Discover the spectacular South West of Ireland from Bleachfield

Kerry is simply a fantastic place to visit . . . and we look forward to welcoming you here soon.
The area is renowned for its scenic contrasts. The long indented coastline blends with spectacular mountains and the many rivers and lakes combine to give a landscape that offers the perfect backdrop for the wide choice of activities on offer - golf, angling, walking, cycling, water sports, the list is endless.

Family Holiday Ideas

Beach Walks / Sandcastle Days
Cromane Beach
Rossbeigh Beach - 30 minutes drive away is Rossbeigh just outside Glenbeigh village - where legend has it Oisin and Niamh crossed the sea from Rossbeigh to Tir na nOg. Horseracing takes place along the sand from time to time, evoking that legend.
Inch Beach - 20 minutes drive from Milltown - three miles of magnificent sandy beach, enjoyed by swimmers, windsurfers, hang gliders and shore anglers. In summer, take a family picnic and make a day of it and in winter, look out for the ducks and waders in the wetlands behind the dunes. These dunes have Stone Age graves and shell middens left by ancient inhabitants and more recently the beach has been the location for several Hollywood movies including Ryan’s Daughter.
Ventry Beach
Banna Beach

Walking & Cycling
Whether you just want a leisurely evening’s stroll in the woods, a family nature walk or you want to climb Ireland’s highest mountain before breakfast, you can do all three from Milltown! The back roads of Milltown are very quiet and you might spot an ogham stone, a dolmen, a rare bird or even on of the local community also out enjoying the fresh air! (If you do, be sure to stop for a chat!) A series of 7 walks, each with its own theme, plus a half-day cycle tour around the parish boundary are being developed at present and maps will be available shortly. Bicycle hire can be arranged for all our guests.

Cappanalea Outdoor Educational Centre, Killorglin
A great Outdoor Educational Centre that includes activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, bouldering, orienteering, hill walking, windsurfing, abseiling and dinghy sailing. Great for older children.

Horse Riding & Pony Trekking
Milltown - Abbey Glen Riding School - On site trekking
Faha, near Milltown - Woodlands Equestrian Centre
If you enjoy the colour and excitement of the Hunt, several local hunts (fox friendly!) meet in and around Milltown.
Killarney - O’Sullivans - Trekking in Killarney National Park
Ventry - Long’s - Trekking along Ventry Beach & Hills

Music
Milltown has developed an outstanding reputation in not only the local area but also in Kerry and Munster because of its strong links with traditional Irish music. Feile Cnoc an Oileain and other music festivals are held throughout the year.

Swimming
Beaches as above
Aqua Dome, Tralee
The Aqua Dome has something for everybody. The young and young at heart, those seeking thrills, and the visitor who just wishes to unwind… all have much to look forward to. “Fly down” the 90-metre flume, “splash out” in the waves, ride the “raging rapids” or relax in the “lazy river”. Small children have their own area; with bubble slide fountain and mushroom spray. Adults can experience the luxury of the Sauna Dome, which features two large saunas, steam room, cool pool, sun shower and relaxation area.

Aqua Golf, Tralee
Aqua Golf is an 18-hole miniature golf course featuring bunkers, water hazards and holes of varying difficulty. Between the two lie remote control boats and trucks, which are great fun for all the family.

Toby World, Tralee
Kerry’s largest indoor children’s entertainment centre. Ireland’s tallest play frames – Toby Town Main Frame, Toby’s Tower and Toddler’s area. Other activities include: Disco Room, Pirate’s Wall, Foam Forest, Karting Circuit, Kids Quazar Zone, Mega Swing Ball, Crazy Elevator, Sensory Quiet Room, Ceramic’s Room, Party Rooms and 50 seater Café.

Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium, Mara Beo, Dingle
This is an unmissable experience for all ages. There are over 200 species of marine life on display, including Native Irish Marine displays, Amazon Jungle Features including Deadly Piranhas, Seahorses and Old Favourites Molly the Turtle, Big Ray, Reef Sharks and much more. Walk through the Underwater Tunnel and experience the marine life swimming overhead. Hold a starfish and stroke the rays at the popular Touch Pool.

Fungie the Dolphin Boat Trips, Dingle
The Dingle Dolphin -- or Fungie, the name given to him by the fishermen -- is a fully-grown, possibly middle aged, male bottlenose, Tursiops Truncatus. He weighs in at around one-quarter tonne (500 lbs.) and measures in the region of four metres (13 feet). Although it is by no means unique to find these usually social, open creatures living alone in a "restricted" zone and befriending humans, it is still a relatively rare world event, and Fungie is Ireland's first recorded occurrence.
Daily boat trips leave from Dingle Pier to visit Ireland’s most famous dolphin, Fungie and should you be a little more adventures, early morning swimming trips are available during the summer months. Fantastic experience for all the family.

Celtic & Prehistoric Museum, Ventry, Dingle Peninsula
Ireland’s finest private collection of authentic Stone Age, Bronze Age, Celtic, and Viking artefacts. More than 800 stunning examples of ancient jewellery, tools, weapons, and sculpture from Ireland, Britain, and the Continent. See Ireland’s only fossilised nest of dinosaur eggs, meet “Millie” the largest complete Woolly Mammoth skull on earth with 10 foot long ivory tusks and the only on view in Ireland since the Ice Age! And a complete 260 million year old juvenile dinosaur skeleton!

Blasket Heritage Centre, Dunquin, Dingle Peninsula
The Blascaod Centre in Dún Chaoin, on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, celebrates the story of the Blasket Islanders, the unique literary achievements of the island writers and their native language, culture and tradition. Sadly An Blascaod Mór was abandoned in 1953 as a result of the decline of its once vibrant population. Beidh céad míle fáilte romhat in Ionad an Bhlascaoid. Cuirfear leagan Gaeilge den eolas seo ar fáil sara fada.

Louis Mulcahy Pottery, Ballyferriter, Dingle Peninsula
Louis Mulcahy has dedicated an area at the pottery shop to those visitors who wish to experience the craft for themselves. While providing excellent entertainment, it is also highly educational and illustrates the skill and long training required to master the craft. In this room a professional thrower can be seen going through the daily routine of throwing pots. This person will deal with all the questions that may arise pertaining to the process and visitors can try their skill at making a shape to take home with them. This service is absolutely free.

Gallarus Oratory, Gallarus, Dingle Peninsula
One of the most famous landmarks on the Dingle Peninsula and situated close to Gallarus Castle. The Oratory is completely made of stone and some way it resembles an upturned boat. Various dates have been suggested for its construction but exact archaeological artefacts are to be found on the grounds of the Oratory.

Jamie Knox Water World, Maharees, Castlegregory, Dingle Peninsula
Learn or improve your windsurfing, surfing or kite surfing with Jamie Knox – ex World Tour Professional and his dedicated team. Kids Clubs & Courses with qualified instructors daily.

Waterworld - Mega Kids and Teens Clubs
Ireland’s Premier Diving, Leisure and Activity Centre. Children can enjoy a 2 hour water sports adventure – Canoeing, Paddle boating, Surf-biking, Snorkelling, Trampoline, Catamaran sailing, Banana riding and Bouncy Castle… or take to the back beach where they can enjoy surfing and boogie-boarding in Brandon Bay.
Mega Kids Club – for children ages 4 to 12 and Teens Club – suitable for ages 12+.

Crag Cave, Castleisland
Crag Cave is a natural, all-weather visitor attraction located at the gateway to Kerry. Formed of limestone, it is a colourful wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites, thought to be over one million years old, with dramatic sound and lighting effects. Friendly guides are pleased to outline the caves origins and its many beautiful formations, and introduce visitors to a world older than mankind. The Cave Centre has a coffee shop, extensive gift shop and “Crazy Cave”, an indoor children’s soft play adventure centre with junior, toddler, baby and sports areas.

Coolwood Park, Wildlife Park & Sanctuary, Killarney
A fifty-acre complex, 10 acres of which is a wildlife park and 40 acres of wildlife sanctuary. Heavily wooded it is the stronghold of the red squirrel, sparrow hawks, dippers and more common species. It is an ideal place to take the family for a visit. The wildlife park includes monkeys, lemurs, meerkats, racoons, prairie dogs, agouties, arctic foxes, maras, llamas, alpacas, mountjac deer, pygmy goats, large birds of prey collection, pets corner, reptiles, fancy fowl, rabbittery and large waterfowl collection. Coffee shop and picnic area available on site.

Kennedy’s Pet Farm, Killarney
Irelands Premier Family Pet Farm with all weather facilities for an exciting day out. New arrivals on the farm are a regular occurrence and there’s always a happy mother waiting to show off her new babies! So if you fancy cuddling, feeding or just admiring the large varieties of animals – puppies, kittens, deer, pigs, piglets, horses, calves, sheep and lambs, goats and kids, donkeys, pot bellied pigs, rabbits, ducks and ducklings, geese and goslings and “Prince” the peacock – then Kennedy’s Pet Farm is a must. Its unique indoor and outdoor playgrounds are every child’s dream experience. Small coffee and tuck shop available. Feel free to bring your own picnic.

Killarney National Park
The National Park comprises of 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of beautiful lake and mountain scenery. The Park is famous for its' native natural habitats and species including oakholly woods, yew woods and red deer. The National Park Visitor Centre (located at Muckross House) and the Information Point at Torc Waterfall provide information on all aspects of the park.The Education Centre, located at Knockreer House, provides a range of courses related to nature conservation and the ecology of The National Park for school children, students and other groups.

A Cruise in the Park, Killarney
Take a relaxing and enjoyable cruise through the Killarney National Park in the comfort and safety of a covered, heated and modern vessel, the MV Lily of Killarney. Fully glazed to allow you enjoy the magnificent views that make this cruise unique, including the historic Ross Castle. Live commentary will entertain and inform you on the history and folklore of the area. This all weather water coach cruise is the ideal way to view Killarney National Park.

Muckross House, Garden & Traditional Farms
Muckross is one of Ireland’s premier attractions and incorporates Muckross Traditional Farms, Craft Workshops, Nature Trails, Free Audio Visual, Restaurant and Craft Shop. Situated in Killarney National Park, Muckross House is a focal point within the Park and is the ideal base from which to explore its terrain whether by foot, jarvey’s or bike. Muckross Traditional Farms are working farms recreating the traditional farming methods of the 1930’s. Visitors to the farms can enjoy a free trip around the site on the superb Muckross Vintage coach and use the newly opened children’s woodland playground. The Walled Garden Centre incorporates the Garden Restaurant, Mucros Craft Shop and the three Mucros Craft Workshops.

Ross Castle
Built in the 15th Century by the O’Donoghue Chieftains. It overlooks the lower lake in Killarney and looks out on a 7th Century monastery and 12th Century Oratory on Innisfallen Island. Legend has it that Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, was educated here by the monks in the 9th Century.

Killarney Jarvey’s & Jaunting Cars
Enjoy the traditional way to visit the delights of Killarney with the famous jarvey’s and jaunting cars. Lots of story telling, history and Craic!

Caherciveen Barracks, Caherciveen
Caherciveen's Heritage centre is housed in a former Royal Irish Constabulary (Police during British occupation) Barracks. The building was burned by anti-treaty forces in 1922 and has been restored. This building seems quite out of place for Kerry and there is a story that the plans for it were mixed up with a barracks to be built in India. The Barracks was designed and constructed during the period 1869-1871 and is arguably one of the most picturesque with its turreted structure nesting in the beautiful South Kerry landscape. With the careful restoration of this interesting building, services such as restaurant, craft workshops, audio-visual display, display of archaeological remains and a tourist information point are provided. The centre houses exhibits on Daniel O'Connell, the Fenian uprising, and other local history.

The Skellig Experience
At The Skellig Experience Centre, you can experience many aspects of those offshore Skellig islands while remaining on the dry land, in a custom built, stone clad, grass roofed, prize winning building located right on the waterfront beside the Valentia Island bridge at Valentia, County Kerry!
Here, through re-creations and models you can study the works and lives of the Skellig monks of the early Christian period, their activities, their endurance and their dedication in gaining a foothold on a tiny, inhospitable, offshore island and creating a community there that survived for some 600 years. In The Skellig Experience’s 80-seat auditorium, through a 16-minute audio-visual presentation you can follow the footsteps of those Skellig monks, and wonder at the legacy of architecture that they left behind.
Here too, in The Skellig Experience’s re-created Skellig sea cliff, with life-size models and related presentations, you can get to know, by sight and sound, the life and times of the seabirds of Skellig. The Skellig Experience Centre also offers – again through artefacts and realistic re-creations - an experience of Skellig lighthouse – its history – its light keepers and its service to mariners since the 1820’s.

Derrynane House, Caherdaniel, Ring of Kerry
Derrynane House is the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Situated on 120 hectares of parklands on the scenic Kerry coast, the House displays many relics of O'Connell s life and career.

Adventure and Festivals
For those looking for adventure, the region offers some of the most exhilarating outdoor pursuits including kayaking, hillwalking, rock-climbing, horse-riding, diving and much more. Numerous annual festivals, including the Rose of Tralee, Puck Fair, Killarney Summerfest, Listowel Writers Week, Kerry Film Festival, Kenmare Walking Festival and many, many others, take place throughout the region to celebrate the unique culture and heritage of the area. Horse racing fans will enjoy top quality racing festivals in Killarney, Tralee and Listowel. Festivals are always worth experiencing, as visitors can learn more about the people, traditions and heritage of this culturally rich landscape first hand and enjoy a few pints of local stout in the process!!
There is always something exciting happening in Kerry, with festivals all year around.

Food
Kerry is also renowned for rich cultural heritage. Not to be missed is a traditional music session in one of the local pubs, (including the now famous LIVE Music and Dance nights at Bleachfield) or a chance to dance in a Ceili! If you enjoy the freshest seafood and finest local produce, you are in the right place. The county of Kerry is recognised as one of the gourmet highlights of Ireland and this is reflected in its wide range of restaurants offering the best in fresh seafood and local produce.

Wellbeing
And if pampering yourself in a gorgeous, natural setting is your idea of a perfect holiday, then Kerry is for you! The county is fast earning an international reputation as a spa destination with a choice of world class spas in Killarney, Dingle, Kenmare and Tralee. Of course, for a more intimate experience, Bleachfield has already become popular for its Seaweed Baths, Canadian Hot Tub and Detox Box.

Culture & Arts
The Dingle Peninsula has some of the most interesting antiquities, historic sites and varied scenery in the whole country. Its spectacular setting has made it a magnet for movie producers and it was the location for Ryan's Daughter and many other film productions.
North Kerry is recognised as the literary capital of the south west. It is home to some of Ireland’s most famous writers such as John B.Keane, Brendan Kennelly and Bryan MacMahon to name but a few.