kilkenny - Majestic Hotel, Tramore

5 Driving Routes from
kilkenny
Detailed route maps,
places to see & driving tips
The South East driving brochures were compiled in
collaboration with travel writer Pól Ó Conghaile.
Pól has written for National Geographic Traveller, The
Irish Independent and Cara Magazine amongst other
publications, and has three times been voted Irish Travel
Journalist of the Year.
“There’s something about the South East that makes
you want to get behind the wheel,” he says. “Be it
sandy beaches or craggy coves, wild mountains or
winding rivers, ancient heritage gems or the tingle
of excitement as you arrive into Kilkenny, Wexford or
Waterford. It could be old. It could be new. But there’s
always something different around the next bend.”
Pól Ó Conghaile
Kilk enny Castl e!
For full details on visitor attractions featured in this guide and a detailed
regional map, pick up your copy of the South East Pocket Guide, or
download from www.discoverireland.ie
Every care has been taken in the compilation of this brochure to ensure
accuracy at the time of publication. The publishers cannot accept
responsibility for printed errors or omissions, or alterations occurring after
the brochure has been published.
Driving Routes from
Kilkenny
Route 2
Route 3
The open road. Rolling mountains
and river valleys. Brushing
hedgerows, Blue Flag
beaches, lingering lunch
stops and random detours
leading to discoveries you’ll talk
about for years to come.
Route 4
There’s nothing like driving
in Ireland. And there’s
nowhere like the South East
for doing it. Within the space of a leisurely few hours
here, you can cruise from cobbled streets to cliffcraggy coastlines, from fishing villages to lush farmland,
from heritage highlights like Kilkenny Castle and the
Dunbrody Experience to buzzing pubs, delicious food
and dynamic arts and crafts.
Route 1
Route 5
approx. 180 km
approx. 140 km
approx. 170 km
approx. 105 km
approx. 215 km
Route 1
Route 2
Route 3
Route 4
the urban
triangle
Caves,
Castles &
Gardens
The Butler
Trail
The River
The Ocean
Valley Route Road
Tantalise yourself
with a taste of
Kilkenny, Wexford
and Waterford - and
all the countryside
in-between – over
the course of one or
several days…
Ancient caves,
haunted castles and
dramatic dolmens
are all dotted along
this drive. And there’s
cutting edge art,
gardens and a reptile
village too…
Follow in the footsteps
of the Butler family,
who dominated
the South East for
centuries, from their
finest castles to a
remarkable Swiss
Cottage folly.
Craft trails, stone-arch
bridges, monkeypuzzle avenues and
monastic sites are
just some of the
discoveries on this
enchanting journey
along the Rivers Nore
and Barrow.
Route 5
An en ch an tin g jou rn ey –
be it a day trip or a sev eral
day tou r. You ch oose!
A coastal drive from
Kilkenny? You bet.
The hidden coves
and scenic wonders
of Waterford’s
Copper Coast are
little more than an
hour’s drive away…
Th e Sou th East is forev er
h appenin g – an d Kilk en ny is
right in th e th ick of it.
This is Ireland’s medieval capital, home to historic
buildings like Rothe House and St. Canice’s Cathedral,
but also to cutting-edge comedy, spirited culture and
food worth travelling for. In Kilkenny, you can travel
through several centuries in just a couple of steps.
From here, Waterford, Wexford,
Carlow, Tipperary and mile after
mile of tantalising coastline and
countryside are just a short
drive away. It’s a perfect base
for your South Eastern safari.
Route 1
THE URBAN
TRIANGLE
R700
10 PLACES TO SEE
1
2
3
4
R733
5
1
Jerpoint Abbey
2
Woodstock Gardens
3
Dunbrody Experience
4
Irish National Heritage Park
5
Johnstown Castle Gardens &
Irish Agricultural Museum
6
Tintern Abbey
7
Duncannon Fort
8
Waterford Crystal
9
Reginald’s Tower
10
Bishop’s Palace
Scenic viewpoint
8
9
10
6
R683
7
The Urban Triangle
If you’re the town and
country type, this is the
driving route for you. The
Urban Triangle not only
takes in some of the most
beautiful countryside
in the southeast, it also
provides a tantalising
taste of the urban buzz
on offer in Wexford,
Waterford and Kilkenny.
Kilkenny Castle
Restored to its former glory!
The Urban Triangle
Heading east out of KILKENNY City (via R700), you’ll find Bennettsbridge,
Thomastown and Inistioge - the kinds of places you might pull into for a mosey,
and pull out of carrying a piece of hand-crafted glass, a scrumptious scone, or a
photo of an old, stone-arch bridge. Watch out for anglers too. The Nore is famous
for its salmon, and the R700 criss-crosses it at several points.
In NEW ROSS, travel back in time at the Dunbrody Experience, where costumed
actors and a three-masted barque combine in an interactive adventure evoking
famine times (you’ll even receive a ticket issued as if it were 1849). As you leave
the famine ship for Wexford (via N25), keep your eyes peeled for rocky outcrops
north of Newbaun. These are the plugs of extinct volcanoes.
WEXFORD itself is full of surprises. The combination of tight-knit streets and
airy waterfront, of old town walls and modern eateries, of Selskar Abbey and
skyline views from its state-of-the-art Opera House, create the unique feeling of a
medieval town in the 21st century.
After lunch, it’s time to strike for WATERFORD City (via R733). The Passage East
ferry is the highlight of this stretch, with tickets issued from a vintage machine
on the ferryman’s belt, and views stretching south to the Hook Lighthouse. It’s at
once a Suir Estuary shortcut, and a scenic detour.
WATERFORD is Ireland’s oldest city, and you can explore its roots in the Viking
Triangle, a new historic quarter housing the Viking Museum in Reginald’s Tower,
Waterford Crystal and a Georgian Museum in Bishop’s Palace. It’s not
all ancient history, of course – funky shops, cafes and festivals like Spraoi and the
Tall Ships ensure Waterford City continues to sparkle in the 21st century.
Inistioge
Visit the old, stone-arch bridge
driving tip
Depending on stop-offs, this route can be
undertaken as a day-trip or spread over several days.
It can also be shortened by taking the N25 from
New Ross to Waterford. Return and one-way fares
are available on the Passage East Ferry.
Total
Distance
Kilkenny City – Wexford Town
1h 40 mins
approx.
Wexford Town – Waterford City
1h 30 mins
180 km
Time
Waterford City – Kilkenny City
40 mins
All times are best estimates, and do not allow for stop-offs.
Route 2
Caves,
Castles &
Gardens
R430
R431
4
5
3
R725
2
R448
6
10 PLACES TO SEE
8
1
R705
9
7
R712
10
1
Dunmore Cave
2
Castlecomer Discovery Park
3
Brownshill Dolmen
4
VISUAL at Carlow
5
Carlow Museum
6
Altamont Gardens
7
Huntington Castle
8
The River Barrow Way
9
Shankill Castle Gardens
10
Reptile Village, Gowran
Scenic viewpoint
Caves, Castles &
Gardens
Ancient caves, haunted
castles and dramatic
dolmens are all dotted
along this drive. And there’s
cutting edge art, gardens
and a reptile village too…
VISUAL at Carlow
Centre for Contemporary Art
Caves, Castles & Gardens
The first highlight of this drive lies not on the road, but below it. The
spectacular series of chambers in Dunmore Cave contains some of the
finest calcite formations in Ireland, and some intriguing Viking links too. The
Annals tell of a massacre here in 928AD, and recent archaeological digs
have unearthed not just human bones, but a stash of Viking coins.
Back above ground, continue (via N78) towards Castlecomer Discovery
Park. The ‘Footprints in Coal’ exhibition here tells the story of the mines that
operated in the Wandesforde estate’s heyday, but there’s much more to
the place – including looped walks, a fishing lake, and craft workshops.
Proceeding towards CARLOW Town (via R431/0), you’ll pass the ruins of
Killeshin Church in the Rossmore Hills. It boasts one of the most beautifully
carved Romanesque doorways in the country. In Carlow Town itself, twin a lunch
and gallery or museum stop at the stunning VISUAL Centre for Contemporary
Art or Carlow Museum before visiting the huge Brownshill Dolmen outside
the town on the Hacketstown/Rathvilly
Road (R726). The 5,000-year-old
megalithic portal tomb seems to grow
and grow as you approach - it’s probably
the heaviest of its kind in Europe.
The N80 between Carlow Town and
BUNCLODY incorporates several stops
on the magnificent Carlow Garden Trail,
including Altamont Gardens. From its
February explosion of snowdrops to its centuries-old sessile oaks, there’s something
for all seasons here. Nearby, there’s a wonderful (and quite possibly haunted)
yew tree walk at Huntington Castle. Huntington Castle Gardens are a great
picnic location too, or why not stop by their lovely tearooms for refreshments?
Beyond Bunclody, carry on through the Blackstairs Mountains before
crossing the River Barrow at BAGENALSTOWN. A stop here opens
up a stroll along the towpaths of Ireland’s second-longest river, and
the old mills, warehouses and locks of its industrial heritage.
Two final suggestions before Kilkenny City are Shankill Castle Gardens
at Paulstown and the Reptile Village at Gowran. The latter is a mini-zoo
with a difference, and one whose monitor lizards and boa constrictors
you could easily imagine back in the depths of Dunmore Cave…
driving tip
Depending on your stop-offs, this route
can be undertaken in full, or shortened by
taking the M9 back to Kilkenny City with
possible detour en route onto the R705 to
visit Leighlinbridge and Bagenalstown.
Altamont Gardens
Ireland’s Most Romantic
Garden!
Total
Distance
Time
Kilkenny City – Carlow
45 mins
approx.
Carlow – Bunclody
45 mins
140 km
Bunclody – Kilkenny City
1h 20 mins
All times are best estimates, and do not allow for stop-offs.
Route 3
The Butler
Trail
R691
R697
R691
1
R689
9
8
R692
10
R660
7
R689
4
5
3
2
6
The butler trail
Butler roots run deep in
the South East. As deep
as 1185AD, in fact - the
year Theobald Fitzwalter,
Chief Butler to Prince
John, was granted over
400,000 acres of land in
Tipperary. Fitzwalter’s title
became the family name
in the 1200s and the rest,
as they say, is history.
Cahir Castle [left]
One of Ireland’s largest and
best preserved castles
10 PLACES TO SEE
1
Kells Priory
2
Ormond Castle
3
The Main Guard
4
Cahir Castle
5
Swiss Cottage
6
Mitchelstown Cave
7
Glen of Aherlow
8
Rock of Cashel
9
Brú Ború Cultural Centre
10
Medieval Walled Town
Scenic viewpoint
The butler trail
Setting out from KILKENNY City (via R697), whose castle served as the Butlers’
principal Irish residence for 600 years, this route stops at Kells Priory before
proceeding south to CARRICK-ON-SUIR. Ormond Castle here was built by
Black Tom Butler in the 1560s. The Earl was famed for his unnaturally dark
complexion (some even suggest he had black eyes), and his broodingly elegant
manor house is an architectural ode to Queen Elizabeth. Alas, the Virgin Queen
never visited…
From Carrick (via N24), continue along the River Suir and Comeragh Mountains
to CLONMEL, a bustling shopping town where James Butler built a courthouse
in 1675. The Main Guard’s glowing sandstone arches are just a taste of the
restoration that awaits inside.
CAHIR’s chief Butler legacy is an exquisitely-preserved castle on the River Suir.
The Earl of Essex laid siege to the stronghold in 1599, and cannonballs remain
stuck in the exterior walls to this day. From here, a short river walk takes you to
the Swiss Cottage, a Butler family folly whose rustic thatch and cedar shingles
contrast playfully with the Parisian wallpapers inside. The cottage ornée is
watched over by a stately yew tree, said to be 1,000 years old.
After Cahir (via R660), carry on towards CASHEL, where heritage gems range
from the Rock of Cashel to the Bolton Library and Brú Ború Cultural Centre,
before continuing towards KILKENNY City via (R692) one final stop at FETHARD.
The medieval ruins, remarkable town walls and scattering of Sheela-na-gigs here
will provide lots to talk about on your final stretch through the Slieveardagh Hills.
Ormond Castle
A castle built for a Queen.
driving tip
the Mitchelstown Caves (just off the N8, half
Total
Distance
way between Cahir and Mitchelstown), a
approx.
If you have time, a short detour will take you to
jaw-dropping series of caverns and calcite
formations discovered in 1833. Conversely, if
time is tight, you can shorten the route by taking
the R689 between Clonmel and Fethard.
170 km
Time
Kilkenny City – Kells
Kells – Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir – Clonmel
Clonmel – Cahir
Cahir – Cashel
Cashel – Kilkenny City
25 mins
45 mins
25 mins
20 mins
20 mins
1h 45 mins
All times are best estimates, and do not allow for stop-offs.
Route 4
The River
Valley Route
1
R712
2
10
R700
R702
9
10 PLACES TO SEE
R729
8
R703
3
4
5
R700
R729
7
6
1
Kilkenny Castle
2
Rothe House
3
Jerpoint Abbey
4
Jerpoint Park
5
Woodstock Gardens
6
The Dunbrody Experience
7
Ros Tapestry
8
Duiske Abbey
9
Borris House
10
Reptile Village, Gowran
Scenic viewpoint
The River Valley Route
The necklace of towns
and villages threaded
along the River Nore is one
of the South East’s most
beguiling hidden gems.
Road and river intertwine
as you pass from one to
the next, coming within
kissing distance before
shying away again. It’s
truly a timeless drive.
The River Barrow
Ireland’s second longest river
The River Valley Route
There’s no end of potential stop-offs on this route – ranging from river views to
heritage husks like Jerpoint Abbey, or the bustling shops and cafes tucked away
in the towns themselves.
Discover a deserted medieval town at Jerpoint Park, where you can also enjoy
a horse and cart ride, sheepdog demonstrations, a nature walk, or an elegant
afternoon tea in the tearooms. Or why not dip into the Made in Kilkenny Craft Trail,
sampling handmade candles in BENNETTSBRIDGE, the flour mill that serves as
Nicholas Mosse’s pottery studio, or vibrant ceramics in THOMASTOWN?
Continuing south through the NORE VALLEY (via R700), watch out for wading
anglers, or take a photo stop at a lay-by overlooking the Anglo-Norman Grennan
Castle. At INISTIOGE, don’t miss Woodstock Gardens, home to the longest
monkey-puzzle avenue in Europe, or the handsome 10-arched bridge. Unusually
too, Catholic and Protestant churches stand side by side in this village.
After NEW ROSS (via R729), this route swaps the River Nore for the River Barrow,
veering north through ST. MULLIN’S, GRAIGUENAMANAGH and BORRIS,
before returning to KILKENNY. The River Barrow was a motorway before
motorways existed, as the heritage jewels along its banks testify - from old mills to
monastic sites, from grand treasures like Duiske Abbey to the old towpaths now
serving as riverside walks. At St. Mullin’s, scramble up the old Norman motte for a
smashing panorama over the gorge and gravestones below.
Further north, don’t let the apparent modesty of BORRIS fool you. Borris House
was not only ancestral home of the Kings of Leinster, but to the redoubtable
Arthur Kavanagh. Born in 1831, Kavanagh was an MP, Lord Lieutenant of Carlow,
an expert sailor, prolific ladies’ man, superb horse rider and an adventurer whose
travels took him as far as the Persian Gulf. Amazingly, he achieved all of this
despite being born limbless.
Dunbrody Experience
Follow the footprints of Ireland’s past!
driving tip
You can read more about the Made in Kilkenny Craft
Trail at madeinkilkenny.ie. If you wish to extend this
route, follow the River Barrow north from Borris to
Carlow and take in a visit to Carlow Museum or VISUAL
Centre for Contemporary Art, before returning to
Kilkenny City, a 30-minute drive along the M9 motorway.
Total
Distance
Time
approx.
New Ross – Borris
45 mins
Borris – Kilkenny City
40 mins
105 km
Kilkenny City – New Ross
1h 10 mins
All times are best estimates, and do not allow for stop-offs.
Route 5
The Ocean
Road
R448
10
10 PLACES TO SEE
R696
9
1
2
3
R684
8
R685
R677
R676
7
6
5
R675
4
1
Waterford Crystal
2
Reginald’s Tower
3
Bishop’s Palace
4
The Metal Man
5
Fenor Bog
6
The Copper Coast
7
Tankardstown Mine
8
Mahon Falls
9
Ormond Castle
10
Callan Abbey
Scenic viewpoint
Blue Flag Beach
The Ocean Road
Reginalds Tower
Think Kilkenny, and coastlines don’t exactly spring to
mind. And yet, the hidden coves and seaside cottages
of Dunmore East are little more than an hour’s drive
away. Why not breakfast in Waterford City en route?
From either stop, the Copper Coast is your oyster.
Waterford’s most
famous landmark!
The Ocean Road
Little over an hour’s drive south from KILKENNY (via R448), a gem of a fishing
village awaits at DUNMORE EAST. Heading west along the coast (via R685),
you’ll come to TRAMORE, Ireland’s quintessential Victorian seaside resort. Drive
past the beach towards Newtown Head, keeping an eye out for the famous
Metal Man on one of three pillars at the entrance to the bay. The 15-foot
sailor was erected by Lloyd’s of London to stem the flow of ships mistaking
Tramore Bay for Waterford Harbour. Tramore is festooned with sandbanks, and
its history tells of tides and winds claiming one shipwreck after another.
The COPPER COAST (via R675) is a European Geopark named for its 19th century
mining heritage (watch out for the ghostly old engine house at Tankardstown). Take
a left pretty much anywhere here and you’ll end up in a hidden cove like Garrus
or Boat Strand, beaches that could have been airlifted from the Algarve. At
Ballydowane, the centuries-old remains of a mine shaft can still be seen in a sea
stack. Nearby, the horseshoe-shaped Kilmurrin Bay was once a smuggler’s paradise.
It’s a hypnotic route, strewn with pretty villages and stunning vistas. Think of
ANNESTOWN, one of the few villages in Ireland without a pub, the mining
boomtown of BUNMAHON or the old estate village of STRADBALLY, bedecked
with flowers, forest, and a sugar-sandy beach running alongside the River Tay.
Looking out to sea on the Copper Coast, you may even see a pod of whales…
After the Blue Flag beach at Clonea, consider breaking the journey with a
bite of lunch and a browse in DUNGARVAN, before driving through the
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS (via R676) back to KILKENNY City.
The Copper Coast
See the beautiful vistas!
driving tip
If you plan on hitting the Copper Coast in the
morning, it’s best to drive west to avoid the
sun in your eyes. The coastal section can
be shortened by taking the R677 north to
the N25 at Bunmahon. There are no petrol
stations between Tramore and Dungarvan.
Total
Distance
Time
Kilkenny City –Dunmore East
1h 15 mins
approx.
Dunmore East –Dungarvan
1h 40 mins
Dungarvan – Kilkenny City
1h 40 mins
215 km
All times are best estimates, and do not allow for stop-offs.
driving tips for your trip
Drive on the left
Park smart
Yes, it’s obvious. Yes, everyone is doing it. But if you’re used to
driving on the right, it’s easy to fall into old habits first thing in the
morning, after a lunch stop, or pulling back onto a quiet country
road after taking that latest awesome photo...
You’ll rarely have to pay to park in the Irish countryside, but
pay-and-display charges are commonplace in towns and cities.
Keep some coins handy for the meters, and remember to check the
signs indicating times during which on-street parking is charged.
Heed the speed limits
Car rental tips
The speed limit on regional (R) roads is 80kph/50mph, on
national (N) roads 100kph/62mph, and on motorways (M)
120kph/75mph. In towns, the limit is 50kph/30mph.
Most rental cars in Ireland are manual transmission, so if you prefer
to drive automatic, stipulate this when booking. Rental companies
provide numbers to call if you need breakdown assistance, and
fuel tanks should be returned as full as you receive them.
Get a good map
Don’t forget
Irish motorways are straightforward. Country roads… not so much.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have a reliable map (such as those
available for purchase in Tourist Information Offices) or GPS in the
glove box before you set off on your South Eastern safari.
When driving in Ireland, you need to carry a valid licence as well as
insurance and vehicle registration documentation. It’s also illegal
to hold a mobile phone when driving, so keep those calls, tweets,
texts and Facebook updates for when you’re safely pulled in!
Safety first
Fill up
Whilst Ireland’s roads are improving all the time, N and R routes
can still be thin and bumpy, prone to ice in winter, and may not
have hard shoulders. For many drivers, of course, that’s all part of
the charm. But it’s wise to adapt your speed to the circumstances.
There are very few online services on Irish motorways, and petrol
stations can be irregular between towns. Keep your tank topped up!
The tractor factor
Need to know
No matter how meticulous your plans, the chance of chugging
along at 20mph behind a tractor, or being held to a standstill by a
herd of sheep or cattle, is always there. It’s nothing to worry about
(it may even make your trip), just be aware that it may occur!
In case of accident or emergency, call 999 or 112. 999
112
Map Key
H
kilkenny city map
Tourist Information
Police Station
Theatre
Railway Station
Fire Station
Post Office
P
Car Parking
Bus Stop – National
Library
H
Hospital
Abbey / Monastery /
Round Tower
Cinema
Walking Trails
Shopping Centre
Small Airfield
Castle
Art / Craft Centre
Church / Cathedral
Place of Interest
19
9
P
8
Yacht Club/Marina
WC
Public Toilet
City / Town Hall
Heritage Centre
Taxi Rank
P
P
7
WC
P
18
M1
Motorway
Main Roads/Streets
N9
National
Primary Road
Other
Roads/Streets
N81
National
Secondary Road
Narrow Streets /
Private Roads
Regional Road
Road Under
Construction
20
10
R860
P
12
P
P
11
21
WC
PLACES TO SEE
1
Kilkenny Castle & Park
2
Butler Gallery
14
P
15
13
Kilkenny Design Centre &
Castle Yard
4 National Craft Gallery
5
6
3
5
Shee Alms House / Tourist
Information
6
Kilkenny Walking Tours
7
Rothe House & Garden
8
Smithwicks Brewery &
St. Francis Abbey
J10
P
WC
1
2
J9
3 4
P
J8
16
St. Canice’s Cathedral &
Round Tower
10 The Black Abbey
9
11
12
J7
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Kyteler’s Inn
13
The Hole in the Wall
14
Town Hall/Tholsel
15
St Mary’s Church & Graveyard
16
Butler House & Garden
17
Talbot’s Tower & City Walls
18
Court House/Grace’s Castle
19
Bishop’s Palace
20
Johns’ Priory
21
Magdelan Castle
17
J6
J1
J5
J4
J2
The Watershed
J3
Discover Ireland
Visitor Information Centres
For further information on suggested driving routes, visit
one of the region’s Discover Ireland Centres and speak
to a travel advisor.
• Local & National Information
• Itinerary Planning
• Guide Books, Brochures & Maps
• Accommodation Booking
COUNTY KILKENNY
Kilkenny Discover Ireland Centre
Shee Alms House, Rose Inn Street/
Mary’s Lane, Kilkenny City.
t +353 (0)56 775 1500
e kilkenny@failteireland.ie
WATERFORD CITY
Waterford Discover Ireland Centre
The Quay, Waterford City.
t +353 (0)51 875 823
e waterford@failteireland.ie
COUNTY CARLOW
Carlow Discover Ireland Centre
College Street, Carlow Town.
t +353 (0)59 913 1554
e carlow@failteireland.ie
beautiful
COUNTY TIPPERARY
Cahir Discover Ireland Centre*
Castle Car Park, Castle Street,
Cahir.
t +353 (0)52 744 1453
e cahir@failteireland.ie
FI/11671-11
*Centre opens from April to the end of October
COUNTY WATERFORD
Dungarvan Discover Ireland Centre
The Courthouse, Dungarvan.
t +353 (0)58 417 41
e info@dungarvantourism.com
COUNTY WEXFORD
Wexford Discover Ireland Centre
Quayside, Wexford Town.
t +353 (0)53 912 3111
e wexford@failteireland.ie
www.discoverireland.ie
Fáilte Ireland
4th Floor Wallace House,
Maritana Gate, Canada Street,
Waterford.
t +353 (0) 51 312 700
f +353 (0) 51 312 710
www.discoverireland.ie