Top Things to do in County Carlow
Top 10 Things to do in County Carlow, Province of Leinster
Discover the best top things to do in County Carlow, Ireland including Delta Sensory Gardens, Brownshill Dolmen, Altamont Gardens, Carlow County Museum, Woodlands Falconry and Bird of Prey Centre., Duckett's Grove, Oak Park Forest Park, Ballymoon Castle, Rancho Reilly, Carlow Castle.
Restaurants in County Carlow
1. Delta Sensory Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 187 reviews
Reviewed By H2805OMsharonl - Dublin, Ireland
Having read the reviews we thought we'd take a visit. We were a bit confused heading through an industrial park. But the gardens were superb, much bigger than we expected. They were very welcoming and tranquil place. Beautiful fountains, little rest areas, flowers, statues, Waterfall and little rivers. Staff were lovely and it had a little cafe, which we didn't use. Definitely worth a visit at 6 euro each.
2. Brownshill Dolmen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 165 reviews
Megalithic monument thousands of years old.
Reviewed By CazBUk - Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom
We were travelling back to Dublin from Kilkenny at the end of our touring holiday in Ireland, and saw signs to the Brownshill Dolmen.Eventually found the small roadside car park. After reading the information board there we followed the path alongside the field,eventually arriving at a cleared area in the middle of the field, where the dolmen ( portal tomb) was situated. It was certainly a very impressive sight- worth the effort to find. There was more information at the dolmen.
3. Altamont Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 385 reviews
Reviewed By EloRow
A gorgeous escape, whatever the season. A beautiful walk surrounded by natures beauty, lots of meandering paths to take, Easy for all ages.
4. Carlow County Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Carlow County Museum is located in Carlow’s Cultural Quarter. Admission is free 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 Gaol; 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 by The Nationalist newspapers… and so much more!
Reviewed By EricaLowry - County Carlow, Ireland
From the outside you cannot imagine that he museum in Carlow town is actually that big. They have the famous pulpit that once belonged in the cathedral, an old living room and an old grocery store that helps to imagine how people lived in the past. Info on the sugar factory that employed so many in town (my father-in-law being one) and a piece of the trap door used in the executions in what today is the Carlow shopping centre. And much more. Right beside the library .
5. Woodlands Falconry and Bird of Prey Centre.
6. Duckett's Grove
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 273 reviews
This structure was once one of Ireland's finest examples of a thriving Great House and surrounding estates and was home to generations of the Duckett family, who settled here as major landowners in 1695. At the height of it's ascendancy, this unique castellated building was at the heart of a 12,000 acre (4,856 hectares) estate and has dominated the Carlow landscape for over 300 years. Now, even in a completely ruined state, the surviving towers, turrets and architectural oddities of Duckett’s Grove House form a strikingly enigmatic and dramatic profile, thus making it one of the most photogenic buildings anywhere in the country and a must see in Ireland to visit. The site is managed by Carlow County Council and also features carefully and sensitively restored original Walled Gardens.
Reviewed By michelesB8216TP - Carrickfergus, United Kingdom
Having been to Ducketts Grove a number of times now I’m always amazed by the beauty of this haunting ruin, Kevin the tour guide is amazing....not only does he have extraordinary knowledge of the buildings history and grounds but is able to bring the tour alive. If your lucky enough to visit Ducketts Grove I would definitely recommend joining one of Kevin’s tour, you won’t be disappointed. Good work Carlow County Council and in particular Kevin your tour guide
7. Oak Park Forest Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By majo56 - Kilkenny, Ireland
This is a lovely walk and takes about 50 mins to complete the whole circuit. Good place to go in winter as the boardwalk type surface keeps you out of the mud! I’d never been here before but it’s a real hidden gem.
8. Ballymoon Castle
9. Rancho Reilly
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 256 reviews
Reviewed By ChrissieBren - Kilkenny, Ireland
Your children will LOVE it!! And isn’t it all that matters. The freedom, the wide open space, the large play area, the animals, the closeness of Carlow town and all it has to offer, the safety of the area, the unbelievable friendliness of the owners and the staff is what stands out the most. Met a lovely girl called Jade who was so fantastic with our two year old in the animal area, a real gem, as were all the staff. We stayed the bank holiday and it was busy but so we’ll organized. I expected tents to be on top of one another but we had lots of space and lovely neighbors. Toilets and showers were unisex, they were clean and had a suitable campers kitchen also. They provided individual camp fires and they drove around with firewood to keep it going AND the came around with a trailer to pick up any of your rubbish to make everything easy for you. Curfews weren’t strict but were encouraged and they also had frog hunts for kids in the evening and was a joy to watch all the kids excitedly skipping off. Again I repeat your kids will LOVE it here. Not one child had an electronic device. They were happy to just play. As one camping neighbor said “ I spend €2000 on a family holiday abroad and half way through the kids asked could we please go to Ranchos instead next year” doesn’t that just say it all.
10. Carlow Castle
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