Self Catering Holiday Homes & Cottages in Carlow

County Carlow is located in the south east region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Carlow is the second smallest and the third least populous of Ireland's 32 traditional counties.

Carlow is bordered by five counties, Laois, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford making this county an ideal base for a self-catering holiday in Ireland. Towns worth explore in county Carlow include Bagenalstown, Borris, Hacketstown, Leighlinbridge, Rathvilly and Tullow. Carlow is a picturesque inland county, with mountains, glorious countryside and scenic river valleys.

Places to go and things to do in Carlow

The Blackstairs Mountains and Killeshin Hills provide ample opportunity for scenic walks and a perfect base for a hiking holiday. Major marked trails such as the Wicklow Way, the Barrow Way and the Leinster Way having sections in this county.

For a fun family day out visit The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, an award-winning family business making handmade chocolates and ice-cream. Throughout the year there are a number of fun chocolate workshops which can be enjoyed by all ages.

Next door is Rathwood, a well-known kids' play centre, restaurant and garden centre. Kids will love the Rathwood Express Train which runs through the woods and around our animal park so everyone gets a chance to see ducks, geese and deer. The train at Rathwood running most weekends at 3pm, please call ahead to confirm.

Altamont Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland is a 5-minute drive away. A delightful blend of formal and informal gardens with riverside walks covering over 40 acres.

Cycle part of the Barrow Way, an off-road joy intermittently broken up by outstanding views and wonderful villages and towns.

Take a look behind the scenes at one of Ireland’s craft brewing pioneers at Carlow Brewing Company. The O’Hara family brew the critically acclaimed O’Hara’s Irish craft beer available nationwide in Ireland and in over 25 countries around the world.

Fishing on the River Barrow

Both the River Slaney and River Barrow flow through this beautiful Carlow. The River Barrow flows through the Carlow town, and forms the historic boundary between counties Laois and Carlow. The river is the second longest river in Ireland, behind the River Shannon. It is one of The Three Sisters; the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore, it is the longest of the three rivers at 192 km. The river is well-known as a coarse and game angling river for roach, dace, hydrides, perch, brown trout and salmon. This pretty county is popular with anglers and game fishing making Ballykealey House an ideal base for a fishing holiday in Ireland.

There are an array of tourist attractions and outdoor activities in close proximity to our holiday accommodation in Carlow, making this county an ideal base for exploring all that Ireland’s Ancient East has to offer. Against a beautiful landscape, visitors will uncover outdoor adventure, traditional rural life, vibrant shopping and a rich cultural heritage.