Home & Away with Robert Walshe
www.robertwalshe.com
Weekend Hotspot – Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge Co Wicklow
purchased by the O’Brien family in 1993, and over the next number of years, while conscious of their responsibility to maintain the original charm of the hotel, an extensive refurbishment was undertaken to bring the hotel up to the standards required of a modern hotel. Golf breaks are also a specialty and discounted green fees are offered on a number of local golf courses in-
cluding Coollattin, Arklow, The European, Macreddin and Woodenbridge itself. Long considered to be a panoramic paradise of beauty, Immerse yourself in histhe area surrounding Woodtory and heritage with a stay enbridge is perhaps Ireland’s in Ireland’s oldest hotel, the best example of untold Woodenbridge in Co Wicklow. natural scenery. The locaLocated in the picturesque tion is ideal for other activiVale of Avoca this property ties such as falconry, hiking overlooks the green lawns of and sightseeing. Nearby find the local golf club and calmGlendalough, home to one of ing waters of the Aughrim the most important monastic River. Life began here in sites in Ireland. This early 1608 as a popular coachChristian moing house for merchants. nastic s e tGuests, it’s said, would tlement was sit by the grand fireplace founded by St. drinking punch to keep Kevin in the warm. Speaking of guests, 6th century the very room where and from this former Irish president developed the Éamon De Valera honey“Monastic City”. mooned is available to Most of the buildvisitors. The hotel was n Woodenbridge ings that survive Hotel & Lodge Co Wicklow. today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Close to the monastic city is the interactive centre featuring audio visual and also a model of the monastic site on display. The National Park covers an area of 20,000 hectares providing protection for landscape and wildlife includn Russborough House Co Wicklow. ing Lugnaquilla and Liffey
(074) 9131018 Head Bog complexes and Glendalough Wood Nature Reserve. Afterwards take a drive through Wicklow Gap twisting and turning through mountains, and wide-open moors with gorse and purple heather. The Gap itself one of two passes cutting through the Wicklow Mountains from east to west n Wicklow Mount (the other is the Sally ains & Glenda lough. Gap) offers postcard moments one after the other. The scenery seems to go on forever, rolling and dip- and carriage rides also availping into the valleys below. able. A unique feature to There’s barely a single tree, Russborough is the fasciso nothing interrupts the nating 3D Exhibition, where views. Further west you will you can view extraordinary discover the very fine Russ- photographs from the 1920s borough House a stately and 1930s, photographed by home situated near Blessing- Sir Alfred Beit on his 3D camton Lakes which is reputed to era. This exhibition includes be the longest period house cinema footage from Sir Alin Ireland. Expect a wonder- fred & Lady Beit’s travels, ful visitor centre that offers educational tables, menus award-winning guided house and more. Woodenbridge tours, parkland tours and a Hotel & Lodge special offers historic 3D interactive base- for the autumn include a one ment exhibition, playground, night special double occumaze, seasonal garden tours pancy from €150 in the lodge and tea rooms. Sheepdog (€75 per person sharing), or demonstrations and horse €160 in the main hotel (€80
www.keeshotel.ie
per person sharing) This includes a choice of starter , main course , desert , tea/ coffee in the Redmond Restaurant or the more relaxed atmosphere of the Four Vales Bar. For best rates visit www. woodenbridgehotel.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q a network of seven radio stations broadcasting from Belfast & other regional studio’s across all of Northern Ireland. He is also Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles on the island of Ireland. www. robertwalshe.com