The best walks and hikes around The Municipal District of Adare — Rathkeale

Peaceful woodland trail that's part of the Glin Heritage Walk, where you're surrounded by nature's chorus.

A wonderful family-friendly hike where fairies have made the woods their home!

Croom Town Park is a small but pleasant green space next to the River Maigue. It's the perfect spot for a short walk or run in the town of Croom.

Bunratty Castle is a landmark on the route between Limerick and Ennis. Arriving here by bike is almost like travelling through time - the mighty castle rises imposingly at the side of the road, while the surrounding flowerbeds give the place a lively feel. The name Bun Raite refers to the nearby mouth of the River Ratty, which once gave the place importance. The area around the castle has its own charm. Although Bunratty Castle has seen many upheavals in its history, the architecture is impressively well preserved. It is worth stopping for a moment to look at the details - the massive walls and small windows give you an idea of what life must have been like here centuries ago. The cycle route through the village is also pleasant and quiet, although the traffic around the castle sometimes requires a little attention. A detour to the adjacent Bunratty Folk Park is also an option to get an even deeper sense of Ireland's past. Here you can imagine how people in the past lived their everyday lives – and maybe this is the perfect inspiration for the next section of your bike tour.

The Augustinian friary is situated to the east of Adare, on the banks of the river Maigue opposite the castle. The friary, also known as Black Abbey, was founded by John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald (c.1256-1316). This church became the Church of Ireland parish church and schoolhouse (now a private residence) and although restored in the nineteenth century, a fifteenth-century tower and charming small cloister are among the medieval features to survive.

Only but good hotel in Newcastle West. I particularly recommend the restaurant.

Even from the road, not far from the free car park, the impressive Bunratty Castle towers up, as if it wants to take its visitors to another time. A brief moment and you find yourself in the middle of centuries-old stone walls that hold many secrets. With your ticket in your pocket, the curtain opens on a world that celebrates Ireland's rich heritage. The Bunratty Gardens extend around the castle, where the colors and scents of the plants mix harmoniously with the historical ambience. But it's not just the castle itself that deserves attention. A little hidden, embedded in the green landscape, you will find a collection of old farmhouses that have been preserved with loving attention to detail. Each of these houses has its own story and tells of the people who once lived, worked and celebrated here. The adjacent open-air museum also impresses with its authentic representation. Here, Ireland's development over time is not only explained, but brought to life. It is as if the walls, the floors and the roofs whisper - they tell of storms and sunshine, of festivals and everyday life, of heroes and craftsmen.

At the heart of the pretty town of Adare you will find the Trinitarian Abbey. It encompasses both the old abbey and a medieval church after 19th century restoration work brought the two together. It is the only church of the Trinitarian Order in Ireland and is believed to have been founded in the early 13th century.