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8th May 2024
09:24am BST
From eco-distilleries to sustainable vineyards, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands are home to some wonderful experiences that make excellent additions to your summer break.
Spend your next getaway delving into some of our country's state-of-the-art distilleries. Discover the ins and outs of Irish gin distillation from a local guide, sample wine from a homegrown vineyard and get hands on experience at an expert-led workshop where you can blend your own whiskey creation.
These distilleries and experiences are also nearby some great restaurants, walking trails and unmissable attractions, and you can rest assured that we've signposted them below to ensure you get the absolute most out of your next break in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.
Ready for your next adventure? Here are five wine tasting and distillery tours to check out on your next getaway.
Enrich your next trip to Offaly by including a visit to the Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Experience. A tour of this state-of-the-art distillery begins with a welcome Irish coffee before you're whisked away to the Still House and the blending lab for a whiskey experiment. Afterwards, you'll get the opportunity to sample whiskey straight from the cask in the Secret Warehouse Snug. The experience concludes with a premium whiskey tasting of three expressions of Tullamore D.E.W. and you can also opt for the chance to create your own unique blend of Tullamore D.E.W. to take home with you.
To make the most of your Offaly getaway, visit the nearby Lough Boora Discovery Park where a wide range of walking and cycling trails await. After working up an appetite head to the award-winning Blue Apron Restaurant.
The Shed Distillery in Drumshambo is one of Ireland's most popular distilleries, and we can understand why. During a tour, your expert guide will awaken the history of PJ Rigney, the distillery's founder, and you'll get an insight into the Drumshambo spirits production. Afterwards, you'll get the chance to sample some spirits with a tasting session in the Honey Badger Bar. When hunger strikes, pop by the Jackalope Café to relax, refuel and enjoy a hearty meal.
During your getaway to Co. Leitrim, be sure to check out some of the nearby attractions. Step back into Ireland's mining history with a visit to the Arigna Mining Experience and get active by renting a bike from Electric Bike Trails.
Patrick Mulcahy, also known as the Mindful Farmer, has transformed Ballinwillin Farm in Mitchelstown into an oasis of calm, offering visitors a range of experiences, including guided farm and cellar tours, mind, body and soul retreats, and of course, wine tasting. Ahead of your next trip to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, make a booking for one of the Mindful Farmer's wine and cellar tours. During this great group activity, you'll get to sample some of the vineyard's very own wines while feasting on some tasty nibbles.
After your visit to the Mindful Farmer, be sure to check out some of the very best the neighbouring area has to offer, including the show-stopping Mitchelstown Cave and the picturesque Galty Castle Wood. For your coffee fix, pop into The Town Coffee Company and grab lunch or dinner at Market Place Restaurant.
No trip to Galway would be complete without a visit to Ahascragh Distillery, Ireland's first eco-distillery. During a distillery tour of the revived 19th century mill, you'll learn about the sustainable practices that enable this distillery to produce zero energy emissions gin and whiskey and their innovative use of wind and solar energy. After getting to grips with the tradition, craftsmanship and modern innovation involved in the distillery process, you'll get to taste some of Ahascragh's award-winning whiskeys and gin.
Before your visit, grab coffee and lunch from the Old Mill Café, which is conveniently located just across the street from the distillery. During your trip, embrace the great outdoors with a hike along Suck Valley Way and delve into Ireland's history at the Battle of Aughrim Visitor Centre.
Westmeath is home to Ireland's oldest licensed distillery, the Kilbeggan Distillery, which boasts over 200 years of history. Visitors to the Kilbeggan Distillery Experience will get to bear witness to this fascinating history as they learn all about its founders, the surrounding community and the traditional methods of the distillation process. You'll also get the chance to sample whiskey like a pro as all visits conclude with a masterclass in tasting three premium whiskeys. For a bite to eat before or after your visit, check out the hearty lunch offerings from The Pantry Restaurant.
As it is conveniently located along the River Brosna, you'll be able to squeeze plenty of the great outdoors into your Westmeath getaway. Rent a bike and cycle along the Royal Canal Greenway or visit Belvedere House, Gardens and Park and enjoy a stroll through its sprawling grounds.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your next break in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands today.
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