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.

Tramore's hidden heart. Worth a visit at any time of year. It's a long walkway through a small…read morehidden park along the cliff-face. Access through a small doorway halfway up Church Road, walk through the park, past the cannons of long sunken ships, the sea-cliff cottages, the tennis courts, and exit by the desolately haunted barracks into Love Lane. It's my favourite walk in Tramore - the whole beach and bay sweep before you. On a windy winter's day you have the best view of the sea-horses and surf stretching all the way to the open sea 3 miles away.

What a great place! Learned a ton and got a load of really great pics for our memories.read more

We took a tour on an overcast Spring day and luckily the rain held out. This is a wonderful…read morelocation for family and I can see spending a full day here with the kids. There is so much to see, do, and learn. Our tour felt pretty quick, but still, there is a lot of landscape to cover and a lot of information to pass on so in reality we were out there for quite a while and it was lunch time by the time we reached the last exhibit. The layout starts way back in time and explores people living by the ocean, how they lived, what they ate and so on. You move on to more complex lodgings and learn how the people have changed, there are henges, monk quarters, barns, smiths, and so on through the ages up to the arrival of Vikings. It gives a very details account of Ireland's development with wonderful villages set up through out the grounds. You can even stay in one of the buildings - the listing is on airbnb I believe. (Yes, there is a public shower and bathroom on site) We elected to not walk up to the tower as the rain was beginning and we were hungry. We stopped in to their restaurant and purchased a very nice meal, after which we wandered the gift shop before heading to our next stop. This is a very interesting stop on our trip. We learned so much about Ireland's history and really appreciate how detailed each section is from building construction to utensils used to information about how people lived during each period of time. A very good stop for anyone interested in history or culture.

I heard of Altamont Gardens before but it took until now that I finally got to visit - if I'd live…read morecloser I would be a very regular visitor now! It is a huge park where you can spend hours if you like with lots of different flowers, trees, plants - most of them with name plate. I had my camera with me so took my time, but even without or with your kids running around it's well worth a visit (and any detour) I think. It has formal gardens (not ususally my taste, but these were still nice to look at), with a rather derelict old house, a huge informal park inclusive a smal temple, river walk and a sea full of water lilies. And there's also a walled garden, parts of it rather organised and other parts just full of flowers in all colours side by side. There's a lovely little cafe in the walled gardens - as I don't find much information about it I don't start an own business entry for that. I had a savoury scone (buttermilk and soda) with local cheese and beetrot chutney and a large cappuccino - for € 6.40. Apart from it being very tasty I loved the cafe for being in the middle of a garden with little bits and pieces selected to make it feel like home. There is also a hen family running around in the walled garden / cafe which makes it even nicer to sit there and relax. It belongs to OPW which means it has the added advantage of free entrance. And they have a nursery / shop so you can buy flowers and trees for your own garden.

This is one of my favourite places to go when I'm home. The gardens are huge and you can walk…read morearound for hours. Even though the car park always seems to be full the gardens always seem peaceful. They have a section where you can buy plants and a lovely little cafe run by the forge where you can grab some tea and cake. I have even here live music there occasionally which adds to the atmosphere. Bring waterproof shoes though as the grassy paths can be damp!

Tramore is a really nice beach, only about 20 mins by car from Waterford city. It's not too big but…read moreexactly small either, and there is a nice promenade and seems like a great place for a walk or to bring your dog if you have one. There is a car park conveniently located as well as toilets (which aren't the cleanest by the way, but that is to be expected of beach toilets), and when I went there with my classmates there were a good few people; surfers, school sports group and a few people with their dogs or kids. It took us about 10 mins or so to walk from one end to the other, and the view is beautiful so it was a great place for taking pictures! I recommend it highly for anyone visiting Waterford, especially if it is a nice day. Overall, calm and serene, great view, easy access and close to the city.

Tramore beach is a wonderful sandy beach sweeping for miles from the foot of Tramore town to the…read moredistant sand-dunes. In fact, Tramore town derives its name from the Irish words "Tra Mhor", Tra meaning beach, and Mor meaning Big. Big Beach. It's popular with surfers, strollers and swimmers alike, and is big enough to encompass them all. The cliff end of the beach has a swimming area called "Ladies Slip", dating from when ladies and gents swam in different areas. Not surprising given the bathing costumes of the day - being seen in a saggy crotch revealing wet woollen bathing costume, complete with frilly (non-waterproof) hat, would have killed off any passion in even the most ardent suitor. Today, happily, bikinis abound and ladies are no longer conscribed to the cliff end. A promenade marches along the first mile or so of the beach, marked mid-way by a life-guards hut. Locally given the poetic moniker "the Prom". At high tide the waves pound this wall, and delighted kids and dogs scream as they're drowned in the surf storming the wall. You'll also see surfers appear from nowhere at the merest hint of a swell. Tramore is a famous surfing beach, having hosted numerous national and international surfing competitions. Well worth a visit.

Lovely, manicured well maintained green areas and trees! The views are beautiful !…read more Nice picnic area and play area for kids. Would be nice if you could rent bikes there as the are lovely tracks which would be ideal for a family cycle, and there is plenty of areas to cover , we only took the small route. Still what I saw was impressive, and if you like your walks surrounded by nature you should check this out!

Beautiful place to come for a picnic or just a stroll with your dog. Slightly pricey but all OPW…read moresites seem to be. What you get in return is a beautiful, well-manicured, and huge park - love getting lost in the forest at the back of the park! There's even a miniature railway for the kids - wish I was 6 again!!

This is a must-see in Ireland. It's beautiful and the history dates back to the 1100s. I enjoyed…read morethe views and the stunning interior architecture. There's a video that explains the history as you walk in to the right. Additionally, there are group tours provided by the castle after you pay to get in. I didn't do the tour. I missed it- it was at the top of the hour. I highly recommend seeing this on your way to the Blarney Stone from Dublin.

Rock of Cashel is undeniably beautiful. Should you want a quick stop on your way to Cork, it's…read moreworth seeing. The architecture is stunning against the beautiful Irish landscape. Walking around the exterior gives you a real sense of its age and glory. The inside holds a distinct presence. You can sense someone lived here. This is rated three stars because I was genuinely disappointed by the lack tour or even a self-guided experience. A map is provided but you learn nothing from the map. You can admire it from the outside, but you're left wondering what stories and details are hidden inside. It is a great stop for photos and a quick visit, if you're in a need of a castle experience.

Further along the coast from Kilfarrasy Beach and Annestown Beach is Bonmahon. It used to be a…read morecharming olde-worlde long sandy beach backed by dunes, edged on one side by the estuary of a small river and on the other by grassy cliffs. On a windy day the dunes would overflow and coat the whole village with a frosting of sand. It had lovely tennis courts, a charming little sea-side shop, a little chipper and and a large-ish caravan park. Unfortunately it became too popular for its own good. You'll now often find it overcrowded and sometimes even dirty and trashy. Try it in winter when everyone else is at home watching soaps - it's a great place to watch breakers rolling up to the dunes.