|
Visitor Attractions
County Wicklow is justifiably known as the Garden of Ireland.
A combination of spectacular upland scenery, deep mountain
valleys, the 6th century monastic site at Glendalough, beautiful
beaches, world class golf courses, fine heritage houses and
gardens coupled with a comparatively dry climate, provide
a perfect environment in which visitors can enjoy a wide range
of outdoor activities. Indulge your passion for Angling, Cycling,
Golf, Hiking, Horse-riding, visiting Heritage Sites, Historic
Houses and beautiful Gardens, and of course having a Pint
with the locals in some wonderful Pubs from the Past.
 Painting
The Irish School of Landscape Painting is located at the
'RiverRun' Studios in the Devil's Glen, only 5 minutes away.
Founded by Kenneth Webb, the studio is now run by Susan Webb,
Kenneth's daughter, who has, amongst other accomplishments,
featured as resident art expert on Channel 4's "Watercolour
Challenge".
For details check out susan@islp.com.
The Lodge is ideally located for attendees to Susan's courses.
Tel: +353-404-42884 or +353-87-3561074
Yoga
Hilde, your host, established Yoga
Tree Ireland and offers yoga for everyone from toddlers,
through teens and adults, to therapeutic work with those recovering
from inuries, ill health or trauma. She will be happy to arrange
on-site one to one sessions or choose from 9 local classes.
All ages and abilities can experience the benefits of yoga,
including manic mums, exhausted executives, sprightly seniors
and ladies in waiting. See
also Be Healthy.
 Golf
Few areas of Ireland can match County Wicklow - the Garden
of Ireland - for its wide variety of golfing opportunities.
These range from world famous Druid's Glen and The European,
both on the east coast, to scenic Glenmalure, Woodenbridge
and Coolattin with their mountain and woodland settings tucked
away in the undiscovered southern foothills of the county,
and to magnificent Mount Wolseley and challenging Carlow,
both in our neighbouring county. Any one of these will provide
the perfect backdrop in which to "golf away from it all".
Green fees range from €30 to €100 and group discounts
can often be arranged.
Ballycullen Lodge, located within 30 minutes drive of five
courses, is the perfect location for a golfing break at any
time of the year. Visit
Golf in County Wicklow for more information.
 Horse
Riding
There are three excellent equestrian centres within easy reach
(10 minutes) of Ballycullen Lodge and many more if you are
willing to travel a little further. They offer a choice of
trekking through the mountain foothills and open farmland
or tuition in dressage, jumping and cross-country riding.
Prices generally range from €30 for one hour and €40
for cross country course. Your hosts are horse riding enthusiasts
who keep horses at the Lodge and can give you guidance on
the best choices for you.
See also Be Adventurous
for details of Fox and Drag Hunting opportunities. Many local
Hunts have a tradition of both drag and fox hunts with hounds.
Local highlights of the equestrian year are the Tinahely
Show, held at the beginning of August and the Point to Point
races at the end of January. Visit
Horse-Riding in Wicklow for more information.
For those happy to travel the hour to the city, there is,
each August there is the biggest annual equestrian event in
Ireland, namely the Royal Dublin Society Horse Show at the
beginning of August. For details see www.rds.ie.
 Walking/Hiking
"Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but your
footprints"… and find joy in your heart and peace
for your soul in nature.
Wicklow County provides the visitor with 1,250 square kilometres
of really beautiful nature to be explored. Of this, 320 square
kilometres are over 1,000m altitude, presenting breathtaking
peaks and valleys to walk, climb and conquer, or to admire
from the comfort of a vehicle. The first official walking
trail in Ireland, the Wicklow Way, was only opened in 1981
and routes in Wicklow are still generally uncrowded. The St.
Kevin's Way was opened in 2001 and runs from Hollywood to
Glendalough in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National
Park, only a few miles down the road from the Lodge. See www.wicklowway.com.
There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy short strolls
beside the sea or alongside a river, through the forests or
over the hills and mountains. Travel along old coach roads,
bog roads, nature trails and mountain paths used by medieval
monks. En routes are deserted settlements, forts, a varied
flora, roaming deer and many other delightful sightings of
birds, butterflies and perhaps even a shy badger.
See also Be Adventurous.
 Sailing
Wicklow Sailing Club is the home of the 'Round Ireland Yacht
Race' and it boasts a calendar packed with activities. The
South East Coast Regatta is also an annual event for cruisers,
held each year on the August bank holiday weekend. It is hosted
alternately between Wicklow Sailing Club and Arklow Sailing
Club (www.wicklowsailingclub.com).
Greystones Sailing Club, only 20 minutes drive from the lodge,
is due for a massive expansion with the building of a state
of the art marina.
International yacht designer Mark Mills lives locally and
accepts commissions for clients in Ireland and abroad. See
www.millsdesign.com for details of his race winning designs.
You may even meet him at a dinner party.
Angling
There are many opportunities for both fresh-water Angling
and sea Angling within easy reach of our lodge.
Anglers visiting southwest Wicklow will find a wide selection
of rivers, lakes and reservoirs from which to choose.
The River Slaney in neighbouring County Carlow is widely
renowned for its excellent salmon catches and a number of
east-flowing rivers in Wicklow and north Wexford yield excellent
brown and sea-trout catches.
The picturesque village of Aughrim - just a 30 minute drive
from Ballycullen Lodge - has a fine rainbow trout lake, while
rivers like the Avonmore and Derry Water hold brown trout.
Visit
Angling in County Wicklow for more information.
Cycling
Are you bored with the treadmill and stale air in your local
gym? Do you long to fill your lungs with clear country air,
feel the sun on your skin and keep up your fitness programme?
Come and hire a real bike! There are great cycling opportunities
in County Wicklow. Uncrowded roads and wonderful scenery abound,
and you're never far from a friendly hostelry at which to
enjoy a refreshing pint of Guinness or cool local spring water.
Even in the winter time, an exhilarating cycle will quickly
warm you up. Should the weather be unkind, a bowl of steaming
soup and soda bread, by a turf fire, will quickly thaw out
chilly extremities.
Tour de France enthusiasts can follow part of the route taken
by that famous annual cavalcade in 1998. Alternatively the
Wicklow 200, held each June, will provide even the fittest
with a stern test of stamina and will-power! Groups from Dublin
and local cycling clubs can often be seen, building up their
strength and stamina, in the Wicklow hills.
There is of course unlimited scope for the rest of us who
take a more "normal" attitude to the sport and prefer
to just cycle for fun! The many hostelries to be found in
the villages and towns in the area present ample opportunities
for pleasant thirst-slaking, to reward effort on the pedals!
Given a little notice we can arrange cycle hire for all or
part of your stay with us.
Shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, pheasant and stag hunting are a regular
part of country life in Wicklow. Given sufficient notice,
arrangements can be tailored to your particular needs.
Pottery
There are many potteries in the area offering weekly as well
as weekend courses. Christien van Bussel works out of the
Brockagh Resource Centre in Laragh and Brian Keogh from a
workshop at Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford. Alternatively,
if you would just like to buy some lovely local pottery, we
can direct you to several sources.
|
