Some fantastic breaks, right on your doorstep.
Summer might be officially over but that doesn’t mean that we all have to put thoughts of holidays on the back burner for another year.
Sure, Ireland might not have a tropical climate or exotic place names, but if you’re prepared to venture away from home once in a while, there are any amount of amazing experiences right on your doorstep.
You might surprise yourself with the amount you can take in, see and do in Ireland in just two days and with that in mind, we’ve accumulated a list of some our favourite weekend getaways that are well worth checking out to give yourself something to look forward to over the winter months.
Boyle, Roscommon
Home to the most famous Roscommon man on the planet after Shane Curran (Chris O’Dowd, of course) and one of the most popular places to visit in the beautiful Lakelands region.
What to see: Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. 800 hectares of beautiful parkland and wildlife, with a number of scenic walking trails and features of historical interest, such as the stunning Castle Island.
About half an hour away from the Park, meanwhile, Strokestown Park and the Irish National Famine Museum is a minefield of information about one of the greatest disasters in European history and well worth a visit for history buffs.
What to do: Lough Key contains more than enough activities to keep thrill-seeking adults and bored kids busy, from ziplining to Segway rides to the Crystal maze-style challenge, Boda Borg.
It’s great fun, tests you physically and mentally and requires teamwork, but we should warn you, you could be fit to kill said team-mates by the end of your adventure.
Killarney, Kerry
Calling Killarney a hidden gem might be stretching it a bit, but for those of you who haven’t been, put it down at the top of your must-see list in Ireland.
What to see: Whether cycling or driving, Killarney is the perfect base to explore the incredibly scenic routes the county has to offer, from the famous Ring of Kerry, to Connor’s Pass, to Slea Head and the Wild Atlantic Way.
What to do: Killarney is great for people who like to get out and get active and both Muckross House and Killarney National Park are perfectly set up to tour by bike.
There’s also golf, horse-riding, climbing and a whole host of other activities to ensure that you’ll have earned your rest whenever you get back to base.
Leitrim village, Leitrim
A scenic and quaint village located alongside Lough Allen and a perfect base to explore the best of what the Lakelands region has to offer.
What to see: The Arigna Mining experience, approximately 25 minutes away, gives a fascinating insight into what was the main hub of life and employment in the area until the mines closed in 1990.
The view from the outside of the visitor centre is worth the visit on its own, with seven counties visible on a fine day.
What to do: If you’ve never tried it, paddleboarding with the folks at Leitrim Surf Company along the Shannon or the Drumshanbo canal is about as relaxing an activity as you can get.
If water is your thing, there’s kayaking and canoeing on offer in the area as well.
Speaking of Drumshanbo, Moorlands Equestrian Centre is happy to cater to those who want to channel their inner Ruby Walsh and saddle up for a while.
Leitrim’s busiest town, Carrick-on-Shannon, is also only a short spin away and from there, a cruise along Ireland’s best-known river comes highly recommended.
Tramore, Waterford
Probably the most popular holiday destination in the south-east and with good reason too; the fact that the sun seems to like it more than anywhere else in the country probably helps.
What to see: Tramore itself is lovely but a quick spin out of town will show you what the rest of the region has to offer.
Dunmore East is a hidden gem by the sea only a few minutes away, while a trip into neighbouring Wexford to see Hook Head Lighthouse, one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world, is a must on the itinerary.
What to do: If you’re going as far as Hook Head, make sure to stop by Loftus Hall, Ireland’s most haunted house.
Pic via Facebook/Loftus Hall
Closer to Tramore, meanwhile, there’s plenty of water to keep surfers and keen fishers entertained, there’s golf, hiking, horse-riding and even amusement parks for kids and more excitable adults.
Carlingford, Louth
Halfway between Belfast and Dublin, a truly stunning spot on the Cooley peninsula.
What to see: No trip to the Cooley peninsula would be complete without a trip to see the Cooley Mountains, including Slieve Foy, one of Ireland’s highest mountains at 588 metres. The Cooley Peninsula drive itself, meanwhile, is one of the most scenic drives in all of Ireland.
Pic via carlingfordandcooleypeninsula.ie
What to do: The town of Carlingford itself is rich in medieval history, which visitors can experience for themselves with a guided tour through the town’s narrow streets.
If you want to get active, there’s plenty of walking, golf and even an adventure centre to keep you entertained for an entire weekend.
For your chance to win an action-packed trip to the Lakelands for you and three of your pals, enter our Discover Ireland competition here. For more information on Lakelands Adventures visit Discover Ireland.
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