Free Activites in Carlow

Keeping Everyone Entertained at no extra cost

Brownshill Dolmen

The mysterious and majestic Brownshill Dolmen has captured the imagination of visitors for centuries. Located 3km east of Carlow town, the capstone of this impressive megalithic tomb is believed to be the largest in Europe, weighing some 103 tonnes.

Brownshill Dolmen is a magnificent granite capstone, weighing about 103 tonnes, has excited the interest of historians and antiquarians for centuries. An enormous slab sits on two portal stones which flank a door stone and slopes downwards to the west, where it rests on a low boulder.

Visit the Brownshill Dolmen to truly experience a piece of prehistoric Ireland that experts belive the date of construction has been estimated at between 4,900 and 5,500 years ago in all its glory

Visual Carlow

With a mission to enrich, inspire and improve the everyday through art, the VISUAL is a must-see on any visit to Carlow.

VISUAL is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary art spaces situated in the heart of Carlow town, with four world class gallery spaces and a 335 seat performance space.  VISUAL Carlow receives national, international and regional touring productions as well as presenting locally produced work.

A ten minute drive from the hotel, all galleries have FREE admission. Explore thought-provoking and inspiring exhibitions from Tuesday to Sunday weekly, open 11am to 5.30pm.

VISUAL Carlow website

Carlow County Museum

Take a trip into the centre of Carlow town and experience the history that is on offer in Carlow County Museum.

The Museum has 4 different galleries, with items and artefacts such as the original gallows trapdoor from Carlow Gaol, items from Carlow’s Sugar Factory which operated for almost 80 years, and the smoking pipe of Captain Myles Keogh.

In the Museum, you’ll be thrown back in time to see the deep rooted history that has been embedded in County Carlow.

Ducketts Grove

Duckett’s Grove, the 18th, 19th and early 20th century home of the Duckett family, was formerly at the centre of a 20,000 acre (8,093 hectares) estate that has dominated the Carlow landscape for over 300 years. Even in ruin, the surviving towers and turrets of Duckett’s Grove Walled Gardens and Pleasure Grounds form a romantic profile making it one of the most photogenic historic buildings in the country and a castle in Ireland to visit.

There is also a playground located within the pleasure grounds of Duckett’s Grove which is a great new addition for all the family to enjoy. Universally accessible and finished in wood this rustic and aesthetically pleasing playground has been completed taking its natural surroundings into consideration. The playground features slides, poles, an obstacle course and lots more to enjoy.

South Leinster Way

The South Leinster Way is a long distance walking route which starts from Kildavin, Co. Carlow to finish in Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary covering 102 kilometres (64 miles) in length and ascending some 1600 metres. FREE to visit and walk. Estimated length of the walk is 5 days.

It is a route that passes through varied terrain, including the heathery flanks of Mount Leinster (796m) and Brandon Hill (515m), a fine riverside stretch on the River Barrow, a large decayed demesne, and coniferous woodlands, but it finishes with a long stretch of 30 km on quiet tarmac roads.

Maps and other information on South Leinster Way

Explore Carlow

Explore Carlow from The Woodford Dolmen Hotel. A Comfortable stay awaits, after your adventures!