Here are six Kilkenny walks to bring in the New Year

Woodstock Loop - Moderate

Trailhead: Inistioge Village Car Park

Distance/Time: Woodstock Loop: 4.5Km / 1-1.5hrs

Ladies Loop: 3km/ 45mins-1hr

Directions: Woodstock House Gardens and Arboretum can be accessed on foot from Inistioge Village via the Woodstock Loop Walks. Woodstock Gardens are located in the south east of Kilkenny just outside the picturesque village of Inistioge. The gardens, overlooking the River Nore Valley, offer a wide variety of sights and are a most relaxing and beautiful environment in which to spend a day.

The gardens are home to a mix of formal and informal gardens with an arboretum, walled garden, terraced garden, yew walk and rose garden providing the main interest. Also of significance are two stunning avenues, the Monkey Puzzle Avenue and Noble Fir Avenue. Also of interest is a rustic summer house, constructed from materials from the gardens and a fountain to replace the original which was sold from the gardens c.1930. The arboretum is home to many fine specimen trees from Asia and South America in particular. A number of these trees are recognised as champion trees due to their size.

Adjacent to the Arboretum is the Walled Garden laid out with fruit trees, a vegetable garden and a beautiful herbaceous border. Just outside the Walled Garden is a stunning cast iron conservatory which houses the tea shop.  

Image courtesy of www.visitkilkenny.ie