Discover Kilkenny Summer Series – Walks, Crafts & Food Trails
Walk 1 Castlecomer Discovery Park Friday 9th July 11am meet
Choice of 3 walking routes – 1.5km, 2km & 2.5km – through woodlands and around lakes. There are tables near the car park and along the walking routes for a picnic or visit Jarrow Café onsite. The former stables and farmyard buildings of the estate are home to a growing number of crafts people and artists who sell directly from their workshops.
Walk 2 Jenkinstown Woods Friday 16th July 11am meet
Choice of 2 way marked trails in the forest – approx 3km and 4km. There is a deer enclosure next to the car park which is very popular with children of all ages. Grass area next to the car park is suitable for picnics. Afterwards the group will visit Cramers Grove Farmhouse, where ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt are handmade in the traditional way by the Harper Family.
Walk 3 Castlemorris Walk Friday 23rd July 11am meet
Choice of two looped walks –3km & 6km. Moderate difficulty over forest track, grasslands, some wet ground and minor roads so suitable footwear should be worn (walking boots). Bring your own picnic or avail of a number of cafés and eateries in Thomastown. After lunch, a visit to the Kirwan family Goatsbridge Trout Farm to view the breeding of trout and to Earthworks Ceramics Studio in Thomastown.
Walk 4 Kilmacoliver Walk Friday 30th July 11am meet
A 6km walk of moderate difficulty over fields, woodland trails, minor roads, old roadways and laneways so suitable footwear should be worn (walking boots, wellingtons). Bring your own picnic or get refreshed in Cafe L’Arche in Callan. After lunch, the group will pay a visit to the Highbank Organic Farm in Cuffsgrange.
Walk 5 Nore River Valley Walk Friday 6th August 11am meet
Kilkenny to Bennetsbridge section of the Nore River valley walk -11km – a moderate walk over grasslands, roadways and along the river bank – including a number of styles to climb over. Trekking shoes and refreshments needed for the walk especially fluids. Bring your own picnic or avail of the café in Nicholas Mosse – Irish Country Shop with time to view the famous brightly designed pottery.
Actual Costs – Bus back from Bennetsbridge on Walk 5.
Buses/Taxi from Kilkenny City to and from Walks 1-4 can be arranged depending on interested numbers (costs will be divided between travellers). To avail of this service please pre-register your place with the office on (056) 7720870 by the Tuesday evening before each walk.
Optional Costs – Refreshments in cafes or goods from the crafts / food places visited
For each walk, please dress appropriately – take into account weather conditions. Walks get progressively more difficult in terms of terrain and length. Directions to the meeting places can be obtained from KRSP offices.
Places on the walks MUST BE REGISTERED WITH KRSP (056) 7720870 or info@krsp.ie beforehand as we need to know numbers for craft and food places visited and to ensure adequate number of supervisors for each walk.
