EXPLORE LOCAL

The areas surrounding Mount Juliet offer numerous opportunities to tickle the taste buds and sample sumptuous local produce in all its glory. Follow the aromas of freshly baked bread to the arches of Barrack St., Kilkenny and you will find a bakery that over the course of the day expands into a fully-fledged eatery. Or perhaps you will find yourself in the famous café at Nicholas Mosse Pottery, overlooking the River Nore. Whatever time of day you’re looking to tantalise your taste buds, the local area offers all manner of eating experiences, all passionate about the dishes they conjure using largely local ingredients.

Kilkenny has a rich brewing tradition, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate this with a cold glass of distinctive local beer in hand… From the iconic traditional beers that you will find as part of the Smithwick Brewery Experience, to the brews of Castello’s Brewery, who are part of a new wave of brewers ensuring Kilkenny’s reputation amongst beer aficionados remains for generations to come. And for those whose tastes reach beyond the barley grain, the local Ballykeefe gin distillery and cider orchards are always ready to welcome you with open arms.

Mount Juliet is just one rich thread in the tapestry of Kilkenny’s history. For those of you who want to immerse yourselves even further into the past times (and pastimes) of the area, there are numerous excursions that let you experience the Kilkenny of old, here in the present day. An obvious starting point takes the shape of the world-famous Kilkenny Castle, which has been standing tall over the River Nore for over eight centuries. If that whets your appetite sufficiently, the Medieval Mile museum that starts at St. Mary’s Church offers visitors an immersive, interactive journey through time.

Mount Juliet’s surroundings are often said to evoke a sense of being lost in time. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the artisanal workshops and traditional farms that dot the countryside: from the family-owned, hand-blown glass creations of Jerpoint Glass, to the visitor centre and shop of Goatsbridge Trout Farm, where monks first started fishing the waters all the way back in 1180. Along with Kilkenny Design Centre and the Kilkenny Craftyard, each placeoffers you the chance to experience lost art and craftsmanship (and maybe take a little piece back to the modern world with you).

From wild, rolling countryside trails to organised tours of Kilkenny’s most famous historic landmarks: the area around the estate is bursting with opportunities to ramble, marvel and get inspired. Why not take in the picturesque surroundings and fun activities of Castlemore Discovery Park; enjoy a stroll through the Nore Valley at whatever pace you fancy; descendinto the fascinating interiors of Dunmore Cave. Wherever you venture forth to, we’d be happy to pack you a picnic.