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family event guide
Step to it: 6 buggy-friendly walking routes to check out around Ireland
Get out in nature – and bring the littlies too.
IF YOU LOVE getting out and about in nature as a family but struggle to find routes for small feet and buggies that aren’t one big playground, one of these six places around the country might be exactly what you’re looking for.
From four-hour trails to quick and easy routes, we’ve rounded up six buggy-friendly walks around the country to get your heart pumping.
Want to contribute to our weekly family event guide? We’re looking for suggestions of events to keep kids entertained over the Easter break. Share your thoughts here or email us on family@thejournal.ie!
CORK
Doneraile Wildlife Park: Spanning 166 hectares, Doneraile Wildlife Park has plenty of family-friendly walks throughout its beautiful grounds, while a number of deer herds can be spotted at different points.
Where: Doneraile Wildlife Park, Turnpike Road, Doneraile, Co Cork. Cost: free. Find more information here.
DUBLIN
Saint Anne’s Park: Located between Raheny and Clontarf, Saint Anne’s Park offers a multitude of walks for families, with rose gardens, playgrounds and plenty of paved routes – as well as a huge market on Saturdays.
Where: Saint Anne’s Park, Clontarf East, Raheny, Dublin 5. Cost: free. Find more information here.
Great South Wall: Admire the sights of Dublin Bay and the Poolbeg Lighthouse along the Great South Wall walk, about 4km there and back from the Shelly Banks car park.
Where: Great South Wall, Poolbeg, Dublin 4. Cost: free.
DONEGAL
Ards Forest Park: A Coillte-owned site, Ards Forest Park covers 480 acres and offers nine trails of varying difficulty. Walks can take anything from one hour to four hours to complete, so families can choose the perfect route to suit them.
Where: Ards Forest Park, Sheephaven Bay, Creeslough, Co Donegal. Cost: €5 car park fee. Find more information here.
GALWAY
Portumna Forest Park: Also run by Coillte, Portumna Forest Park has four walking trails of varying distances, as well as a bird hide for bird-watching.
Where: St Joseph’s Road, Portumna Demesne, Portumna, Co Galway. Cost: free. Find more information here.
KERRY
Knockreer Circular Walk: This 5km walk starts at Killarney House and Gardens, goes along the bank of the River Deenagh, passes Knockreer House and Gardens before ending back at the starting point.
Where: Killarney National Park, Killarney, Co Kerry. Cost: free. Find out more information here.
KILDARE
Castletown House: Explore the 120 acres of meadows, waterways and woodlands that Castletown House has to offer, before soaking up some history on a guided tour of the house itself. There’s a mix of tarmac and paved pathways plus grassy ones, but the majority are buggy friendly.
Where: Castletown House and Parklands, Celbridge, Co Kildare. Cost: guided tour adult ticket, €10; child ticket, €5. Otherwise, free. Find out more information here.
For our upcoming event guide: What’s a fun event to bring the kids to over the Easter break? Post your answers in the comments below, check out our Boards.ie thread, or email family@thejournal.ie.
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