise it could be a wasted trip!!

Great Xmas island experience. The location it's about an hour drive from Dublin. They have a…read morelittle train and a nice boat! Santa was very good and he spent a lot of times with our boys. Very affordable and a great day out

This is a lovely forest park, a great amenity for Carlow town to have…read more There is a carpark, a lake, an open area with benches and picnic tables and trails. the usual things that make a park a forest park. There are also some toilets. The one thing that astonished me was the outdoor gym. Free. Outdoor. Gym. It's been there about two months now apparently and it has been a very popular addition to the forest park. National Lottery sponsored.

The Wicklow Mountains are a stunning expanse of nature. Everything is so green and due to the low…read moretemperature, it stays all green. There are so many outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, birdwatching, and scenic driving. A hike or walk here will ensure you some nature backed peace and calmness. the park is close to Dublin making for an easy 1/2 day or day trip. In my brain, mountains are supposed to be rock with no greenery: The Wicklow Mountains, however, are unlike many traditional mountain ranges and have lush greenery all over them. We did the Glendalough Lake upper and lower lakes hike.

If you have a few days to spend in Dublin, don't skip out on a visit to Wicklow…read more You'll need to rent a car or book a tour to get up here (about 40min from Dublin City Centre) but it was worth the trek. I had a friend drive me here and it was such an incredible experience. If you're visiting during the winter months, layer up. It gets cold and windy up there, but it's 100% worth it.

My husband and I had a fabulous time biking! The views were breath taking and our tour guy was so…read moremuch fun. I would highly recommend!!

From the owner: We provide high quality bike rental, guided tours and lessons.read more

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to swim in. the estuary lay like a glassy gleam of water as…read morefar as the eye could see. with the resident swans and overhead geese the lake is a quiet haven for birds and peace seekers alike. The walk along the estuary which stretches from Swords to Malahide is a haunt for walkers, people that enjoy a quiet day out with promise of a decent coffee in the picturesce village of Malahide. The day that i was there the weather was a wee bit overcast but certainly not too cold to sit on the rocks and watch while my dogs dipped their paws for a while.

You can't expect to grow if you keep hanging around the same crowded spots or scrolling your phone…read moreall day. Donadea offers peaceful trails, fresh air, and a chance to clear the fog in your head. Walking those trails, you'll feel the stress melt away while surrounded by towering trees and calm waters that reset your energy and mindset

Lovely walk with amazing history to research. For kids, I can only imagine that their imaginations…read morego wild. 12th century castle ruins, old graveyard & church, lake, ancient stone walls--great place to explore. As an expat who survived 9/11, I was surprised by the 9/11 memorial on the grounds as well. Very thoughtful & moving tribute.

Victor's way sculpture park is worth the small fee and worth the stop. Some of the exhibits are…read moredark ... like zombies ect and some are Indian . Either way found it interesting. Plus I enjoyed walking in the woods and hearing the birds I wish I could have spent more time and did more photography with the nature and birds also. This was our first day in Ireland and we had a long way to go to get to Cork where we were staying the night. But I'm glad we stopped by here and if you are interested in sculpture I hope you have the time to give it a look.

Magic. This place…read moreis a true gem. The Indian Sculpture Park, or Victoria's Way, is a 22 acre park that includes small lakes, forested areas, a "philosophy maze" of messages on wooden signposts, and of course, a large collection of fabulous granite and bronze sculptures. The sculptures range in size from 5ft to 15ft tall. The sculptures are a beautiful fusion of Indian spiritual beliefs, philosophical concepts, humour and playfulness, and amazing craftsmanship. I was genuinely blown away and moved by the whole experience of being in this wonderful place. Victor Langheld, the owner and curator, advises that the park is ideally visited at the age of 28 (or over!). Take from that what you will :) I don't want to say too much more about this park as I feel it is something to be experienced, not just to be read about. One of the most extraordinary places I have ever come across.

This is still a great campsite. The lake, campfires being allowed etc etc…read more But on two occasions our visit has been marred by other campers being extremely loud. On this latest occasion, earlier, they had their own loudhailer to direct the party games they're playing. Now their bass heavy music is so loud two other groups of campers / caravaners just upped and left. We've got earplugs, so will persevere. Other things to note: firewood has gone from a bag being 3 EUR, to the option of a 4 EUR bag or a 5 EUR bag. The wood is pretty great though, for burning. I wouldn't come back again if it was just the two of us. But we will be back when other friends come here... like next week :)

Lovely location; beautiful sunsets. Plenty of space for…read moretents, cars etc. Unisex toilets available at the end of a long lane, but not particularly clean. Portaloos available at camp site but grim. Won't be back!