Discover adventure in Ireland’s great outdoors
Ireland’s famously warm welcome, incredible heritage, and stunning natural landscapes make it the perfect family holiday destination.
In Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site gives you the astounding view of 40,000 hexagonal stone columns. According to science, intense volcanic activity 60 million years ago created this whimsical landscape, but the local legend of warring giants is a lot more fun — especially for children!
You can go beneath the earth and discover a subterranean world of hidden caves framed by stalagmites and stalactites. Take a guided boat ride through the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark spanning counties Fermanagh and Cavan and find yourself in the midst of 650 million years of history, where limestone tunnels give way to cascades of creamy, calcite-coated walls and shimmering underworld rivers.
In County Down, fans of CS Lewis will adore the Narnia Trail in Kilbroney Park. This short walk is full of fantastical figures and scenes plucked straight from the novels’ pages and is sure to capture the imagination. Mountain bike trails, forest walks and views over Carlingford Lough are also in store.
When it comes to big-screen backgrounds, Potter-heads and budding Jedi are sure to be impressed! The iconic Cliffs of Moher were the very real, yet magical, backdrop to Harry and Dumbledore’s hunt for Horcruxes in The Half Blood Prince. While Skellig Michael, Loop Head and Malin Head along the stunning Wild Atlantic Way wowed audiences and Star Wars actors alike.
Adventurers young and old would love nighttime kayaking along Lough Hyne in County Cork. Watch their eyes light up when the waters glow, as bioluminescent plankton shine under the stars. Family fun is guaranteed on a trip to Center Parcs holiday resort, where the Longford Forest offers Ireland’s largest water park, indoor swimming pools, a tropical plaza and cycling routes for all ages.
Animal lovers should flock to Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park, where incredible creatures are cared for and flourish thanks to extensive conservation projects, protecting wildlife for generations to come. Next, stop by the Irish National Stud & Gardens in County Kildare, home to horse racing champions and beautiful newborn foals — we recommend visiting in spring to see these future winners take some of their first steps into the world.
Those with a keen appreciate for history should head for the Irish National Heritage Park in County Wexford. This gem in Ireland’s Ancient East takes you back in time, depicting 9000 years of Ireland’s history through costumed characters, storytelling and fantastic recreations.
Whatever you’re into, there’s fun for all the family here on the island of Ireland.