Things to do in Rathnew
Attractions, heritage sites and walks around Rathnew, drawn from open data. Distances are straight-line from the town centre.
In brief
Rathnew is a Co. Wicklow town about 41 km from Dublin city centre. Open datasets list 19 Fáilte Ireland visitor attractions within 10 km, one national monument open to visitors within 20 km. Everything below comes from published sources, refreshed regularly.
Attractions near Rathnew
Visitor attractions listed by Fáilte Ireland within 10 km (top 12 of 19).
- The Dower House Gardens are 19th century gardens surrounding an 18th century house with lawns, magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and wisteria. Dower House is…
- Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford, County Wicklow, is one of Ireland’s most celebrated garden destinations. Spanning across 22 acres alongside the River Vartry, visitors…
- Kilmantin Arts is located on Bridge Street, in the heart of Wicklow Town. It was established in 1999 as a community art gallery for County Wicklow.
- The Black Castle ruin stands on a rocky headland over the sea, at the eastern side of the Wicklow town. There is a fine vantage point for views over the town and the…
- Originally Wren’s Wood is located was part of the Dunran Demesne. A deciduous woodland with holly tree’s ferns and large rocks left by the last ice age. The garden is…
- Known for its towering rhododendrons, the National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow is one of Ireland’s foremost heritage gardens, with a collection of…
- Coral Leisure Wicklow Town is part of the Coral Leisure Group, one of Ireland’s leading leisure and energy management, service provider, managing nine pool and…
- Wild Summits is an outdoor adventure tour company that offers tailor made adventure tours and activities.
- Birdsireland is a service for birdwatchers in Ireland which is based in County Wicklow. They provide guide services, tours, workshops and talks about the bird life in…
- Meet Alpaca Joe and enjoy an Alpaca Trek on Joe’s Farm. Meet a variety of gentle, adorable and distinctive alpacas. K2Alpacas sits on 90 acres at Callowhill,…
- Clissmann Donkey Walking Holidays Wicklow - walking holidays with a donkey companion, travel from village to village at a donkey's pace and overnight at local B&B’s.…
- Robert Charles Halpin, is one of Wicklow’s most famous sons, and was a world renowned 19th century mariner. The captivating “Halpin Trail” walking tour remembers his…
Heritage and monuments
National monuments open to visitors within 20 km.
- This early Christian ecclesiastical settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.
Walks and nature
Waymarked trails from Sport Ireland's National Trails Register and NPWS parks and nature reserves, starting near Rathnew and across Co. Wicklow.
- Ireland's largest national park and the only one in the east, almost 23,000 hectares of blanket bog, heath, oak woodland and upland lakes south of Dublin.
- Glendalough Nature ReserveAncient oak woodland in the glacial valley of the two lakes, alongside the early-medieval monastic city.
- Glenealo Valley Nature ReserveUpland heath, blanket bog and the Glenealo river above Glendalough's upper lake.
- Glen of the Downs Nature ReserveA steep wooded glen of sessile oak, one of the few semi-natural oak woods left in the east.
- Knocksink Wood Nature ReserveMixed woodland and a fast river gorge at Enniskerry, with an NPWS education centre.
- Deputy's Pass Nature ReserveOak and birch woodland on the slopes near Rathnew.
- Vale of Clara Nature ReserveAn extensive semi-natural oak woodland along the Avonmore river.
Plan around Rathnew
- What's on across Leinster this week, refreshed every Monday.
- Thinking of moving here? Living in Rathnew covers prices, rents and schools. Median sale price €415,000.
- See every nationally rated heritage building and monument in our heritage guide to Co. Wicklow.
Attraction data from Fáilte Ireland Open Data (CC BY 4.0), last refreshed 13 July 2026. Monuments from the National Monuments Service and heritage buildings from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (both data.gov.ie, CC BY 4.0). Trails from Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Parks and reserves from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Opening hours and admission can change; check the linked site before travelling.