sign in sign up
<<
Home , Blessington

CLUB SITES HIDDEN VALLEY & RIVER VALLEY

andHide soak While in Ireland, Don Jolly uncovers the delights of a hidden traditional Irish music with dancing known as ‘Ballykissangel’ in the BBC’s twice weekly, complete with a meal and ’90s television series of that name, and MEMBERS’ VIEWS valley, then sails off to another for the current attractions Guinness, for €25 per person. If you its brightly-hued pub, Fitzgerald’s, one Sue and Barry Gray from Sutton, wish to eat in, Stores, opposite of the main exterior sets, still enjoys Surrey, only started caravanning YING JUST south of , Hidden Valley, located just outside instructor. A wet suit is €5 extra. the site, can provide the ingredients. much celebrity. Also popular is Avoca in October 2010, and Hidden the Mountains, parts Rathdrum, is divided by the River Mountain bikes are also available for Although River Valley’s Secret Handweavers, housed in Ireland’s oldest Valley was their first site in Ireland. “We love Ireland and we L of which are a national park, Avonmore, with tents one side and hire (see panel overleaf). Garden is a popular adult retreat, the working woollen mill, dating from 1723. think we picked well with this site. are truly beautiful. You can enjoy that caravans the other, the river providing Good local dining choices are a few site has no shortage of children’s Today it produces colourful clothing, The people are so friendly and beauty from two Club-affiliated sites entertainment for young children, minutes’ walk from Hidden Valley in attractions. Most popular is the pets’ throws and blankets and is well worth everyone working here takes pride ❖ in their midst. who paddle or swim in the shallow Rathdrum. Among the best are Bates corner, home to rabbits, guinea pigs, visiting to see weavers at work. in the site. Well worth an outing for traditional music and Hidden Valley Holiday Park at waters. The caravan area has a boating (where booking is advised), in the ferrets, ducks, chickens, guinea-fowl, South of Rathdrum, Avondale House, excellent food is Johnnie Fox’s Pub at Glencullen.” Rathdrum and River Valley Caravan and lake, where you can hire rowing boats courtyard behind the Cartoon Inn, even a pot-bellied pig and a small rodent in the Avondale Forest Park, was the € Malcolm and Marilyn Green from Camping Park in Redcross are both for 2 per person and single or double a fine traditional pub in Market Street from Chile called a degu. There is also a birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell, the Wirral, were staying at River owned by the Williams family, Lloyd kayaks for €5 (prices include life and the nearby Jacob’s Well. kids’ club, tennis and badminton courts a 19th-century politician who Valley for a week. “It’s a great site Williams running the former and Ashley jackets). The more adventurous River Valley has its own pub, and indoor football. Furthermore, the campaigned for home rule and became and the people are lovely. We Williams the latter, and while both (with previous kayaking experience) Mickey Finn’s (also serving the village), site has an 18-hole, par-three golf course. known as ‘the uncrowned king of particularly like the adults-only area Stunningly scenic achieve high standards, there are distinct can take longer river trips, kayakers offering extensive menus in its elegant The sites’ attractions are bound to Ireland’ (a handsome statue stands in which is separate from the family means differences in the amenities available. being transported upstream for a two Conservatory (adults-only after 6pm) demand attention, but try to slip away to Rathdrum). The neoclassical house is area – it’s nice and peaceful,” said the ‘glen of two lakes’ Malcolm. “The Both sites are geared towards family and a half hour paddle back to the site. and cosy Snug restaurants, as well as explore further – there is much to appeal beautifully decorated inside, in complete are so beautiful, too,” said holidays – in different ways – but River The trip, also available to River Valley casual dining in the rustic bar, plus in them thar hills. contrast to its rather drab exterior, while Marilyn, “and and Wicklow Valley also has a terraced adults-only guests, costs €35 and includes helmet Giovanni’s, open from 4pm for Enchanting Avoca is one such the 200-hectare estate in which it stands, are handy for major shopping.” area, the tranquil Secret Garden. and life jackets and the services of an take-aways. The pub also has live attraction. The village became better now owned by the Irish Forestry Board, >>

18 The Caravan Club Magazine December 2011 The Caravan Club Magazine 19 CLUB SITES HIDDEN VALLEY & RIVER VALLEY

INFORMATION SITE Full details can be found on p283 (Hidden Valley) and p284 (River Valley) of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2011/12 TOURISM ■ Arklow Tourist Information Office – call 00 353 (0)402 32484 ■ Bray Visitor Information Point – call 00 353 (0)1 286 7128 ■ Dublin Tourism – call 00 353 (0)1 605 7700 (dialing from the UK 0800 039 7000) or see visitdublin.com ■ Wicklow Tourist Information Office – call 00 353 (0)404 69117 CYCLING Mountain bikes can be hired at both sites for 15 an hour for exploring the area’s many quiet lanes, or for 40 (including helmet, high-visibility jackets, locks and Hidden Valley maps) you can be transported up to Sally Gap for a DID YOU 261/4-mile, mainly downhill ride to Glendalough. KNOW? Cyclists are out in force at weekends, many homing has several waymarked trails a pirate ship, rowing boats, canoes, rafts James Joyce emigrated in on Glendalough Green in Laragh, where a popular to Europe in his early through magnificent woodland and slides, plus a probable soaking. A towel café dispenses calorie replacement in the form of 20s, never to return to Ireland,fictional butDublin setworks all his in bordering River Avonmore. and change of clothes are advised. flapjacks, cakes and coffee. Downstream is the Meeting of the From there it’s not far to Glendalough, Waters, where the Avonmore and a 6th-century Christian monastic site Avonbeg rivers merge to form River founded by St Kevin. Set in a scenic valley Avoca. Overlooking the confluence, the with Glendalough’s Upper and Lower ATTRACTIONS Meetings pub has picturesque views and Lakes, the remains include a superb round good food, often accompanied by live tower, churches and decorated crosses. traditional music. There are also walking trails, including the For those seeking a decent beach, 80-mile Wicklow Way, which passes Brittas Bay offers miles of unspoiled Blue through the valley en route from Dublin to Avoca’s Handweavers store Flag sands backed by dunes, with River Clonegal; St Kevin’s Way, a pilgrims’ route Valley the best placed site. Inland again, running for 18 miles from Hollywood, peaceful, picturesque Aughrim belies a south of the Blessington Lakes, through the bloody past marked by a village centre Wicklow Gap to Glendalough; and shorter memorial. It commemorates those killed trails to nearby waterfalls. in 1798, when rebels, inspired by If gardens are your scene, Mount Usher revolutions in America and France, fought Gardens at Ashford and the gardens at an unsuccessful guerrilla war in the Killruddery House, near Bray are mountains against British rule. delightful. Best of all, though, is Greenan Farm A gentle drive north leads to Greenan Powerscourt Gardens, aided by backdrops Farm, a fascinating place for adults and of its 18th-century Palladian mansion and ■ Avoca Handweavers, Avoca – call 00 353 (0)402 35105 or see avoca.ie children alike. The 16th-century the Sugar Loaf Mountain. Interior viewing ■ Glendalough – call 00 353 (0)404 45600 or see farmhouse, a rebel safe house in 1798, is of the house is limited since a disastrous glendalough.ie now a museum containing traditional fire in 1974, with only the ballroom ■ Greenan Farm Museum and Maze, Greenan, Rathdrum – furniture and a large collection of antique restored to its former glory, though there call 00 353 (0)404 46000 or see greenanmaze.com bottles. A barn exhibits old farming are retail outlets and a café. ■ Clara Lara Funpark, near Rathdrum – call 00 353 (0)404 46161 implements, while a trail leads through Don’t forget, too, Dublin lies only or see claralara.com ■ Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford – call 00 353 (0)404 paddocks of farm animals to a wildlife a little further north. If you prefer not 40205/40116 or see mountushergardens.ie sanctuary of woodland and ponds. There to drive, trains run from Rathdrum ■ Killruddery House and Gardens, Bray – call 00 353 (0)1 are mazes, too, the Solstice maze and the to the city and its many attractions. 2863405 or see killruddery.com Celtic maze, where, unless you seek help, Among the highlights are Dublin Writers ■ Powerscourt House and Gardens, – call (from UK there’s a good chance you won’t escape! Museum, the James Joyce Centre and the 00 353 or from Ireland 0)1 204 6000 or see powerscourt.ie There’s further family fun at nearby Guinness Storehouse, where you can ■ Dublin Writers Museum, 18 Parnell Square, Dublin – Clara Lara Funpark. Aimed more at learn how the black stuff is brewed, as call 00 353 (0)1 872 2077 or see writersmuseum.com ■ James Joyce Museum, Sandycove, Dublin – call 00 353 (0)1 children, it is mainly water based, featuring well as enjoy a pint. Sláinte! ■ 280 9265 or see visitdublin.com ■ Guinness Storehouse, St James’s Gate, Dublin – call 00 353 (0)1 408 4800 or see guinness-storehouse.com

Powerscourt House and Gardens River Valley

20 The Caravan Club Magazine