Ardmore Adventures
Ardmore Adventures
is located in Ardmore Bay, and offers rock climbing, sea kayaking, snorkelling, surfing, powerboat trips and water safety courses. Contact Ronan O’ Connor, Chief Instructor, to book an exciting outdoor course!
Beaches
There are many beautiful sandy beaches within easy reach, including Ardmore Strand, Curragh Strand, Goat Island, Ballyquinn Beach and Whiting Bay.
Leahy’s Open Farm
Leahy’s Open Farm, 40 minutes drive from Ardmore, has a huge selection of animals which the children can feed and pet, as well as playgrounds, go-karting, boat rides, leprechauns’ cave, a wonderful maze, and more.
The Farm has a large restaurant/coffee shop as well as lots of picnic areas, and you can see how people lived in bygone days by taking a wander through the museum sections.
Open May to September, Mon-Sat: 11am-6pm, Sun: 1pm-6pm. Tel : (021) 4668461.
Golf Clubs
Youghal (1)
This par 70 course, always in excellent condition, is a test for golfers of all grades and the sea breezes offer a new challenge every time you play. Club, caddie, and trolley hire available. Practice, bar and restaurant facilities. For more information see www.youghalgolfclub.com
Dungarvan (3)
Dungarvan Golf Club’s Championship Parkland course is located 1 mile outside the town of Dungarvan, and is set against the background of the Comeragh Mountains. The Dungarvan Golf Triangle special offer allows visitors to play all 3 Dungarvan golf courses for the price of 2. For more information see www.dungarvangolfclub.com.
Lismore (1)
Just north of Lismore off the N72. Trolley hire available. Practice facilities and bar on site.
Sea Angling
Waterford is something of an undiscovered shore angling dream – the beaches are rarely busy and the rock marks are often deserted… and yet it continues to produce excellent returns, including superb bass fishing. Anyone interested in fishing in Ardmore can contact Stan Ryan, secretary of Ardmore Sea Anglers Club. His email address is stanryan15@gmail.com and his mobile number is +353 (0)87 2374545.
Whiting Bay
This is an excellent mark and offers a wide variety of species and fishing techniques. Spinning and float fishing from the rocks will account for Bass, Wrasse, Pollack and Mackerel in season. Surf fishing will generate lots of Flatfish and the odd Bass, even a Sea-Trout, with bottom fishing taking Dabs, Plaice, Cod (one of the few marks from shore that produce Cod as well as Codling), Dogfish and the odd Ray, but no Whiting!
Ardmore Beach
The beach itself is not fished that much, but the side close to the roundabout in the town fishes well. This can be a popular beach at weekends during the summer so best to leave it late or avoid the weekends. Flounder, Dab, Bass, and Dogfish will be taken off the beach. Whiting and Codling will show in colder snaps during the winter and it is a great Mackeral venue in high summer at dusk.
Ardmore Pier
Ardmore has a fine pier and offers excellent sheltered fishing. Spinning or float fishing for Sea-Trout, small Pollack and Mackerel, with Mullet in the summer around the harbour itself. Bottom fishing will produce Bass, Flatfish and Dogfish.
Leisure Centre, Swimming Pool, Bowling
The nearby Clonea Strand Hotel has a leisure centre, swimming pool and ten pin bowling, all of which are open to the public. For details of opening hours, visit the Clonea Strand Hotel website, or contact the hotel on +353 (0)58 45555 / 41918.
St. Declan’s Round Tower &
Ardmore is renowned for St. Declan’s Round Tower, a 12th century beautifully proportioned monument to Irish monastic life, and is one of the finest examples of this type of structure in Ireland.
Private Tennis Court
There is a private tennis court in Dubh Carrig.
Ardmore Open Farm
Ardmore Open Farm is located just minutes from Ardmore, and is beautifully situated overlooking Whiting Bay. Ardmore Open Farm sets itself apart from other facilities nationwide by combining a large indoor play centre with an open farm with particular emphasis on rare breeds of animals. For more information see www.ardmoreopenfarm.ie.
Playgrounds
Kids can have great energetic fun with swings, slides, climbing frames and other installations in the playgrounds in Ardmore, Dungarvan and Youghal. At the edge of Dubh Carrig estate, there is a large playground, while Dungarvan and Youghal, both 15 minutes drive away, also have large playgrounds.
Diving
Ardmore Diving offers standard PADI Open Water certification as well as general recreational and technical diving facilities. They have an offshore 105 and a dive rib and equipment for rental – and for sale if you decide to get serious about diving! For more information see www.ardmorediving.com.
Walking
Cliff Walk
There is a way-marked walk in Ardmore, “The Cliff Walk”, 5km, which takes in some breath taking views. It includes the christian settlement founded by St. Declan. Maps are available locally.
Hill Walking
The Comeragh Mountains, with over 200 square miles of moorland, stretch from the coast near Dungarvan inland as far as Clonmel. There are a range of routes including tough mountain walks, gentler valley walks and a number of short and easy walks suitable for beginners. Tough walkers often try to complete the full traverse of the range between Clonmel and Dungarvan. A Comeragh Mountain Walking Festival is held annually in October. For more information, ring 052 36239.
Fota Wildlife Park
The beautiful harbour of Cobh is also the site of one of Europe’s most modern wildlife parks – Fota Wildlife Park. This is approximately 30 minutes drive from Ardmore, and a full day can easily be spent there.
Just beside the Wildlife Park is the internationally renowned Fota Arboretum, which has a beautiful collection of trees and shrubs from all over the world.
Perks Indoor Entertainment Centre
Perks in Youghal are one of the largest indoor funfair entertainment centres in the country, with a large selection of rides and games to suit every age group.
With over 70,000sq ft of indoor entertainment, not even the weather can spoil the fun! Visit Perks Entertainment Centre website for more details.
Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
Approximately 40 minutes drive from Ardmore, this narrow gauge railway follows over 6km of the route of the abandoned Waterford – Dungarvan line. The track runs mostly along the picturesque banks of the River Suir between Kilmeaden and Waterford, offering panoramic views of the River Suir, farmland and mountains.
The rolling stock includes a restored Simplex 60sp locomotive with a Perkins diesel engine and two Edwardian style carriages. Visit the Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway for more details.
Ardmore Pattern Festival
St Declan’s feast day, which falls on the 24th July, is celebrated with the Ardmore Pattern Festival, a lively weekend event.
See the Ardmore Pattern Festival website for further details.
Other Attractions?
If you know of other attractions in the area, please email them to info@ardmoreholidayhomes.com!