Paul and Linda Sutton, a husband and wife team run DECK Coffee House, at Seaview Avenue, a cool establishment, which features cozy chairs and rustic tables. Along with all of the usual suspects including great coffees, velvety hot chocolates and a host of herbal teas you can find pastries, protein balls, daily specials and plenty of gooey goodies! The food menu includes classic ham and cheese toasties made with chunks of freshly baked ham on batch bread and a super wholesome, cockle warming red lentil dahl. With its catchy moniker DECK Coffee House, the new café at the Coral Leisure Sports Centre pays reference to its surroundings, including the nearby skate park and recently constructed Arklow Shipping Offices. If you're going out on the weekend, you can catch Paul of "Paulies Pizza" at DECK Coffee House making real wood-fired pizzas. Sit inside or outside, or take away. Free parking available along Seaview Avenue. Open: Daily 9am to 5.30pm Seaview Avenue Email: deckcoffeehouse@gmail.com Arklow, Tel: 085 1729192 Co Wicklow.

The Colour Club is a creativity and wellness centre for kids and grown-ups. The club is a unique, visually exciting, immersive space for children and adults to play, learn, explore, and experience art, crafts, design, music and movement. Bringing colour and creativity into everyday life. The Colour Club offers classes, workshops, events and camps for all ages. These include yoga classes, creative mindfulness sessions, therapeutic play, art, craft and design classes and so much more. Visit www.thecolourclub.ie for more details. Parking is plentiful and free and is available onsite. Open: check for class times. Address: Email: rachel@thecolourclub.ie Ballyraine Campus, Vale Road, Arklow, Tel: 087 616 6672 Co. Wicklow.

Journey beyond the trees at Avondale Forest Park, a special place where visionary and inspirational people have sown the seeds of Ireland’s future and where unique and memorable experiences are created. Please note pre-booking is required for weekends and bank holidays throughout the summer. Book at https://www.beyondthetreesavondale.com/ Uncover the story of Avondale House, where Irish forestry began and where one of Ireland’s greatest statemen, Charles Stewart Parnell, was born. Enjoy forest park trails or take a leisurely stroll through the walled gardens. Explore the Coillte Pavilion and learn about the essential role forests play in all our futures, or just take some time out in the Seed Café. There’s something for everyone at Avondale, and we can’t wait to see you. The Forest Park provides a network of trails for walking and family cycling of varying lengths. Keep an eye out for the Park wildlife including red squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, and a wide variety of birds including woodpeckers. Parking: Carpark onsite – take note of seasonal opening times as you enter as the gate will automatically lock at closing time (€5 per car) Toilets: Public toilet block onsite. Accessible toilets are available. Picnic Site: Tables are provided near the trailheads with BBQ grills. Children’s playground onsite. Avocdale Forest Park, Email: enquiry@beyondthetreesavondale.com Rathdrum, Website: https://www.beyondthetreesavondale.com/ Co Wicklow Phone: 0404 46111

Coming all the way from Parma, owners of Taste of Italy on Arklow's Riverwalk are passionate about sharing the flavours and traditions of their homeland with you. Whether it's a quick caffeine fix, or an indulgent Italian delicacy, Taste of Italy has you covered. Every item on the menu has been crafted with care and attention to detail, from perfectly brewed espresso to freshly baked pastries. Find favourites like cannoli with ricotta, tiramisu, homemade scones, pastas, scaloppine, carpaccio, insalata caprese, focaccia, Italian appetizer plate and more! Sit inside or outside, or take away. Parking available along the Riverwalk. Open: Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm River Walk, Email: info@tasteofitaly.ie Arklow, Tel: 087 166 04 24 Co Wicklow.

Planning a trip to Arklow? Check out our events calendar to see what's while you're in the area. NOVEMBER 2022 Arklow Makers Craft Fair Friday 25th to Sunday 27th November 2022 Bridgewater Shopping Centre This fair is about bringing different Crafters, Artisans, Local Growers and Bakers together to display and sell their work and produce. Full Details - Click Here. Arklow Christmas Lights Switch On Saturday 26th November 2022 12pm to 6pm - Main Street Music & entertainment all day from: Inbhear Mór Ensemble Christine Dunne Arklow Ukulele Players Arklow Dance Studio Brí Ellie Finn Arklow Pipe Band DJ/MC Oisín Molloy Christmas Market & Fireworks. See Santa arrive escorted by Arklow Fire Brigade for the magical switch on of the Christmas Tree Lights! Full Details - Click Here. A Festival of Carols Saturday 26th November 2022 7pm - Arklow Christian Community Church Arklow Arts Festival presents a free Festival of Carols to begin the Christmas Season, featuring music from Dynamics, Jennifer Lee with Eoghan & Charlotte, Avril O'Toole, Fionn Vigors, Roisin Vigors, The Harper & Lambert Family, and Suantrai Female Vocal Ensemble, upon kind invitation from The Arklow Christain Community Church. Full Details - Click Here. DECEMBER 2022 JANUARY 2023

Tapau House is Arklow's newest and most exciting restaurant. The friendly team, with award-winning chef, is ready to welcome you to the cosy seating area inside, or to provide you with a delicious take-away. Tapau House is proudly serving authentic Bangkok-style Thai cuisine in Wicklow County. Dishes are freshly prepared from the finest ingredients. Vegan options are also available. Chef Aby delved deep and through his creative instincts, gave rise to a small but carefully curated vegan menus! Children's menu available too. Parking is available along Main Street directly outside the restaurant Open: 5pm to 10pm Wednesday to Monday . Closed Tuesdays. Address: 11 Upper Main St, Email: info@tapauhouse.ie Arklow, Tel: 0402 93623 Co. Wicklow.

With mild temperatures, conditions for fishing off the Irish Sea coastline are ideal any time of the year. Arklow also boasts a current Irish record fish - a 3 Bearded Rockling taken by Maurice Laurent on the pier on 1st May 1990, the fish weighting 3lb 1oz! Here's our list of the best places for shore angling near Arklow. The beaches of Arklow and the surrounding coastline are some of the best sea angling locations in Leinster, with lots of opportunity for a decent catch. What will I catch? Depending on conditions, and the time of year, species that might bite are bass, smooth hound, tope, bull huss, spurdog, ray, dogfish, gurnard, mullet, mackerel, pollack, wrasse, flounder, dab, and sea trout. What are the tides like? Grounds offshore are shallow at about 30 feet and subject to strong lateral tides. High and low tide Wicklow are 40 minutes ahead of Dublin port. Where ate the Best Fishing Spots: Avoca Estuary: The river mouth below the 19 Arches Bridge to the sea produces mullet over specimen size (5lb) to float fished bread baits during the summer months and flounder to bottom fished worm or lures from April to December. Arklow Piers: All the piers around Arklow Town offer access to a good mix of mostly small species throughout the year. Fishing down the wall is the best option with small hooks and baits. Arklow South Beach: This stretch of sandy beach is easily accessed with a carpark conveniently located adjacent. South Beach is a popular spot for local anglers and club competitions. Use worm and fish baits to attract smooth hound, dogfish, dabs, flounder, coalfish and small whiting. Baits fished close in will catch bass in the region of 3lb, or bigger if you’re lucky! Big fish anglers can target specimen smooth hounds with crab, rag or squid baits during the summer months or fish large fish baits for ray and bull huss, particularly at night. After a storm, the fish can produce some nice codling in coloured water. Clogga Cove: South of Arklow, Clogga is accessed down a pathway from the car park, about a 5-minute walk. Clogga is a shallow sandy cove, however you will find deeper waters to the left end of the beach, and a low rocky outcrop to the right end, good for bass. You may also catch flounder, smooth hound and dogfish here. Lure fishing is also productive for bass especially early and late in the day. Ennereilly North & South Beaches: Between Arklow and Brittas Bay Ennereilly is a popular shore angling location. There is limited car parking off the road at Ennereilly South, adjacent to the beach, which is easily filled to capacity on Summer days. Ennereilly South is a sandy shallow beach with bass making an appearance from Spring to Autumn. A popular time to fish here is evening, especially the hour either side of low and high tide. Lugworm is recommended as being the best all round bait. Crab baits will produce smoothhound on evening tides from May to September. Ennereilly North is a slightly longer walk north from the carpark, with no parking directly available. This long shingle beach has relatively deep water off-shore. Angling from either beach may produce smooth hound, dogfish, and occasionally a ray in summer, and flounder, small whiting, dab, and an occasional codling in winter. Specimen bass (over 10lb) have been recorded on this beach. North and South beaches are separated by the Ennereilly River, which is noted for sea trout. Lure fishing at the entrance to the beach and around the headland to the north is worth trying for bass. Brittas Bay South Beach: Continuing further North along the Coast Road, you will arrive at Brittas Bay, a 5km stretch of sandy beach popular with holiday makers. Before the main South Beach Carpark, there is off road parking and access to the South end of the beach, which is a good fishing spot. During the Summer this shallow sandy surf beach may be thronged with visitors, however in the Autumn it’s a super bass venue, particularly with a south or south eastly breeze. Bass of 3lbs can be expected, with catches of 10lbs on occasion! Lure or fly-fishing for bass is also an exciting option all along this stretch of coastline. Winter fishing is mostly for small whiting, rockling and flounders. When fishing in Ireland, please respect marine ecosystems by fishing is sustainably. Anglers in Ireland follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace to minimise their impact. Additional useful information is available here – ‘Guide to angling on Irelands East Coast’

Looking for places to keep the kids entertained? Here's a list of some of the top things to do for families in the Arklow area! Arklow is a great base for families due to the ideal location on the East Coast of Ireland, only 30 minutes the Wickow Mountains National Park. Not only can families find several beautiful beaches nearby, including the blue flag Brittas Bay Beach, and walking trails sutiable for all the family, but there are also some wonderful visitor attractons not to be missed. Here's our list of Top Family Attrations in the Arklow Area. Arklow Maritime Museum All abord for a voyage of discovery inside the Akrlow Maritime Museum, where familites can explore a treasure trove of maritime memorabilia as you begin to understand the significance of the Sea to Arklow’s heritage. Arklow's extraordinary maritime heritage is reflected in a unique and significant collection which extends to international waters. Treasures of the boat building, lifeboat, and fishing traditions of Arklow have been collected, preserved and are now on display, and are further brought to life by the wonderful museum staff who have many tales to tell! Explore models of vessels built in Arklow, tools, navigational equipment, paintings, and artefacts. These include Sir Francis Chichester's Gypsy Moth III. Children will love the operational model of the wheelhouse controls of a trawler. View the Arklow Geansaí – older than the Aran version, and unique and intricate jumper knitted without a seem, on a single needle. Open: Open Daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., except 1 Jan and 24th, 25th, & 26th December. Tickets: Only €10 for a family ticket. Tick Tock Activity Farm Tick-Tock Activity Farm is located in rolling Wicklow countryside just 4km from Arklow Town and caters for toddlers, up to 10-year-olds. Meet all the farmyard friends, paint on the activity bus, enjoy the indoor and outdoor play areas, pet corner, tractors and much more. At Tick-Tock Activity farm your children will have a fun filled day holding and feeding a wide variety of animals including rabbits, sheep, and donkeys. Meet George and Oscar the pot belied pigs, Coco and Fudge the Jacob sheep, Snowbell the white horse and her companion Ruby the donkey, Bluebell and Daisy who are of course cows, not to mention Ollie the Alpaca and all the other farmyard friends waiting to meet you and tell you all about themselves and what they can eat. Adults wishing to take a break can enjoy a traditional scones, tea, and coffee in the onsite coffee shop, or outside on one of the picnic benches. Open: Open Daily during summer season – 11am to 5pm FunWorks Arklow FunWorks is an indoor play area for children from 0-12 years of age situated on the outsirts of Arklow Town. This is a great rainy day option when the weather is not on your side. FunWorks is a safe and fun venue, sure to tire out any child and provide hours of entertainment! There is a small ball pit for under one’s and an additional soft play area for under 3’s. The larger space caters for the slightly older children. Tea, coffee, and snacks are available. Open: Open Friday 2pm to 6pm, Saturday 9.30am to 6pm, and Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed public holidays. Wexford Lavendar Farm Ireland's only dedicated Lavender farm is situated 10km South of Arklow, over the border into Wexford. With four acres of lavender, a beautiful café located in the converted stables, gift shop, children’s playground and ‘Billy the Bull’ quad barrel train ride, families with young children will love exploring the farm. Ramble along the 1km looped Woodland Warriors and Enchanted Wood walk, with rustic playground equipment, perfect for little legs. Take in a game of outdoor Snakes and Ladders in the lower lavender field on your way. Browse the Artists’ Attic craft room with homemade crafts direct from local makers, where you can take home something special as the perfect gift or treat yourself! The Cafe offers delicious homemade breakfast, lunch, cakes and coffee and seats up to 65 people. Open: Easter to Halloween 10.30-5.00 Splash Valley Aqua Park Splash Valley Aqua Park, located at Hidden Valley Holiday Park, Rathdrum is just 20km from Arklow and is sure to be on the top of the list for adventurous kids! Positioned on a man-made lake with water flowing through from the Avonmore River, Splash Valley is Ireland’s newest & largest Aqua Park with over 30 obstacles and 1,800 square metres to conquer! Splash Valley is open to both campers and day-visitors, and sessions last one hour - 10-minute safety briefing and 50 minutes on the water. If you’re looking for fantastic fun for the whole family from ages 7 plus, this is for you! If you are not taking part, enjoy the fun from the 360-degree viewing platform with a coffee or ice cream from the onsite café. Open: Daily during summer season. Book online in advance to avoid disappointment. Greenan Maze, Farm and Museums Greenan Maze & Farm is one of Wicklow’s most popular family destinations within easy reach of Arklow, a 22km drive through rolling countryside. Families of all ages will enjoy a wonderful fun-filled and active day in the outdoors with a taste of heritage, cultural and nature education on a traditional farm set in the beautiful Wicklow hills. With a full-sized Celtic hedge maze, Solstice maze, three museums: a traditional farm-house museum, bottle museum and farm barn with horse drawn implements, there is lots to here to entertain for hours! The tranquil nature-walk meanders by the farm animals and includes a fun treasure hunt and a fairy tree walk. The on-site coffee shop serves tasty treats and gourmet coffees, and some local crafts and environmentally friendly products. Plenty of picnic tables and undercover outdoor seating for groups and parties. Open: Opening times: 10am to 6pm, last entry 5pm. April/May: Weekends only and Bank Holiday Mondays June/July/Aug: Open every day. Sept: Weekends only. Clara Lara FunPark Clara Lara FunPark is a fabulous natural outdoor adventure park with acres of fun for the whole family, in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, just 25km from Arklow! Clara Lara is the place to come for a day away from the world of screens. Children can play outdoors, run around, use their imagination, stretch their physical fitness, and not notice time going by. Kids will love plunging into the lake from the swing ropes and raft, rowing across the shallow lake, zip-lining, sliding from the tree house and climbing on the pirate ship and the bravest will enjoy the Aqua Shuttle water slide! The park is suitable for young families, however older children are welcome to visit with their younger siblings. Clara Lara is a full day out – bring your picnic or come prepared with you charcoal and BBQ pack and make use of the one of the many BBQ areas provided. If you don’t fancy cooking the Café offers a good range of hot food options, sweet treats, and coffees. Open daily June to Sept 10.30am- 6pm. For more ideas browse the Family Activities section here.

Your guide to two of the best looped road cycling routes around South County Wicklow. Basing yourself in Arklow gives you access to some of the best road cycling routes in Wicklow. The combination of coastal views, gentle rolling hills and the occasional steep climb offers a great variety of road cycling options. Here are a couple of ideas, but with so many villages and towns dotted across the region, there are many more options to link up for shorter or longer bike rides. Arklow – Glenmalure – Rathdrum - Arklow: 75km. This scenic loop starts and ends in Arklow. From Arklow head alongside the River Avoca to Woodenbridge, before turning at the Woodenbridge Hotel for Aughrim. From Aughrim head up by Macreddin Village and Greenan towards Glenmalure, a continuous climb which brings you up past the Glenmalure Lodge. This is the perfect halfway point to stop off! After the hotel you'll be turning right toward Laragh/Glendalough, and you'll soon you’ll pass the Shay Elliott Memorial, named for the legendary Irish Cyclist, marking the finish line of a King of the Mountains section. This is the highest point of the route and soon after you will commence your descent down toward the Laragh/Glendalough road. You could take a detour if you have time to explore Glendalough, but for now this route has you turning right for Rathdrum. On through the Clara Vale next for a relatively easy section which undulates gradually downwards into Rathdrum, a busy town which is another popular stop off point. Try Jacob's Well for a refreshing drink or bite to eat. At the crossroads, next turn right towards the ‘Meetings of the Waters’. This route then bypasses the village of Avoca and continues on to Woodenbridge, where you will pass through the Vale of Avoca for the homeward stretch back into Arklow. On this ride you will encounter a couple of big climbs and some spectacular Wicklow scenery and this route forms part of the annual Wicklow 200 race. Arklow – Redcross – Brittas Bay – Arklow: 50km Leaving Arklow the route follows the Beech Road (turning at Homesavers) for about 3km until you see a turn off to the right signposted Redcross. Soon after, keeping straight on these narrow country roads, you will encounter a decent climb up towards a peak at Barriniskey with great views of the surrounding Wicklow hills and coastline, before a nice downward section into Redcross village. The Wicklow Brewery is a good stop off point if you need to refuel, before continuing on into Barndarrig. You could detour to the National Botanic Gardens at Kilmacurragh or continue straight to pass across the old N11 road in the direction of Kilbride/Dunganstown. Continue heading east along winding country roads to link up with the coast road towards Potters Point & Brittas Bay . You may like to stop off at the Elephant & Castle for a rest break, which has a variety of dining options. Continue south to Brittas Bay and along the Coast Road which has one steep incline before leveling out and then descending gently towards your destination. You will encounter the best scenery of this route as the narrow road hugs the coastline. Enjoy the gorgeous views all the way back into Arklow!

Excitement is building for St. Patrick's Day celebrations 2023, in communities across the Arklow district! Join in with parades and festivities on our national day, Friday 17th March, and into the long weekend. Image: Arklow St. Patrick's Day Parade Facebook page Arklow Town: The Arklow parade begins at 2pm this year. The parade will start at the Navvy Hill, and then through to Abbey Street, Lower Main Street before finishing at Main Street. Road closures from 1pm to 3pm. Rathdrum: The parade in Rathdrum has been running for many years and is always a colourful event. This year the parade will depart from Avon Motors at 12 noon on St Patrick’s Day and make its way to Market Square, where the viewing stand will be located, before heading down Main Street. Aughrim: The village of Aughrim too has a strong tradition of St. Patrick's Day parades, always featuring a large array of vintage machinery and vehicles. Another highlight has been the musical entertainment from the Aughrim Pipe Band. Aughrim's parade this year will commence at 11.15am. Photos: Miley Carroll Photography Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! #StPatricksDay #StPatricksDay2022 #StPatricksFestival2022 #Wicklow #Ireland

Wells Spa at Brooklodge

Looking to get outdoors with the kids while visiting Arklow? There are lots of super, safe trails where young kids can burn off all that energy with a walk, cycle or scoot. 1. Arklow Nature Reserve Arklow Nature and Wildlife Reserve nestles beneath the North Coastal Walk on Arklow’s north shore. A small lake forms the centrepiece of the reserve with a 2km trail suitable for walkers, family cycling and scooting. The area behind the raised west bank supports a very different kind of habitat. It is quite dry and the path runs through a copse of silver birch. Along this path you can veer off to The Arklow Bay Hotel and enjoy Afternoon Tea or a drink on the lawns that meet the edge of the walking trail. The adjacent Kynock’s Park and Coastal Walk are a nice addition to your ramble in this area. 2. Arklow River Walk The wide and meandering Avoca River flows through Arklow’s town centre and lalongside it runs a Riverwalk which begins from edge of the 19 Arches Bridge and The Bridge Hotel. Follow the river on a journey inland under the enormous weeping willows which tip the water’s surface in places. The walk is 3km in total and loops up onto the Vale Road before returning down to the River via The Coomie Lane beside the ruins of the Ormond Castle. Children will enjoy spotting the hand-carved wooden sculptures depicting native animals which are dotted along the walk and swans, geese, otters, squirrels and even ponies can be seen often along the way. You may decide to extend your walk by picking up one of the Arklow Town Heritage Walks - more details here. 3. Arklow Rock Cliff Walk: This trail is recommended for families with slightly older kids due to the initial moderate (but short) climb to reach the cliff path, which is more difficult with buggies and small-wheeled scooters due to the gravel surface. However, for those who can manage, the views of the coastline are spectacular and worth the slight exertion! From the carpark, this out and back trail is 5km total length, taking you around a working quarry alongside the higher point of Arklow Rock. The rocky headland in this area support important breeding colonies of seabirds such as Kittiwake, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Fulmar. Take a dip in the sea after you return! The Cove is perfect for family bathing. 4. Glenart Woods Glenart Woods are nestled in a small glen, accessible via Lamberton Avenue to the west of Arklow Town, consisting of a pleasant and tranquil 5km looped walk. Glenart Castle, which is now privately owned, is also visible from the trail and dates from c1820. The forest trail through the trees is ideal for family walking and cycling. Most buggies will manage here, but kids using small wheeled scooters may find the route unsuitable. Check out some more options below.