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| Castlecomer Discovery Park, a really great discovery right on our doorstep, where the staff are so helpful and friendly. You can go wild on the zip wire or just relax and enjoy the wildlife and nature in this wonderful woodland setting which is also a favourite of the little people... |
It’s not always possible to get away for a week or even a
weekend so here at Vanhalla we have
decided to incorporate another string in our bow and to occasionally take a
look at potential day trips.
One spot that is just down the road is Castlecomer Discovery Park which is a real eye-opener for a day
out. We’ve enjoyed it in all seasons as the park, trails and woodland take on a
different personality right across the year.
It’s great for kids and those who are young at heart and
while there are lots of activity options laid on and refreshments available in
the cafés, you can spend as little as €5 on your parking and still have a great
day out and pack a picnic.
The car park is spacious and is camper friendly with no
headroom restrictions. Castlecomer Discovery Park was a great discovery for us
right on our doorstep. It is a community led, not-for-profit enterprise based
around 80 acres of natural woodland on the former Wandesforde Estate and the areas proud coal-mining tradition, which
shut down in 1969.
The Park itself is up and running about ten years but is
always improving and evolving with new ventures and adventures unfolding all
the time and it currently offers 16 onsite activities. Many of them
free-of-charge such as the riverside picnic areas, treks and trails and
excellent playground.
There are also some superb craft studios to browse and
choose from, a tree top walk and 300m zip line across the forest canopy and
lake. There are also climbing walls, walking trails, fishing lakes and a coal
mining exhibition.
Wildlife enthusiasts have plenty to look out for here and I
have even managed to spot the elusive kingfisher flashing beneath the bridge
across the lake. There are pigs and deer grazing lazily together in a paddock
to delight children and a giant redwood tree to hug and measure yourself
against before you head for a stroll down into the forest to bring the little
people to meet the little people in the fairy village.
The last day out I finally got to tackle my fear of heights
and took on the zip line. It was such a thrill I did it twice!
The cost of our trip to Castlecomer
Discovery Park was parking €5; ice creams €6; coffees & cakes €11.80;
children’s obstacle course €5; canoeing on the lake €15 (for 30 minutes); zip
wire €30 for two goes (although there are concessions and discounts for groups
and pre-booked multiple runs). So our total for the day was €72.80.
Castlecomer Discovery
Park, a really great discovery right on our doorstep, where all the staff
are so helpful and friendly.
(Our only quibble, the loos at the Canopy Café are not up to
scratch and require better attention).
