Possible stop-off activities for a family travelling from Donegal to Dublin tomorrow?

Bleating Lamb

Hi folks,

We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children (ages 8 and 13) who are currently in Donegal for the long weekend.

Will be driving from Donegal Town to Dublin tomorrow as going staying up there for a few days break.

Was just wondering are there any interesting things/places to visit off the main Donegal to Dublin road (will be going via Sligo)…..to break up the trip for an hour or two.

We are from Leitrim so have been to Zip it in Boyle and the new bouncy castle place in Carrick.

Just wondering is there any interesting historical Castle/Old Mansion or the like as you go through Roscommon/ Longford/Westmeath/Meath etc.

The kids actually like visiting old places,we went to Westport House before and they loved it.

We don’t mind going a bit off the beaten track if there is something worth seeing/visiting.

Apologies for the long post.Thanks for any suggestions.

thebiglad

A little off the route but - Strokestown House & Famine Museum.

In same vicinity - Corlea Trackway

Corlea Trackway - an ancient bog road over 2,000 years old! • All Around Ireland

watchclocker

A bit of out the way, but maybe Newgrange?

Kalimah

What about the Arigna mines experience? Or the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar. Both well worth a visit.

beggars_bush

There is a water sports place near Rooskey, Roscommon

Kayaking, obstacle course, wall climbs, mud slide

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122468828#Comment_122468828

That's much more than "a bit" out of the way.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122468847#Comment_122468847

As is Castlebar. Each of those is multiple hours of a divert.

There are various things in the Lough Key Forest Park that can entertain kids while not being quite as boring as sitting in the coffee shop of a soft play centre for the parents - trails, playground stuff, quest stuff, think there's a viewing tower etc.

shane b

Belvedere House near Mullingar may be worth looking at. You can use the outdoor area for free and its 21 euro for a family pass for the house.

watchclocker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122468972#Comment_122468972

Yeh you're right, but he said he didn't mind going off the beaten track and asked about Meath.

He also said he's from Leitrim and bern to Zipit Boyle which is Lough Key.

Flinty997

Nice museum in Boyle. There's also the abbey I think. Also another vote for the mines at Arigna though a bit off the route. Kids love rocks. Haven't been that route in a while though.

Charles Babbage

Apart from a train, that might run for a Km, this museum at Dromod had old vehicles and even a bit of a plane. Dromod is on the road.

https://www.cavanandleitrimrailway.com/

Bleating Lamb

Thanks folks for all your suggestions,

in the end we went to Belvedere House outside Mullingar.The children thoroughly enjoyed the huge well landscaped grounds they have there.The house itself was closed for renovations but there was an excellent audio tour which activated at various info points around the grounds which told the story of this Landlords house.

There is a fantastic walled garden there as well with plants from all over the World and a small Zipit line and very good playground which finished the visit off well for the kids🙂