Avondale Forest Park & Beyond the Trees

Avondale Forest Park occupies 500 acres of mixed forest in the Vale of Avoca in County Wicklow, centred on Avondale House — the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell, the most important Irish political leader of the 19th century. The house (now a museum managed by Coillte, Ireland's state forestry company) traces Parnell's life and the history of the Land League and Home Rule movement that he led before his fall from power in 1891.

The forest park contains some of the oldest planted woodland in Ireland — trial forests of exotic species established by the Forestry School at Avondale in the early 20th century, including giant sequoia, giant fir, and the arboretum of rare conifers. The woodland is mature and distinctive, with trees of unusual size for Ireland.

The centrepiece of the visitor experience is 'Beyond the Trees' — a 1.5 km elevated walkway that rises through the forest canopy to a 38-metre viewing tower. The walk is fully accessible and gives views over the Vale of Avoca and the surrounding Wicklow hills. The canopy playground alongside the main walkway is popular with children. Combined with the Parnell museum and the forest trails, Avondale is one of the most complete park experiences in Leinster.