‘Beyond the Trees Avondale’, is a new world-class visitor destination in Ireland’s Ancient East that reopened its door in June 2022 following a €19 million redevelopment project by Coillte in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and EAK Ireland.
The forest habitat surrounds you and the natural gradient of the land means that although the walkway does not climb or descend more than a few degrees you will see all the different levels of trees around you from ground level right up to the forest canopy.
Along the walkway, you pass through Avondale Forest’s Arboretum, a collection of the finest trees in Ireland. You can learn interesting details about the famous trees that you are passing by and you can find the ones that were planted by Samuel Hayes over 300 years ago or during the Great Tree Experiment when Avondale was a Forestry Experimentation Station in the early 1900s.
Play areas for the young and young at heart can be found along the boardwalk to encourage you to take a different view of the forest around you.
Two distinct platforms along the walkway display a variety of interactive games that explore both the birds and the animals and their habitats in the surrounding forest.
Avondale boats the longest Treetop Walk in Ireland and the UK, at 1.4km brings visitors on an adventure through and above the trees, their journey peaking at the impressive Viewing Tower. Here the magnificent architectural tower standing 38 metres above the forest reveals panoramic 360-degree views over the Wicklow Mountains, the Avonmore River, and the Vale of Avoca. Coming at the end of the experience both adults and children can zoom their way back down the tower via the gigantic 90m spiral slide. Self-guided tours can be booked in advance online, www.beyondthetreesavondale.com.