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We are located just outside the wonderful city of Dublin, the capital and hotspot of our country. But whilst Dublin possesses many places of significance and an abundance of activities it is only one of the 32 counties. Here we will tell you all about our favourite things to do on a day trip outside Dublin.
Castleknock Hotel is lucky to have many doorways to Ireland’s ancient East, which boasts plenty of exciting places for you to go and see. Whether it’s natural beauty, some of our most significant pieces of history or simply a place for all to enjoy, Ireland’s ancient East is perfect for those thrill-seeking adventurers.
We invite you to go and see some of our favourite places, particularly if the weather is nice and bright. It is often the case around the East of Ireland, that with the history comes some stunning scenes. No better case for this than the Hill of Tara in county Meath, where once the high kings of Ireland sat on their thrones. The Hill of Tara is made up of many ancient monuments which can mostly still be seen to this day. It also contains a fantastic array of views of the hills of Meath, with a lovely café and shop for you to relax after a stroll around the hill. Located nearby is also J O’Connell’s Skryne, an almost 200-year-old family run pub often described as a step back in time which features in the iconic Guinness Christmas advert. Just a 30-minute drive from Castleknock Hotel, these are heavily suggested places to visit even if it snows.
As our neighbouring county, Meath is somewhere we find easy to suggest our guests go and visit. Particularly when it has so much history surrounding its vast land of green grass. Newgrange is a Stone Age monument which is over 5,000 years old. Whilst visitors can walk around the outside of the monument, only those on guided tours can enter the tomb. It’s definitely worth a visit and can even be part of the same day trip as visiting the Hill of Tara which is only 35 mins drive away. The trip from the hotel directly to Newgrange is only 50 mins drive. Those of you with an interest in movies may be intrigued by a trip to Trim Castle which was used for the filming of scenes for a battle in Braveheart. Trim Castle is the largest Norman built castle in Ireland, constructed in the 12th Century.
Whilst history is a big part of our suggestions, we also like to have a bit of family friendly fun. Suitable for all ages, groups and couples alike Tayto Park is a brilliant day out for all to enjoy. This theme park just half an hour away has so much to offer with amusement rides, the Eagle Sky Adventure Zone and even a zoo. Tayto park also has a café, shop, playgrounds and a tour of the crisp factory providing you with a busy day out with so much fun to enjoy.
Moving out of Meath now and south of Dublin are two beautiful places for all walkers and hikers to go and admire. Go and visit the staggering beauty of Powerscourt, County Wicklow. Walk the gardens and admire the scenery. Gaze at the waterfall and follow it up with some refreshments in Avoca café. Whilst I enjoy Powerscourt, my personal favourite adventure not far from Dublin is a trip to the fascinating Glendalough, also in County Wicklow which are both around an hour drive away. Glendalough has an abundance of beauty all along the many walking trails set in place. From exploring the monastery & round tower to admiring the amazing views of the valleys atop the mountains, it truly is worth every ounce of effort and energy you wish to give. This is an experience that we couldn’t hold in higher regard.
All of the suggestions we have made here are within an hour of the hotel, making them very manageable destinations to visit for a few hours of your day. If we were to broaden the distance to travel, there is so much more to see outside of Dublin just depending on the time you have. For example, you could take a trip to the north visiting Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway or go down South to Blarney Castle or perhaps go and see beautiful Galway City on the Wild Atlantic Way in the West. The opportunities are endless but there are only so many hours in one day.
