Clogga Cove is 5km south of Arklow and is one of Wicklow’s best beaches. Access to the sandy beach is via a path lined with high ferns towards the rear of the Car Park. Enjoy stunning views back towards Arklow and beyond from the sheltered and safe waters of Clogga Cove. The beach is popular with bathers, walkers, anglers, and kayaking enthusiasts. At the south end of the beach keep an eye out on the water – you will often spot a seal in the sea off Clogga. Services: Car Park. Nearest public toilets: Castlepark & Main Street Arklow

The Avoca River which flows into Arklow has its origins in the Wicklow Mountains, with many tributaries such as the Glenelo, Glenmacnass, Avonmore, Avonbeg, Derry, and Ow Rivers all coming together to flow into the Irish Sea at Arklow. A new Harbour to Headwater Biodiversity Trail explores this catchment area highlight the magnificent and varied local wildlife and the significant wealth of flora and fauna that exist on both the land and in the water. In 14 locations across the region from the Harbour in Arklow right up along the river catchment to the Headwaters of Glenmalure, you can find information panels specific to each of those points on the River network. In addition, an online interactive resource provides more information on local biodiversity with the option to take part in citizen science activities. You can look out for and identify aquatic insects (macro-invertebrates) and learn which are more sensitive insects, such as mayflies, and how they are intrinsically linked to water quality. Find the main Information Panel outlining the Harbour to Headwaters Biodiversity Trail in Arklow Town before you choose which of the three trails you would like to undertake! Blue Trail (Avoca-Avonmore) This trail begins in Arklow before moving out along the river to Woodenbridge, where the Aughrim River and the Gold Mines River meet the Avoca River main channel. The information panel here tells the story of the Woodenbridge Hotel, the oldest in Ireland, and about the Wicklow gold rush and World War I memorial Park. A third panel at ‘The Meetings of the Waters’, tells of the joining of two of the largest tributaries of the catchment, the Avonbeg and Avonmore, and the locations association with Arts and Literature, especially Thomas Moore. Learn about the wildlife and ecosystems of the Avonmore River Catchment, including our exceptional pristine waters Yellow Trail (Aughrim-Ow) The Aughrim – River Ow Catchment includes four locations in Woodenbridge, Aughrim Village, Ballinglen Bridge and Aughavannagh. This part of the catchment is notable for its local water heritage such as the instream weirs and bridges and local industry (old mills, forestry, fisheries, and hatcheries). Green Trail (Avonbeg) The Avonbeg River Catchment has four locations, starting at the ‘Meetings of the Waters’ and then on to Ballinaclash and Glenmalure (Drumgoff Bridge and Barravore Ford). Learn more of the significant flora and fauna that existing along the Avonbeg River, the mining and forestry heritage of the valley and about some of the wonderful walking trails through the valley. More information at www.wicklowrivers.ie (Full details to follow in May 2021)

A short 9km drive north of Arklow, Ballymoyle Hill rises gently to a height of 240m above sea level, providing the walker with some magnificent views of the coastline. On a clear day, it is possible to see the Welsh mountains in the distance. Also visible to the south is Arklow and further south, Tara Hill in Co. Wexford. While there are no waymarked routes in this Coillte managed forest, there are six kilometres of trails, which loop around the hillside and offer the hiker a moderately challenging walk. The area is a haven for wildlife, and you may see foxes, rabbits, badgers, and squirrels as you make your way along the forest roads. Paths are suitable for bikes and dedicated mountain bike trails are available through the forest, off the main walking trails. Parking: off the road in front of the barrier. Grade: Easy for the most part, with a couple of moderately challenging sections. Not suitable for Wheelchair users. Robust buggies will cope with the route, with muscle power needed on the inclines!

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. In recognition of this, Arklow has been chosen to host the Junior World Shore Angling Championships (U16 & U21s) 2021. 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! 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. 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. 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, on the Wexford coast, 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. Additional useful information is available here – ‘Guide to angling on Irelands East Coast’

The beach at Porter’s Rock, just north of Arklow Town, is a spot popular with locals and largely unknown to visitors. The rugged coastal stretch, featuring a small sand beach with rocky outcrops is flanked by lush hills and dunes. The beach once formed part of a larger North Beach area which has been largely lost to erosion in recent times. Porter’s Rock is accessible from the north end of the Coastal Walk and care and attention is needed to safely access the beach over the rock armour. Due to the dangerous access, this beach will not be suited to everyone and suitable footwear should be worn. If you do manage to find your way over the rocks, the views are simply stunning! Services: Car Park: 10 minutes’ walk at Seaview Avenue Nearest public toilets: 30-minute walk – Castlepark Arklow

Heading north in the direction of Brittas Bay, just 5km from Arklow, is a real hidden gem of a beach! With only a small car park you need to arrive early to enjoy the glorious sandy stretch of Ennerilley Beach, which is never crowded, making it all the more special. Families will enjoy collecting colourful stones and shells and climbing the high sand dunes. Ennerilley is well known as a shore anglers and sea-kayak fishing haven – pick up your bait in Wild Ireland or Power’s both on Main Street in Arklow. Services: Car Park. Nearest public toilets: Castlepark & Main Street Arklow

First established in 1927, Arklow Golf Club is an 18-hole seaside links course, renowned for being warm and inviting to all visitors from home and overseas. This course is nestled to the South of the town, between the Arklow Rock, the Irish Sea and mountains to the west, affording wonderful scenery all around. A traditional links, Arklow Golf Course was formed by Hawtree & Taylor in 1927 and evolved with input from Eddie Hackett, in the 1970’s and more recently, Eddie Connaughton. The course has been described as a ‘Hidden Jewel’ and the Southern Region of the Irish PGA held their 2001 and 2002 Championships on this links. Arklow is ranked in Golf Digest Magazine Top 100 Irish Golf Courses in 2020. This Par 69 golf course is laid out over 6,516 yards and offers the golfer a challenging round – plenty of hollows, sand hills, marram grass and bunkers to be negotiated. Arklow Golf Links aims to provide visitors with a day to remember on a traditional links golf course. There is a Clubhouse Bar and Restaurant with capacity for 100 people, pro-shop and practice green with 9 holes and putting green all onsite. Visitors can avail of lockers, changing area and showers, and buggies, electric trollies and caddy carts are all available to hire. You’re sure to enjoy this wonderfully unique course, as well as the tranquil and panoramic views over the links with its meandering fairways and rugged sand dunes, all set against a backdrop of the Irish Sea. Open: Daily, all year round. Visitors Welcome – availability and booking via the website. Address Abbeylands Arklow Web: http://www.arklowgolflinks.com/ Co. Wicklow Email: info@arklowgolflinks.com Phone: 0402 32492

Leaving Arklow and driving inland for about 7km you soon come to Woodenbridge, a small settlement and home to Ireland’s oldest hotel, The Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge. A roadside paved walking path is provided from Woodenbridge to Rathdrum, approximately 14km in length (28km return), ideal for those looking for a long flat walk, or for wheelchairs or buggy users. Or why not break up your walk as suggested in more detail below. Tip: If completing the full walk, we recommend you drive to Rathdrum and park in the public car park adjacent to the National Parnell Memorial Park to begin your walk. From there you can walk all the way to Woodenbridge on the footpath safely alongside quiet country roads, enveloped with mature trees. Section 1: Rathdrum to The Meetings Pub & Shop – 4.5km one way / 9km return Set off from the Parnell Memorial Park in Rathdrum towards The Meetings of the Waters. The footpath passes under a gorgeous canopy of Irish native trees on the way. When you arrive at the Meetings of the Waters, take some time to explore the Thomas Moore Memorial Park, the local gifts in the craft shop, or to enjoy a pint of the black stuff or bite to eat, while soaking up views of the Rivers Avonbeg & Avonmore where they meet. Section 2: The Meetings to Avoca – 5km one way or 10km return The Vale of Avoca is renowned for being one of the most scenic spots in County Wicklow. The wooded valley begins where the rivers Avonbeg and Avonmore meet to form the River Avoca at The Meetings, before flowing down into the Great Estuary at Arklow. Taking the path from The Meetings, about half-way towards Avoca Village on your left is the White Bridge. Here you can take a detour towards the Avoca Mines if you wish. A short up and back will give you a flavour of some of the heritage of the area. If you fancy a more strenuous hike, follow the road from the White Bridge past the mines for 2.5km uphill to the White Cross, where you will be rewarded with amazing views down onto the valley. Come back to the White Bridge on the same route. Further along from the White Bridge you will reach Avoca Village, home to the famous Avoca Handweavers which is Ireland’s oldest weaving mill. Fitzgerald’s pub, as featured in the BBC series Ballykissangel, offers a traditional Irish setting for food and drinks. If you fancy heading into the forest, the Red Kite looped walk brings you higher up above the valley through some wonderful woodlands. It’s only 2.5km but really packs a punch and don’t forget to look out for the Red Kite soaring overhead. To begin the Red Kite Walk, walk through the village past the RC Church and take the signposted forest path on the right. Follow the signs to complete the loop and bring you back to Avoca village. Section 3: Avoca to Woodenbridge – 4.5km one way or 9km return. This is arguably the most scenic section of the walk with beautiful mature trees creating a tunnel overhead, and is particularly spectacular in Autumn. The River Avoca flows alongside in parts and as you near the end of this section the Woodenbridge Golf Course, surrounded by the river and mature forest, is visible back through the valley. A great place to stop for a bite to eat or a drink is the Woodenbridge Hotel where you will be assured of locally sourced, great quality food in the Goldmine’s Bistro. Catch up on some of the historical happenings associated with the hotel, as you browse the huge array of memorabilia hanging on every wall. Return to Rathdrum for your Car – it’s only 14km straight from Woodenbridge!

The Ultimate Victorian Afternoon Tea Experience is here in Arklow! Victorian Tea Times is a stunningly authentic salute to all things Victorian and offers guests a truly immersive experience of that bygone era, combining fabulous food with flouncing Victorian ensembles. Dress in Victorian costumes (supplied for both men and women), while you indulge in delicious Afternoon Tea while being waited on by Victorian serving maids. The beautifully appointed room basks in the flames from the cosy fire, as tables dressed in crisp linen tablecloths glisten with silver tea pots, three-tiered luncheon servers, fine hand painted china and bone handled butter knives. Delicious dainty sandwiches with mouth-watering fillings, freshly baked buttermilk scones with rich cream and jam and pretty little pastries and delicacies, with lashings of tea, all combine to serve up an evocative and captivating experience. Victorian Tea Times is a wonderful experience for that special birthday, anniversary or other milestone occasion with fabulous photograph opportunities. The option of a Jolly Jaunt around town in a horse and carriage is also available. Keep and eye out for Easter, Mother’s Day and other themed occasion menus and offers. An afternoon tea experience truly like no other! Open: Thursday-Saturday 5pm-10:30pm. Sunday 3pm-9pm Address: 37a Main Street, Web: www.victorianteatimes.com Arklow, Email: victorianteatimes@gmail.com Co Wicklow. Tel: 089 4285848

Avoca Walking Tours provide guided walking tours of the beautiful Vale of Avoca, just 10km from Arklow. Explore this amazing part of Wicklow and learn of the ancient and natural history, as well as social insights of this corner of the Garden of Ireland. Walking through the disused copper mines, glacial deposits, rivers, and forests with your experienced guide, and hear about the reintroduction of a previously extinct bird of prey, the Red Kite. The popular looped walk has been featured in an episode of R.T.E.'s (Irish National T.V) "Tracks & Trails", where Avoca Walking Tours were joined by food celebrities "The Happy Pear". Pre booking is required on 059 6481717 or email garcotrails@gmail.com.

The seafront Skate Park is great fun for little ones who like to burn off energy on their scooters or bikes. There are several fun obstacles in this small park including a funbox, ramps and a pool. Across Seaview Avenue is the Municipal Playground. Kids will enjoy the usual mix of swings, slides, sea-saw, basket swing and climbing frames. For those with mobility impairment the Spinmee Inclusive Carousel is designed to be accessible, it rotating base is flush with the surrounding safety surface allowing for easy transition between the surfaces. The design of the carousel allows for both seated and standing users while also featuring two locations that can securely accommodate wheelchairs. Open: Skatepark – Always Open. Playground - Open Daily (hours vary depending on the season). Address: Seaview Avenue, Arklow, Co Wicklow

This dementia-friendly garden was first showcased at ‘Bloom’ in the Phoenix Park in 2018. People with dementia and their carers were consulted in the development of the garden, which was subsequently relocated to Seaview Avenue in Arklow. This Bloom Dementia Friendly Garden provides a calm, relaxing place for people to spend time together. The short walk around the garden provides a gentle multi-sensory experience aimed at slowly grounding the person in the here and now. The scented plants chosen not only give off lovely scents in the garden, but also help people reminisce about childhoods and younger days. The garden also includes a series of photographs as a reminder that the person with dementia is first and foremost a person that is part of family life. The garden was located in this popular community-centric area to support an inclusive approach to all members of the community. People with dementia, their family, friends, and carers are embraced into the public community space which has a children's playground, skateboard park, street art wall, outdoor gym, green open spaces with nature reserve, and much more. An outdoor space that everyone can enjoy together. The garden was designed by Newton Saunders Ltd. and Trinity Haus research centre. Open: 24 hour access Address Seaview Avenue, Arklow Co Wicklow Access: Paved paths provided Parking: in the adjacent carpark (free)