5 Secret Picnic Spots in Ireland You’ve Probably Never Been To
Because of its lush and scenic greenery, Ireland is dubbed as the Emerald Isle. The locals take advantage of it by hiking, mountain climbing, and even relaxing around in some undiscovered picnic spots in Ireland—and there are a lot!
Spending a day in nature is the Irish people’s favourite pastime. This article will show you some of the hidden gems others kept a secret for so long just because they wanted to have a picnic in peace.
How Much to Spend in Picnic Spots in Ireland
Most of Ireland’s picnic spots are free, especially those that haven’t been discovered by tourists yet. Expect to pay for parking though, which ranges from €2.00 to €4.00.
However, if there’s an entrance fee, it usually ranges from €5.00 to €7.00 per person or car, depending on the area. This is usually for maintenance though since these picnic spots are well-maintained.
Top Picnic Spots in Ireland
We’re reviewing the best picnic spots in Ireland based on the following factors:
1. Powerscourt Estate
| Scenery and location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Conveniences | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Limitations and rules | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Powerscourt Estate to us is like going to a place where you have everything—shopping, food, and picnic. The best thing about this is just it’s only 30 minutes away from Dublin and it can be accessed via car or via train—pretty convenient, huh?
Most people go to Powercourt Estate to shop and explore the 800 years of history of the mansion. Its popular Japanese and Walled Gardens are also part of the attraction.
And then there’s the Waterfall, which we love the most! It’s actually Ireland’s second-highest waterfall, cascading along 121 feet of rugged rock formation. Surrounding it is a huge grassy area where visitors can have a picnic!
What we love about it is that there are a few picnic tables around you can use. If not, there are plenty of grassy areas where you can lay down a mat and spread your food.
Another thing which we might think you’ll love is that you can also hold a BBQ picnic. There are just some very strict guidelines you have to follow for your and everyone’s safety.
We love that there’s a snack bar around though if you didn’t bring any food. There are plenty of bins around so you don’t need to worry about your trash.
What makes this a special picnic spot though is that the sound of the waterfall in the background is so relaxing. It’s therapeutic to the mind and soul—at least, to us!
If you’re bringing kids with you, there are toilets everywhere as well as a playground. There are also wildlife sightings, so you’ll encounter a few animals on the grounds.
A €7.00 per person entrance fee might be expensive for some though. But we think it’s worth paying if you want to have a unique picnic experience!
Customer Reviews
Well-maintained nature trails and picnic spots
Well well-maintained spot. Good trails and picnic spots, plenty of car parking space, and picnic benches. The road downhill is narrow..two vehicles cannot pass so be extremely cautious when going downhill and uphill. Kids will enjoy the most.
— Badri Nair, Google Reviews
Stunning views
…there are lots of picnic benches and BBQs are allowed/encouraged. They have metal plates screwed into the picnic tables for your BBQ! Plenty of bins and a large recycling area. Good place to kill half a day, the views are stunning. The sound of the water echoes and reverberates around the whole valley.
—Justin Meighan, Google Reviews
2. Lough Boora Discovery Park
| WEBSITE | https://www.loughboora.com/ |
| ADDRESS | Boora, Lea Beg, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +353 57 934 0010 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Open 24 hours |
| Scenery and location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Conveniences | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Limitations and rules | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Lough Boora Discovery Park is home to Fairy Avenue, a permanent attraction where 14 fairies live and give kids a great time. But it’s not only that, the park is for all nature lovers who love to hike, cycle, enjoy nature walks, and have a picnic!
For one, there are long walking trails for adults. If you’re the type to enjoy the view, you can just walk around with your family or pet, and enjoy the scenery.
There’s a bike rental though if you want to move a little faster and cover lots of areas. Lough Boora is large, so cycling is a good idea to roam around!
Other than the various activities you can enjoy while in this park, there are also plenty of art installations everywhere. We really think it’s that type of place that can be enjoyed by various people in different age groups.
Another thing we appreciate is that it has designated picnic grounds for people who just want to relax. It also has the best sunrise view (arguably!), and you can just imagine how relaxing that is!
And just in case you failed to bring any food, don’t worry—there’s a cafe that’s open until 5 pm for your stomach needs. They serve good food, and you can have them takeaway if you want to eat it on a picnic mat outside!
Just be careful of the unreliable signage—they can get confusing at times. Also, you need to pay €5.00 per car, which, to us, is totally reasonable!
Customer Reviews
Perfect for families
A fantastic place for families. Lots of walking out in nature and a great cafe with sandwiches and coffee and tea afterward. Staff are lovely and friendly, too.
—Kaz H, Google Reviews
Has a fairy trail that kids will enjoy
Amazing place to spend the day. Amazing nature, hiking, and biking trails. Sculpture park, fairy, and neolithic trails. Fishing is possible. Great place for a family picnic. Bicycle rental and a café are available.
—Zilvinas A, Google Reviews
3. Great Saltee Islands
| Scenery and location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Conveniences | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Limitations and rules | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Great Saltee Islands is the perfect place for a picnic, most especially for those who love peace. The islands can be accessed at Kilmore Quay harbour and take around a 15-minute boat ride.
Once the ferry drops you off, you have at least 5 hours to enjoy the natural beauty of the islands, take a picture, and have a picnic. After that, your boat will bring you back to the fishing harbour of Kimore Quay.
Now, this is quite expensive at €30.00, but definitely worth it, at least for us! While the island is uninhabited, there are plenty of beautiful spots to enjoy as you walk, and there are plenty of wildlife sightings as well.
According to the visitors we talked to, there are no toilets or any cafes there—just pure nature and wildlife, which is one of the inconveniences that you’ll have to endure. So make sure you take advantage of the toilets in the harbour before your boat ride.
Make sure you also bring your own food and drinks, plus picnic mats. It’s so relaxing to eat while watching the birds just freely fly around—and no, they won’t harm you!
Speaking of birds, yes, bird-watching is one of the best activities to do here. There are plenty of species, some of whom you haven’t probably seen before.
The only rule you have to take seriously: bring your trash back with you. It’s an uninhabited island and is very clean, so don’t leave anything in there.
Customer Reviews
Peaceful place to have a picnic
A pleasant 20-minute boat trip brings you out to the Saltee islands. The islands are uninhabited except for rabbits and birds. Your stay is approx 4 hours and you will need to bring food and water with you as there isn’t anything there. On the island, you can walk the perimeter which takes you through head-high fern corridors along cliff tops where you can see different breeds of sea birds. If you are lucky you might even see basking sharks
—Mlb186643, Trip Advisor
Plenty of wildlife around
Went out on a boat with Declan Bates who brought us to the Saltee Islands…takes about 15 minutes ..when we got there we were dropped off by rib to shore and then spent a glorious 5 hours taking photos of the wildlife, especially puffins and gannets.. There are no facilities on the island for visitors so you need to bring your own food and water and no there are no toilets there either so if u get caught short find a bush
—Sharon O, Trip Advisor
4. Glenveagh National Park
| Scenery and location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Conveniences | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Limitations and rules | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Glenveagh National Park includes Glenveagh Castle grounds, which makes the place really majestic and perfect for picnics. We love that it also has conveniences like clean toilet facilities and a car park, so you don’t have to worry about those.
Now the entrance to the park is FREE, but there are things you have to pay for. For one, there’s the shuttle to the castle, unless you want to walk 8 kilometres back and forth.
In fact, one of the complaints visitors have is that it’s not a very dog-friendly place. You have to take the shuttle to the castle, and dogs aren’t permitted on it, so you have to walk 4 kilometres to and from the castle instead, which can be very inconvenient.
It has plenty of picnic benches around where you can eat with your companions. It’s also covered, so even if it rains, you’ll be safe!
The sight is majestic, and it’s most beautiful in autumn. Imagine eating your food surrounded by such somber colours and fresh air—it’s the perfect picnic ground to relax and appreciate nature!
Just in case you don’t have any food, there’s a restaurant inside. If it’s too full, you can just have your food on takeaway and eat on the picnic benches.
We love that there are other activities you can do in the park. You can walk around the beautiful gardens or trails while kids can play in the outdoor playgrounds.
Just a little warning—please be careful of the midges. These insects can be found in some parts of the gardens!
Customer Reviews
Beautiful landscape
Took a picnic and went walking here for the day. It was easy to find and the drive-in was very scenic. The landscape is beautiful and very wild in parts. There is a good number of trails you can do with some being more challenging than others. This is reasonably well explained on the website so you can plan your trip. The castle grounds were beautiful and very well-maintained and you could choose to walk or take the bus from the visitor centre to the castle. The restaurant in the visitors centre closes off-season so it’s worth checking if it’s open if you intend to eat there.
—Claire W, Trip Advisor
Has a covered picnic area
The gardens surrounding the castle were fab and free to enter. There were trails of 1.5 and 3km at the castle. There was also a covered picnic area and really good tea rooms.
There is a charge for a guided tour of the castle.
— Aire Agail, Trip Advisor
5. Ardgillan Castle and Demesne
| Scenery and location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Conveniences | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Limitations and rules | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If you’re looking for a picnic spot that takes you away from the noise of the city centre and at the same time has the conveniences you need, Ardgillan Castle and Demesne is the place to go! It can be your weekend picnic retreat, and we think you’ll love it!
For one, the famous Ardgillan Castle is majestic in real life, and it’s surrounded by lovely gardens—Rose Garden, Walled Garden, Ornamental Garden, and Seasonal Gardens. We love how well-maintained they are, perfect for photo ops of visiting locals or tourists!
There’s also the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains and a great view of the Irish coastlines–really perfect for a relaxing picnic day view! You can even walk around after your picnic and just enjoy the gardens and the trails.
Speaking of picnics, another thing we love is that it has several picnic areas. Some of them with tables while in some, there’s a need for a picnic mat.
We love that there are two cafes inside: one in the middle of the forest trail walk, while the other one is beside the kids’ playground. If you didn’t bring any food, these cafes will solve your problems!
The place has no strict picnic rules except you have to clean up after yourselves. There are trash bins everywhere, so this won’t be a problem!
Just a heads-up, don’t expect the castle to be open when you arrive. Sometimes, there are events being held, and the castle will be closed for such occasions.
Customer Reviews
Great picnic spot
Wonderful grounds to walk around, places to picnic, and a variety of gardens to look at. There is a tour, and the guides are keen volunteers. There are two coffee shops.
—Killiney Bay, Trip Advisor
Has various gardens for a picnic
Beautiful place, with a lot of green areas to sit in and have a picnic. The playground is absolutely huge and great! The kids had a lot of fun and the view of the sea was breathtaking. Also, they have very good toilets in this area. Highly recommend!!!! Ps: Rose garden was stunning
—Monique Scussel, Google Reviews
FAQs About Picnic Spots in Ireland
There you go! We hope our review helped you find the best picnic spot for you. If you want to explore more parks, and not just for picnics, you can try the Best National Parks in Ireland.