Above The Trees
Niamh O’Reilly brings three generations along to check out Ireland's first treetop walk and viewing tower with a thrilling way to get back down again.
Age is just a number!” That’s what my 72-year-old father declares as he and my five-year-old go whizzing down what is probably Ireland's tallest slide to hoots of absolute elation from both. The attraction is part of the significant upgrade of Avondale House, the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell and family and the surrounding rich forest it sits in.
The vision for Avondale Beyond the Trees was to give visitors the chance to see the forest in a completely different light and walking amongst the canopy of Yew, Larch, Fir, Oak, Spruce, some planted by Samuel Hayes over 300 years ago, as well as Ireland’s tallest redwood, is impressive.
The fully accessible wooden walkway rises gently, never going above a gradient of 6 degrees. At one point the walkway is over 23 metres above the forest floor. Along the way, there’s interactive stations perfect for the smallies in the group. My five- and two-year-old love the sections that have mini rope bridges with cut outs revealing the drop to the forest floor below.
Of course, everything builds to the impressive tower, which can be seen poking above the huge trees in contrast to Parnell’s 18th Century family home below.
The tower rises 12 stories and 38 meters high and looks incredibly impressive and strangely familiar at the same time. I wonder if the engineers may have been influenced by a very famous drink when they set out the design?
After 10 turns, we make it to the top, not out of breath thanks to the gentle rise.
The 360-degree view is spectacular with Parnell’s home nestled beneath and the beauty of Wicklow in every direction strictly speaking, it’s the highest my kids have ever been.
And so to the slide. With my father and five-year-old already down in a matter of seconds, it was now my turn and sitting on the side of the slide I began to realise just how high we were. An awkward mat shuffle later and I was off, faster than I anticipated, but loving every thrill soaked second of it.
“Again, again!” was the response from all of us. I now understand why there is an extra charge of €2 for the slide.
The tower and slide aside there is so much more to explore. The house will welcome interactive tours in the autumn, but with 500 acres of mature woodland with trees from all over the world to enjoy, the forest is the real star. It’s considered to be the birthplace of Irish forestry, thanks to an innovative early 1900s experiment where 99 different species of trees were planted to see which grew best under Irish conditions.
Sustainability and accessibility are everywhere, from the wooden features inside the visitor centre and seed café, to the playground, the walking trails and the wooden walkway itself, the attraction is a multi-generation experience not to be missed.
Tickets cost €38 for a family of 5 and can be purchased at beyondthetreesavondale.com
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