Outdoor adventures for all the family – The Irish Times

Kayaking on the Blackwater river

“The shores of this Irish Rhine are so pretty that the sail on a sunny day is one among unequalled attraction,” wrote Kate Douglas Wiggin of the river Blackwater within the 1901 Penelope’s Irish Experiences. “Behind us the mountains ranged themselves in a mysterious melancholy background; forward the river winded its approach southward, out and in, by way of rocky cliffs and well-wooded shores.”

I’m delighted to seek out that 122 years later, little has modified. Paddling down the ultimate quarter of this majestic 170km-long river, from Ballyduff, previous Lismore and Cappoquin, to its mouth at Youghal is, bizarrely, one among Munster’s lesser-known gems, and makes for one of the vital memorable weekends my spouse and I’ve spent exploring this island.

It’s because of Blackwater Eco Excursions, a community-owned not-for-profit based mostly in Villierstown, who not solely drop-off and gather the kayaks every day, but in addition provide glamping pods, guided river excursions and self-drive boats. Launching on the petite, sneeze-and-you’ll-miss-it village of Ballyduff, day one takes us to Cappoquin over the course of a soothing three-hour light paddle. Right here the river is broad but the riverbank remains to be “at attain”, arcing between woodland and fields of cattle who come right down to drink, knee-deep, beside us.

Then comes the large gun: flowing beneath the magisterial splendour of Lismore Fortress because it friends down upon the river like a medieval eagle on her eyrie. Initially in-built 1185, it’s 1860s refit is owned by the Duke of Devonshire, having been owned by Sir Walter Raleigh and Richard Boyle, amongst others, in centuries previous.

The fort itself remains to be a personal residence, however its very good gardens are open to the general public, understood to be the oldest regularly cultivated gardens in Eire. The Lismore Heritage Centre is one other should, which has a digital actuality expertise detailing the fort’s distinguished historical past.

This stunning, ornate village is definitely worth the keep earlier than and after the primary day’s kayaking. Keep simply throughout the picturesque arched bridge at Ballyin Home (€85 per night time, 086 8757850, [email protected]), the Georgian ancestral residence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. For dinner, strive Foleys on the Mall or Fullers, and for breakfast, lunch or espresso and snacks, you received’t go unsuitable with both the Baker’s Desk, the Vault Café or Lizzie Brien’s.

The second day of kayaking departs from Cappoquin – name into Barron’s Bakery, and pop throughout the highway to the Market Works Crafthouse gallery earlier than you set off. This broad stretch is the area of stately charms, of 18th century Anglo-Irish mansions and ruined abbeys winking out from the woods because the river widens and the pull of the tide hastens, or slows, your progress. It’s additionally the setting of Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 movie Barry Lyndon.

On an outgoing tide, the historic walled seaport city of Youghal, your remaining vacation spot, is roughly a 4 hour paddle from Cappoquin. Sitting on the mouth of the Blackwater, it additionally has lots to supply, with a beautiful sandy seaside, the Clock Gate Tower and St Mary’s Collegiate Church to go to too.

To cap off an awesome weekend, spoil your self with an evening in Aherne’s Townhouse & Seafood Bar (from €130 per room, ahernes.net) within the centre of city, the place the hospitality is heat, the bedrooms cosy and the seafood (monkfish, in my case) is in a league of its personal. – Jamie Ball

Stargazing within the Sperrin Mountains

There’s a lot to be stated for a household journey to Northern Eire. There’s the Large’s Causeway, Belfast and the Titanic, in fact, and much more in addition to. There are few locations higher to see the celebs shine brightly because the Sperrin mountains. It’s an official Darkish Sky space, with remoteness and absence of synthetic gentle making it one of many world’s greatest locations for stargazing. There’s additionally a devoted star-watching centre. OM Darkish Sky Park and Observatory at Daragh Forest brings all the pieces there’s to find out about astronomy to life, with holographic shows, sky maps, digital actuality headsets and a ginormous stargazing telescope. And whereas staring on the stars you may as effectively be as outdoorsy as doable with out sacrificing something by the use of consolation; Sperrin View Glamping is a stone’s throw from the Darkish Sky Park, and simply greater than an hour from Belfast, proper beside Beaghmore Stone Circles and near Davagh Forest. The specifically designed pods sleep as much as 5, with a specifically designed viewing window so you may lookup the night time sky from the consolation of your mattress. – Conor Pope

Pod sleeping two adults and two youngsters from £115 per night time. sperrinviewglamping

Tenting in Hidden Valley

Lower than an hour’s drive from Dublin, Hidden Valley Tenting Resort in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, is a small however completely fashioned mini-resort that may hold everybody amused for days on finish. It has pods and lodges in addition to pitches for tents and caravans. It isn’t only a campsite, nonetheless; because it has a number of actions together with mini-golf and an inflatable water park, which is one of the best ways to offer two fingers to a wet day – wetsuits are offered too. – CP

Opens Thursday, March sixteenth. hiddenvalley.ie

Heart Parcs

In the case of household breaks in Eire, the beast within the Longford woodlands can’t be missed. Whereas Heart Parcs will be very dear – relying on once you e book and what number of actions you select to do – additionally it is fairly sensible for each adults and youngsters, and if approached with cautious planning, it doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution. The hot button is to not pile too many actions into every day, and to make use of the wonderful self-catering services for no less than a few of your meals. You may also wish to keep away from faculty holidays and financial institution holidays as – understandably – costs soar when demand is at its peak. Renting bikes is important and nice enjoyable, whereas the so-called subtropical paradise is a free and fabulous solution to cross a few hours every day. With an indoor temperature of near 30 levels, you may truly really feel like you might be holidaying someplace sunny with out the necessity to apply any solar cream. There’s additionally a spa and a few respectable eating places. – CP

Three nights in a two-bed lodge in February begins at €999, add-ons excluded. centerparcs.ie

Fota Island Resort

This resort provides a mixture of lodge rooms and self-catering lodges and is on the doorstep of the Fota Wildlife Park, which is a superb day trip for the household. The city of Cobh can also be close by and day-trips to Spike Island come extremely really helpful. The resort complicated has some respectable pool choices, a children membership and all types of pretty walks to maintain you busy, whereas a spa and golf course are readily available, though they may not be for all of the household. – CP

Rooms midweek in March begin from €170 together with breakfast. fotaisland.ie

Comply with a hyperlink under to learn the opposite sections of this information

Irish spring breaks: Eat your way around Ireland with these five weekend breaks for food lovers

Irish spring breaks: From sculpture walks to festivals, get your cultural kicks with these weekend trips

Irish spring breaks: Five luxurious locations for an adult-only break