For families with little ones, Arklow and its surrounds offers a great variety of short and flat cycle options. Some of the most popular are: Arklow Riverwalk A 3km Riverwalk loop, shared by leisure cyclists and walkers, begins from the edge of the 19 Arches Bridge and The Bridge Hotel. Follow the paved path by the river on a journey inland under the enormous weeping willows which tip the water’s surface in places. Wildlife abounds and you will see plenty of swans, geese, otters, squirrels and even ponies along the way! As you leave the riverbank continue along the path towards the Vale Road, keeping left uphill on the footpath. After 500m take a left onto the Coomie Lane, a short section of unpaved trail, where you can enjoy good views of the remains of the Ormond Castle walls to your right as you make your way back onto the riverbank. Several interesting art installations are to be found along the route including a low wall covered with hand-painted ceramic tiles designed by primary school children from Arklow and Chateaudun in France. Dotted along the walk are several hand-carved wooden sculptures depicting native animals. Parking: in the adjacent Bandstand/Main Street Car Park (charges apply) Public Toilets: adjacent within the Car Park Arklow Nature & Wildlife Reserve The Arklow Nature and Wildlife Reserve nestles beneath the North Coastal Walk on Arklow’s north shore. Around the Lake which forms the centrepiece of the Nature Reserves, is a 2km trail suited to walkers, family cycling and scooting. The path is a mix of paved and unpaved but is flat and easy to navigate for leisure cyclists. This area is made up of several diverse habitats, home to many water bird species such as ducks, geese, swans, grebes, and gulls. Stop off for a break at one of the viewing decks on either side of the lake to view the birds up close. Three-spined Stickleback fish shelter in the reed, which also provides shelter and nest sites for the Moorhen and the Little Grebe and vital nesting material for the Mute Swan. Yellow Flag Irises thrive beneath the canopy of broadleaf trees and Duckweed carpets the surfaces providing a refuge for the Common Frog and the Smooth Newt. As you leave the paved trail and head around the end of the lake the un-paved 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 trail. The adjacent Kynock’s Park and Coastal Walk are a nice addition to your ramble in this area. The Playground, Skatepark, Dementia Friendly Garden and Coral Leisure Centre and Pool are also adjacent. Parking: Along the adjacent Seaview Avenue (free) Public Toilets: Main Street Car Park – 15 minutes walk Avondale Forest Park A little further afield, Avondale Forest Park which is managed by Coillte, on the outskirts of Rathdrum is situated 18km from Arklow. The 505-acre Forest Park provides a network of trails for walking and family cycling of varying lengths. The paths are on forest track and gently undulate as they pass under majestic stands of Sequoia, Spruce and broadleaves. Many tree species were planted and trialled for the first time in experimental plots, laid out along the lines of a continental forest garden, which are still visible today along the majestic sweeping lawn known as the ‘Great Ride’. Keep an eye out for the Park wildlife including red squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, and a wide variety of birds including woodpeckers. Leisure Cycling Trail (1.5kms, Graded Easy): Avondale is a perfect destination for safe off-road, family cycling. This is a dual purpose (walking and cycling trail) please respect walkers during your cycle. Parking: Carpark onsite – take note of seasonal opening times as you enter as the gate will automatically lock at closing time (free parking currently) Toilets: Public toilet block onsite. Disabled toilets are not available at the Park currently. Picnic Site: Tables are provided near the trailhead with BBQ grills. Small children’s playground onsite

Hilary Jenkinson of Crannmor Pottery has been creating her own pottery by traditional hand-throwing methods for over 20 years. Hillary has created several unique ranges called Moss, Cornflower, Silk and Willow and all her work is hand thrown on an electric wheel using stoneware clay. Preferring straight lines to the more traditional bellied pots, her shapes are based on old pewter beer tankards. The simple motif of a Celtic spiral, applied with a sponge, is used to decorate her Cornflower and Willow ranges. The more recent Willow Range uses softer tones with an off-white base and a rich brown spiral pattern. Crannmor Pottery is designed to be functional for use in every household - the stoneware pottery is durable, dishwasher and microwave safe. Bespoke work for that special gift is also on offer and Hillary does commission and gallery pieces too. Open Year Round by appointment – please call in advance. Crannmore Pottery Studio Web: www.crannmorpottery.com Coolroe Great, Email: potty@crannmorpottery.com Arklow, Phone: 0876254884 Co Wicklow.

On the southern outskirts of Arklow Town, you’ll find Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese, run by The Hempenstall family who have been milking cows on this small dairy farm for the past 50 years. Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese is multi award-winning cheese producer, and being just 2km from the coast the sea air gives a unique flavour to the farm’s lush grasslands and in turn, adds a distinctive flavour to the milk to produce the seductively addictive cheeses. Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese has been awarded 20 BLÁS na hÉIREANN awards since 2006, and has also been winners on multiple occasions at the British Cheese Awards, the World Cheese Awards and the Global Cheese Awards, as well as the Great Taste Awards here in Ireland! Dairy farmer John Hempenstall started making Wicklow Blue in 2002, before opening a purpose-built, cheese making facility on his farm in 2005. Wicklow Blue is a blue brie style cheese made using pasteurised cow’s milk and vegetarian rennet. The bloomy white rind enrobes a butter scented, yellow paste with lined with blue-green mould. The blue flavour is unpronounced and doesn’t interfere with the overall impression of creamy whipped butter and salad mushrooms on the palate. Since then, John has added a number to other cheese to the range including Wicklow Brie, Wicklow Bán, Plain Cheddar, Cheddar with Tomato & Herb, Cheddar with Basil & Garlic, Cheddar with Nettle & Chive and Wicklow Gold Beechwood Smoked Cheddar. You’ll find the Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese range in Tesco and other major supermarkets and as Simply Better Bán in Dunnes Stores. Drop into the Shop onsite to purchase your chosen cheeses direct from the producer! Curranstown House, Email: info@wicklowfarmhousecheese.ie Curranstown Lower, Phone: 0402 91713 Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Looking for a locally produced craft for yourself or gift to bring home? Browse the Craft Gallery at The Meetings while you’re in the area, stocked with the finest hand-made Wicklow crafts, the ideal gift or memento of your holiday. Ample free customer parking adjacent. Open weekends 12pm – 5.30pm and by appointment The Meetings of the Waters, Web: www.themeetings.ie/index.php/craft-gallery-store Avoca, Phone: 0402 35226 Co Wicklow.

The Meath Arms is a beautiful Country Inn on the Main Street in Aughrim village, with a long tradition of hospitality. Established in 1728, the business is today still owned and run by the Phelan family. Recently refurbished, The Meath Arms offers lovely accommodation and each of the ten rooms is individually decorated with its own personality, creating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Breakfast is included in your room rate and is served in a wonderful olde-world dining room, with an eclectic mix of antique furnishings. If you are walking the nearby Wicklow Way, the hosts offer a pick-up and drop off service to/from Ironbridge. There is a lounge and bar onsite, and the Grainstore Restaurant is adjacent. Open Year Round Address: Aughrim, Web: https://meath-arms.com/ Co. Wicklow. Tel: 0402 36460

This long-established Chinese and Thai restaurant is situated in the heart of Arklow Town, just off the Main Street. The Soya Bean restaurant is a local favourite with a wide variety of menu options to choose from. The large first floor restaurant looks out over Main Street. Full take away and delivery menu is also available. Parking is available along Main Street. Open: Mon to Thurs 5pm to 11pm, Fri & Sat 4.30pm to 11.30pm, Sunday 1pm to 11pm Address: 5 Main St, Web: http://www.soyabean.ie/ Arklow, Tel: 0402 24276 Co. Wicklow.

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!

Jacob’s Well Bed and Breakfast and Gastropub is located on the Main Street of Rathdrum, halfway between Arklow and Glenmalure. On arrival to Jacob’s Well you are assured of a very warm welcome and your hosts Noel and Helen will endeavour to make your stay a memorable one. The Bed and Breakfast is separate from the Gastropub so you can be sure of a quiet and peaceful nights rest. The superior accommodation is cosy, comfortable and all bedrooms enjoy scenic views, with high ceilings and en-suite bathrooms, which are designed for your relaxation. Double, twin bed and family room are available and there is a half-board option to include your evening meal. Special features include central heating, full multichannel TV, tea, coffee facilities and hairdryers. Guests can enjoy the additional comfort of a private reading and sitting room with open turf fire, along with breakfast room. Adjacent to Jacob’s Well Bed and Breakfast is the wonderful award-winning gastro pub with a reputation for quality, style, and traditional Irish charm. Multiple times winner of the highly prestigious Black & White Pub of the Year, and 2010 and 2011 Winner of the Irish Restaurant Associations’ Best Gastro Pub / Restaurant in Wicklow Award, Jacobs Well is widely renowned for the excellence and the remarkable consistency of food. Open Year Round Address: Jacob’s Well B&B, Web: http://jacobswellrathdrum.com/ Main Street, Email: jacobswell@eircom.net Rathdrum, Tel: 0404 46282 Co. Wicklow.

Eastern Promise offers 100% natural, fresh and healthy food cooked to your order preference. Using the freshest and highest quality ingredients to prepare their dishes, with locally sourced Irish beef, chicken, and fresh fish and seafood, all meals are carefully prepared by their expert Chef. Eastern Promise Restaurant offers the finest Asian fusion food at good value. Take-away and delivery service to the Arklow area is also available. Free on street parking available. Open Daily 4.30pm to 11.30pm Address: 3, Bentley Court, Web: https://www.easternpromise.ie Wexford Rd, Email: easternpromisearklow@gmail.com Arklow, Tel: 0402 29883 Co. Wicklow.

The Avoca River catchment is an extensive network of tributaries that flow east into Arklow from high up in the Wicklow Mountains. The whole area is popular with game anglers, who can enjoy the sport on the Rivers Avoca, Avonmore and Ow. You are in the heart of the Garden of Ireland here, so enjoy beautiful mountain and forest scenery all around, while you cast off from the lush riverbanks. Catch and release is encouraged, if not required in some locations, and permits are necessary in most instances. Ow or Aughrim River: This deep, wide river flows from the picturesque village of Aughrim to join with the River Avoca, near Woodenbridge, about 7km from Arklow. This River contains good stocks of wild brown trout with many of the fish being around 1lb. Avonmore River: This River begins at Lough Dan in the Wicklow Mountains flowing through a granite landscape, creating an acidic environment resulting is generally small, 8oz to 1lb sized wild brown trout with the occasional catch of up to 6lbs recorded. This Avonmore River runs right down through the valley and features a mix of slow meandering stretches to fast flowing sections, which are deep in parts. The mid-section of the river around Rathdrum is a good spot to explore, and in general March to May and August to September are the best times of year to fish here. River Avoca: When the Avonmore reaches the Meetings of the Waters, it joins with the Avonbeg to form the larger River Avoca. Unfortunately, just beyond this point, before the village of Avoca, is a highly polluted stretch of water which suffers from acidic discharges from the nearby disused Avoca Mines. The best part of the River Avoca to fish on is around Woodenbridge where the Aughrim River joins. Anglers have a choice of permits, from hourly to daily, and casting tuition is available for newcomers to the sport. Bait can be purchased onsite and rods are available for hire, or you can bring your own equipment. Opening Times: Summer March 31st to Oct 27th 9am to 5pm (last ticket sold at 4pm) Winter Oct 28th to March 30th – 9am to 4pm (last ticket sold 3pm) Address: Rednagh Road, Aughrim, Co Wicklow Web: http://aughrim.ie/fishing/ Phone: 0402 36552 Social: https://www.facebook.com/aughrimtroutfishing/

Avoca Handweavers is the oldest working woollen mill in Ireland and one of the world's oldest manufacturing companies in the world. As well as the working weaving shed by the banks of the River Avoca, there is a wonderful clothing and textile retail store and Avoca Café, with delicious home baked food. Enjoy a free tour of the weaving shed where visitors can chat to third generation weavers to learn more about the craft and find out the steps involved in the making of a famous Avoca throw. During your visit you can also have a browse in the store, a bite to eat, or coffee which can be taken inside or on a picnic table in the grounds. History of the Avoca Handweavers The Avoca Handweavers story began in 1723, when a co-operative weaving mill was set up along the banks of the Avoca River. Here, local farmers could grind their corn, and spin and weave their wool for clothing for the local miners. At first, only uncoloured yarn was used for weaving at the mill. Later though, this would all change when colour came to the valleys. Natural vegetable dyes in reds, greens and yellows began to be used. These would become the signature hues of Avoca. By the end of the 18th Century, the valley of Avoca was a busy and vibrant community mining copper, zinc, lead and gold. The mill was the nucleus of the village, spinning and weaving wool from local sheep to clothe local families, and grinding corn to feed the miners. During the early 1900's, Emily Wynne who lived in Tigroney House adjacent to the Mill, attended Andrew S Robinson Designing Rooms in Belfast. Here she was trained in pattern drafting for damask, and she learned to master this complex process. Around 1910, Emily Wynne began working with the weavers at the mill, introducing new designs and colour inspiration. In 1927, Emily along with her two younger sisters, Winifred and Veronica, took over the weaving mill and decided to start an Irish industry and contribute to the local economy. Under the management of the Wynne sisters, the mill was given a new lease of life and by 1937, The Wynne sisters went on to buy the business and further develop their designs. By the 1940s, the mill business was growing rapidly with international markets though out Europe and all the way to America. They sold to the couture houses of Paris and to Royalty in England. The mill had its highest sales during the ’40 and ’50 until the passing of Emily in 1958. During the 1960’s handweaving fell out of fashion and the mill became neglected and many weavers had to leave their skills behind to look elsewhere for work. The next chapter of the Avoca story began with a visit in 1974, by Dublin solicitor Donald Pratt and his wife Hilary. It was in a state of disrepair but local resident Jim Barry who was running the mill at that time and was passionate about the mill convinced Donald that if someone was to resurrect it, it would be a success story again. Despite knowing nothing about handweaving Donald and Hilary Pratt, purchased the Avoca Mill. They believed there was a future in the Mill’s past. Donald left his career in law and Hilary gave up her teaching job. They and their five children took over the old, leaking mill and its empty order book. Slowly but surely the looms were humming again, and Avoca began to colour the world once more. Once things were back on track The Pratts began to expand and purchased a site near Dublin, which previously had been the estate of the Jameson family, and together spent every weekend cutting away the brambles, to clear space for the store and gardens we now know to be Avoca Kilmacanogue. There are now 13 Avoca stores, between food outlets and retail spaces across Ireland. The famous Avoca throws, rugs, scarves and more which are woven in the Village Mill are still sold across the globe today. In 2015, the Pratt family sold Avoca Handweavers to the American company Aramark. Open: Daily, year-round. (Subject to Covid) Web: https://www.avoca.com/en/stores-and-cafes/village Email: avocavillage-stores@avoca.com Phone: 0402 35105

The Glenmalure Lodge is situated in the heart of the longest glacial valley in Ireland. There are a total of 14 Bedrooms in the Glenmalure Lodge, with 11 Double or Twin rooms and 3 Family rooms. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Some rooms are located in the original building and have recently been renovated, yet retain their olde-world charm. The bedrooms to the front of the Lodge look out across the valley to Fananieren Mountain. The Glenmalure Lodge is a well-known as friendly, family run business and the cosy pub here has lots of old memorabilia, paying homage to the area’s rich and colourful history. Open fires and great food with plenty of comfortable seating, add to its interesting character. Open Year Round Open Year Round Address: Carriglinneen, Web: https://www.glenmalurelodge.ie Glenmalure, Email: info@glenmalurelodge.ie Co. Wicklow. Tel: 0404 46188