Ballykeeffe Woods
Oak woods and nature reserve with various walks.
 
Location: Ballykeeffe, Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny (Look for signs for Ballykeeffe Quarry)
 
Bishops Demesne Neighbourhood Park
Five acre parkland including soccer pitch, multi-use games area and footpaths.
 
Contact:  Parks Department, Kilkenny Borough Council
Telephone: 056 7794500 
 Location:  City Hall, Kilkenny e-mail: info@kilkennycity.ie
 
Castlecomer Discovery Park
Themed woodland walking trails with sculptures and picnic tables.  Themed events throughout the year, including Easter activities, May Sculpture Picnic, August Sculpture Festival, Halloween Ghosts and Ghouls and Christmas surprises!  Open daily all year round.
 
Contact:  Castlecomer Discovery Park Telephone: 056 4440707
Location:  Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny 
Website: www.discoverypark.ie
 
 
Church Avenue
Pocket park including a hopscotch area, multi sports wall, multi-use game area, and footpaths. Wildlife area.
 
Contact:  Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council
Telephone: 056 7794393
Location:  Church Ave, Kilkenny Rd, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny 
 
Coill an Fhaltaigh
This millennium wood covering 230 acres and containing 12 native species is a haven for flora and fauna.  Marked walks, picnic tables. Wheelchair friendly.  Track down your millennium tree!
 
Location: Off the Callan Road.  Turn right at Castleinch (signposted).
 
Gairdín an Ghorta (Famine Garden)
This garden was designed in memory of the Great Famine. An attractive garden and a place to stop and reflect.
 
Location: Newmarket, Co Kilkenny Telephone: 086 8394349
Website: www.faminegarden.com Email: info@faminegarden.com
 
Garringreen Neighbourhood Park
Five acre parkland including soccer pitch, multi-use games area, playground, cycle lane and footpaths.
 
Contact:  Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council
Telephone: 056 7794393
Location:  Garringreen, Johnswell Road, Co Kilkenny 
 
Kells Priory
These Augustinian Priory ruins in the heart of Kilkenny countryside provide a hide and seek paradise.
 
Location: Kells Village, Co Kilkenny
 
Kilkenny Castle Park
A beautiful park whatever the season. Plenty of open lawns.  Children’s play area.  Nature walks available by arrangement.  No charge.  At the far end of the park away from the castle is a wildlife sanctuary and pond – a great incentive to walk just that little bit further!  Guided tours available.  Opening times vary with the seasons (see sign on main entrance gate).
 
Location: At Kilkenny Castle Telephone: 056 7721450
 
Newpark Marsh Neighbourhood Park
Twenty-five acre parkland including soccer pitch, multi-use games area, wildlife area and footpaths.  Haven for birds and wildlife, hidden away from bustle of city life, very pleasant circular walk.
 
Contact: Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council
Telephone: 056 7794393
Location:  Lovers Lane, Kilkenny
 
The Nore Linear Park
The Nore Linear Park, which is currently under development, is located on the banks of the River Nore running through Kilkenny City. To date a network of approximately 10km of footpaths and cycle lanes have been developed running from Fennessys Mill to the south of the city to the weir at the Bleach Road in the north. It is proposed to provide an additional ten kilometres of footpath and cycle lanes in the coming years. The park provides an idyllic location to stroll, walk, run or cycle in a rural environment minutes from the heart of the city.
 
Contact: Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council
Telephone: 056 7794393
Location:  Banks of the River Nore, Kilkenny
 
Thomastown Water Garden
Attractive small ornamental garden, with unusual water features, tucked away in the middle of Thomastown. Complete with a garden centre, craft workshop and café. Run by Camphill Community, caring for people with special needs. Café and garden centre wheelchair accessible.
 
Gardens and Garden Centre: Summer only. Monday 10am-3pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am-4.30pm. Sunday closed.
Cost:  Free. Donations appreciated.
 
Café:  Open all year.  Monday 10am-3pm.  Tuesday to Friday 10am-4.30pm.  Lunches 12.30pm-2.30pm.  Closed Saturday and Sunday.
 
Contact: Yasunori Harashi Telephone: 056 7724690
Location: In Thomastown, on the Kilkenny to Thomastown Rd. Almost opposite Grennan College (VEC).
 
Walking Trails Kilkenny
Trail Kilkenny Ltd leads and facilitates the development, management and promotion of a range of high quality walking, cycling and other leisure trails for the benefit of visitors and residents of Co Kilkenny.
 
Trail Kilkenny’s Walking Trails are a series of scenic walks developed and designed to allow you to explore more of the great outdoors; bringing Kilkenny’s wonderful countryside to walkers. The walks are essentially ‘mini hikes’ and the character of each walk varies. Choose a walk to suit your fitness level and the nature of your walking party. Some walks may not suit children under 10 years. For more information on each of the walks check the Trail Kilkenny website.
 
Contact:  Trail Kilkenny, 42 Parliament St, Kilkenny
Telephone: 056 7752111
Website: www.trailkilkenny.ie
 

Name and Location

Description

Brandon Hill  
near Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny

For more Information check the Trail Kilkenny website.

Callan Abbey Meadow Walk  
Mill Street, Callan, Co Kilkenny

This trail is the first in a series of wheelchair accessible walkways that link architectural, archaeological and cultural sites in and around the town of Callan.

Castlemorris Wood Walk  
Castlemorris, beside Newmarket,
Co Kilkenny

Two looped walks that start and finish at the Grand Gates which lies west of the villages of Newmarket and Hugginstown and east of the village of Kilmaganny in south Kilkenny.

The Islands Walk  
Urlingford, Co Kilkenny

A short walk through the hinterland of Urlingford. Park opposite the library/courthouse on the Dublin side of town.

Jenkinstown Wood
Turn left four miles along the Castlecomer Rd from Kilkenny (look out for a small sign on the right-hand side for Jenkinstown Castle and Gardens). Continue for ½ mile, turn right and immediately left.

Walk as much (or as little!) as you like in these pretty woods.  Don’t forget to say hello to the deer!

Kilmacoliver Walk  
Tullahought, Co Kilkenny

This loop walk starts and finishes at the Watering Place - wildlife lakes fed by fresh water springs 1km from the village of Tullahought on the Kilkenny/Tipperary border.

Mountain Grove Walk  
Mountain Grove Woods, Piltown, Co Kilkenny

The Picturesque village of Piltown is situated between undulating hills and forests of South Kilkenny and the foothills of the Comeraghs in Waterford. The area has many tourist attractions including High Crosses of Ahenny and Kilkieran, portal tombs, Leac am Scail, Ormonde House and Kilkenny castle. This looped walk explores the beautiful mixed woodlands at Mountain Grove.

Troy Hill  
Near Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny

Sliabh Greine Loop.

 
Woodstock
Woodstock gardens are located on a hilltop overlooking the picturesque village of Inistioge. Kilkenny County Council is currently restoring the gardens. Over 50 acres of formal gardens, arboretum (collection of trees) and woodland are being brought back to their original condition when the gardens were owned by the Tighe Family in the 1800’s. The restoration project is well underway with a series of walks through formal avenues and gardens and secret woodland. The garden includes a terraced flower garden, a yew walk, a rose garden and a walled garden. Limited wheelchair access to the garden. Mobility buggy available. Guided tours by prior arrangement. Children's Explorer Pack available.
 
Cost: €4 per vehicle, which includes admission to the gardens. Large groups and buses by appointment only.  Season tickets available for unlimited number of visits per year €35.
Contact:  Parks Department, Kilkenny County Council
Telephone: 056 7794393
 John Delaney at Woodstock Telephone: 087 8549785
Location: Coming from Kilkenny direction, in Inistioge village, take the first right just past the Church, up a steep winding street.  Enter main gateway at top of hill.  Continue along this access road for approx ½km to car park.