Caroline's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Really close to my home and a lovely spot to have a wander around and/or have a coffee/bite to eat. It’s child friendly with a lovely playground and also dog friendly. Great place for all ages - especially if interested in horses and gardening. Have a look at website for opening hours, entry fee information and event information.
41 locals recommend
Irish National Stud & Gardens
Really close to my home and a lovely spot to have a wander around and/or have a coffee/bite to eat. It’s child friendly with a lovely playground and also dog friendly. Great place for all ages - especially if interested in horses and gardening. Have a look at website for opening hours, entry fee information and event information.
Great spot to bring children - also an opportunity to buy food in bulk
6 locals recommend
Kildare Farm Foods Open Farm & Shop
DuneanyGreat spot to bring children - also an opportunity to buy food in bulk
Narraghmore Nature Reserve
Close by and a lovely spot fit a walk - bring your wellies!
Donadea Forest Park
Lovely place for a walk
The Kildare Maze
Moone High Cross Site
Pollardstown Fen
Lovely place for a walk
Emo Court
Lovely spot to wander around - dogs are welcome.
They’ve tearooms too!
Shopping
Places to shop & often with nice places to eat/drink
It’s close to my house and good spot to big up a bargain. It also has a nice selection of places to eat/drink and parking is free. There’s a great playground. Also they usually do beautiful lights for Christmas.
Lots more info on their website.
107 locals recommend
Kildare Village
It’s close to my house and good spot to big up a bargain. It also has a nice selection of places to eat/drink and parking is free. There’s a great playground. Also they usually do beautiful lights for Christmas.
Lots more info on their website.
Kilcullen is only 8km away with a selection of shops to buy your essentials and pubs/cafes to eat/drink in. It’s a nice town to have a wander around. Children will enjoy the lovely playground, fairy walk and An Tearmann walk.
Kilcullen
Kilcullen is only 8km away with a selection of shops to buy your essentials and pubs/cafes to eat/drink in. It’s a nice town to have a wander around. Children will enjoy the lovely playground, fairy walk and An Tearmann walk.
A good selection of shops & places to eat in nearby Newbridge
26 locals recommend
Whitewater Shopping Centre
Main StreetA good selection of shops & places to eat in nearby Newbridge
Johnstown Garden Centre
Great garden centre! Cafe inside is nice for a coffee.
Arboretum Lifestyle & Garden Centre
Great garden centre - has a nice cafe.
Museum, cafe and shopping available. It’s opposite the Whitewater SC so handy to check both out.
20 locals recommend
Newbridge Silverware Visitor Center
Athgarvan RoadMuseum, cafe and shopping available. It’s opposite the Whitewater SC so handy to check both out.
Approx 30 min drive and a good selection of shops and spots to eat.
https://www.liffeyvalley.ie/
20 locals recommend
Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
Fonthill RoadApprox 30 min drive and a good selection of shops and spots to eat.
https://www.liffeyvalley.ie/
Neighbourhoods
This is a quiet country town land. It’s a good spot if you like waking, cycling in the countryside. The local pub, Dowling’s, is at the cross roads approx 1.6km walk from my home. A coffee van is parked in Dowling’s car park if you fancy walking up to grab a coffee/snack.
Ballyshannon
This is a quiet country town land. It’s a good spot if you like waking, cycling in the countryside. The local pub, Dowling’s, is at the cross roads approx 1.6km walk from my home. A coffee van is parked in Dowling’s car park if you fancy walking up to grab a coffee/snack.
The local shop and chipper/pizzaeria is in Calverstown. It’s an easy 3km walk (one way) from my home. Cute country village to walk around.
Calverstown
The local shop and chipper/pizzaeria is in Calverstown. It’s an easy 3km walk (one way) from my home. Cute country village to walk around.
Kildare Town has what you would expect from an Irish town and is less than a 15mins drive. It has a Tesco, Lidl and Aldi as well as a number of independent retailers plus the Kildare Designer Outlet Centre.
Kildare
Kildare Town has what you would expect from an Irish town and is less than a 15mins drive. It has a Tesco, Lidl and Aldi as well as a number of independent retailers plus the Kildare Designer Outlet Centre.
Naas
Naas is one of Kildare’s larger towns with a good selection of amenities.
I would highly recommend a visit to Dublin - it’s got a lot to offer! I can recommend places to go/eat/drink.
289 locals recommend
Dublin
8 Grand Canal PlaceI would highly recommend a visit to Dublin - it’s got a lot to offer! I can recommend places to go/eat/drink.
Large town with all amenities you would expect. Has a good selection of supermarkets! There’s also a small theatre plus a cinema.
Newbridge
Large town with all amenities you would expect. Has a good selection of supermarkets! There’s also a small theatre plus a cinema.
Cute village to wander around, grab a coffee and pastry in Ballymore Bru or a drink or lunch in the Ballymore Inn.
Ballymore Eustace
Cute village to wander around, grab a coffee and pastry in Ballymore Bru or a drink or lunch in the Ballymore Inn.
Food scene
There are a number of spots nearby to buy to cook yourself, eat in or takeaway.
Really lovely selection of food items, cakes and coffee to buy to cook/enjoy at home. They also offer food, cakes and coffees to eat in or takeaway with you.
https://firecastle.ie/
Firecastle Kildare
Market SquareReally lovely selection of food items, cakes and coffee to buy to cook/enjoy at home. They also offer food, cakes and coffees to eat in or takeaway with you.
https://firecastle.ie/
Saba
7 William St SLovely new Thai restaurant in Kildare Village Outlet Centre
Lovely spot for a bite to eat or a drink in Kilcullen Town; they also offer takeaway- you need to ring to order/pay before collection
8 locals recommend
Fallons Bar & Cafe
Main StreetLovely spot for a bite to eat or a drink in Kilcullen Town; they also offer takeaway- you need to ring to order/pay before collection
Lovely, friendly cafe to have a bit of homemade food/cakes. There’s a lovely walk behind the cafe where you’ll see animals and great view of the river Liffey.
An Tearmann
Main StreetLovely, friendly cafe to have a bit of homemade food/cakes. There’s a lovely walk behind the cafe where you’ll see animals and great view of the river Liffey.
Nolan’s is recognised as a foodie spot given their awards for their butchers, selection of lovely breads, cakes & other food offerings.
Nolans of Kilcullen
Main StreetNolan’s is recognised as a foodie spot given their awards for their butchers, selection of lovely breads, cakes & other food offerings.
Nice spot for lovely organic food - pre book your table! A spot to go to if you’ve time as service can be slow!
Dog friendly for outside tables - double check this hasn’t changed before bringing dogs.
11 locals recommend
Burtown House & Gardens and The Green Barn
Nice spot for lovely organic food - pre book your table! A spot to go to if you’ve time as service can be slow!
Dog friendly for outside tables - double check this hasn’t changed before bringing dogs.
Nice spot for a casual or more fine dining experience. Also has a golf course.
12 locals recommend
Kilkea Castle Hotel & Golf Resort
Nice spot for a casual or more fine dining experience. Also has a golf course.
The Ballymore Inn
Main StreetLovely food (a little pricey yet tasty)!
A really lovely spot to have a cup of tea/coffee or a meal. Lovely outdoor seating area (seating outdoor only). Also small selection of breads/cakes/pantry items on offer.
Grangecon Kitchen
Main StreetA really lovely spot to have a cup of tea/coffee or a meal. Lovely outdoor seating area (seating outdoor only). Also small selection of breads/cakes/pantry items on offer.
Very handy chipper in Calverstown! Can order online and they deliver. It’s less than 4km so less than a 5 min drive!
https://gregorytakeaway.ie/
Gregory’s Take Away
Very handy chipper in Calverstown! Can order online and they deliver. It’s less than 4km so less than a 5 min drive!
https://gregorytakeaway.ie/
Horse Racing
Curragh Racecourse is only a short drive from my house and very close to both Kildare Town and Newbridge
29 locals recommend
The Curragh Racecourse
Curragh Racecourse is only a short drive from my house and very close to both Kildare Town and Newbridge
Naas Racecourse
Tipper RoadPunchestown Racecourse
Bowling
Kbowl
A small bowling alley - handy for those rainy days!
https://kbowl.ie/