County Louth is located in Ireland’s Ancient East and is less than 1 hours travel from Dublin or Belfast. It’s packed full of fun things to do for all the family making it the perfect choice for a short family break. So when you’re planning your next adventure, make sure to put Louth on the list!
Here are some of the best things to do with kids in Louth:
1 - Walk or Cycle the Carlingford Lough Greenway
The 7km Carlingford Lough Greenway winds along the water’s edge between Carlingford Marina and the village of Omeath and is ideal for walking or cycling. Bikes and e-bikes, as well as all the necessary safety equipment and trailers for the little ones, are available to rent locally from Carlingford Greenway Bike Hire, or On Yer Bike. Take time to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the mostly off-road trail, which brings you past fields of grazing sheep, over bridges and old level crossings and has panoramic views of Slieve Foye, and the Mountains of Mourne across the lough. Why not treat yourself to a coffee, ice cream or a bite to eat in one of the great local cafés and restaurants.
2 - Make Waves on Carlingford Lough
There’s lots of ways to experience Carlingford Lough from the water! Carlingford Lough Sea Tours give wonderful sightseeing tours onboard their boat ‘Discovery’, taking in Carlingford, Greenore and the historic Haulbowline lighthouse. Or hop onboard the fully restored 1940’s tug boat ‘Brienne’ for a tour of the lough with Louth Adventures to hear about the myths and legends of the area, along with how the Vikings arrived! Apart from that simply board the Carlingford Lough Ferry at Greenore and take the trip across the lough to Greencastle and back. You’ll have spectacular panoramic views from their visitor viewing deck and might even catch sight of ‘Finn’ the lough’s resident dolphin!
3 - Have an Action Packed Adventure on Land or Sea
Plan an amazing activity that your gang will never forget at one of Louth’s outdoor adventure centres. Carlingford Adventure Centre has lots of woodland and water based activities to enjoy including kayaking, water trampolining, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), rock climbing, and lazer combat to name a few. Their sister company Skypark is the largest Aerial Adventure Course in Ireland with more than 30 obstacles and 7 zip wires, offering adventure activities for all ages and abilities.
4 - Get Up Close and Personal with Curious Alpacas
Animal lovers will adore a trip to Long Acre Alpacas. This small family run farm nestled in the heart of County Louth keeps alpacas, sheep, goats, poultry and donkeys. Book a family friendly ‘Farmyard Tour’ or a 2 hour ‘Alpaca Trekking Experience’ where you walk with your own alpaca through the scenic countryside. After your walk why not relax in their covered picnic area or head into nearby Ardee town for a spot of lunch.
5 - Experience the Thrill of Outdoor Kart Racing
For the older kids...get the adrenalin pumping with thrills and excitement at Whiteriver Park in Collon. Located just minutes off Junction 12 on the M1 motorway, the 1.2km long track is built to FIA standards! Minimum age and height restrictions apply - please refer to their website for all the details.
6 - Have Fun at Funtasia
There’s no end of fun and excitement to be had at Funtasia Themepark in Drogheda. Splash about in Ireland’s largest indoor Waterpark where you and your family can enjoy 200 different water-based activities including the Pirate’s Cove play area and thrilling water slides. Or enjoy over 15 different activities in their Themepark ranging from the ‘Ultimate Skyclimb‘ aerial assault course, to bowling, crazy golf, soft play areas and all the fun of the fairground. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy and it’s ideal for those rainy days! Be sure to book online for savings.
7 - Enjoy Exploring Louth’s Coastline
Louth’s coastline is dotted with quaint piers and beautiful strands that stretch for miles. Why not pick up a sea louth passport from one of the local tourist offices and set off on a drive along Louth’s scenic seafood trail. See how many of the stamps the kids can collect for their passport! If the weather is sunny, then a fun-filled day at the seaside is always a winner. Why not plan a day out at Clogherhead, Port or Templetown Blue Flag beaches where you can soak up the salty sea air and build sandcastles with the little ones. Round the day off with some tasty fish & chips fresh off the boats. The Fisherman’s Catch trailer at Clogherhead Pier is a popular choice, or head to one of the superb restaurants along the sea louth trail for some delicious local seafood.
8 - Take a Refreshing Walk in the Great Outdoors
Have a great time exploring the outdoors on a leafy lakeside or forest walk. Enjoy rambling through gently rolling woodland at Townley Hall Woods, near Drogheda. Don’t miss a visit to the nearby Battle of the Boyne site at Oldbridge Estate where the epic battle is brought to life in the visitor centre, plus there’s a Victorian walled garden, tea-rooms, picnic areas and various battle-site walks to explore. Ravensdale Forest Park situated a short drive from Dundalk, offers invigorating forest walks on steep mountain side trails. Amenities include car parking, picnic areas and walking trails. Or for a more relaxing stroll, visit Stephenstown Pond, a popular nature park with lakeside walkways, picnic areas and a generous playground located near Knockbridge, not far from Dundalk.
Accommodation
County Louth offers a great range of first-rate accommodation for visitors to choose from, ranging from Four Star hotels to cosy B&Bs and guest houses, as well as self-catering and glamping options. For a list of accommodation in Louth click here (and filter by town).
Restaurants
Note: Opening hours and booking requirements should be confirmed with individual attractions and restaurants in advance of visiting.
Keep Discovering
Why not explore more of County Louth, there is so much to see and do, from outdoor adventures, historic attractions, blue flag beaches and seafood trails to miles of mountain & coastal walks. Plan your visit here, download a Visit Louth Map & Guide or check out other Visit Louth itineraries here.
Skypark, Beach and Cover Images courtesy of Fáilte Ireland.