Day 1 — Begin with Rock of Dunamase, then continue to Emo Court and spend the evening exploring the nearest town.
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County guide
Laois
Wooded hills, elegant gardens and quiet heritage towns in Ireland’s midlands.
Rock Of Dunamase
ExplorePortlaoise and the Slieve Blooms
Best timeApril to October
Time needed2–4 days
Perfect forCulture, scenery, outdoor adventures and short breaks
Plan your visit
Why visit Laois?
Wooded hills, elegant gardens and quiet heritage towns in Ireland’s midlands.
Don’t miss
Top 20 landmarks and attractions
A curated starting point for planning your time in the county.
- 01Rock of Dunamase
- 02Emo Court
- 03Slieve Bloom Mountains
- 04Heywood Gardens
- 05Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum
- 06Timahoe Round Tower
- 07Dunamaise Arts Centre
- 08Abbeyleix Bog Walk
- 09Ballyfin Demesne
- 10Glenbarrow Waterfall
- 11Aghaboe Abbey
- 12Durrow
- 13Stradbally Hall
- 14Mountmellick Museum
- 15Oughaval Woods
- 16Cullahill Castle
- 17Ballaghmore Castle
- 18Gash Gardens
- 19The Heath
- 20Grand Canal Barrow Line
Suggested route
A simple three-day itinerary
3 daysSuggested county driving route
View route details
Day 2 — Visit Slieve Bloom Mountains before an afternoon at Heywood Gardens.
Day 3 — Combine Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum with Timahoe Round Tower, allowing extra time for local food, viewpoints and unplanned stops.
Build your own Laois itinerary
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Stay and explore
Plan more of your time in Laois.
Useful places to stay and island guides connected directly to this county.
Stay in the county
Glamping in Laois.
Find an overnight base for the places in this guide. Check property details and contact the operator for current availability.
Browse Laois staysPlan a memorable stop
Experiences for your Laois trip.
Start with experiences in Laois, then consider a clearly labelled outing further afield. Check the actual departure point: some tours start outside the county they visit.
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Family farm visit
County Laois
Castleview Open Farm
Break up a sightseeing day with animals and play spaces. Travel to the farm independently and check opening for your date.
Start / arrival pointCastleview Open Farm reception, County Laois
Polar exploration
Out-of-county option · Kildare
Shackleton Experience in Athy
Add the story of Ernest Shackleton to a day in Athy. A town-centre cultural stop to pair with exploring the Blueway.
Start / arrival pointShackleton Experience, Athy
Horses & gardens
Out-of-county option · Kildare
Irish National Stud & Gardens
Combine thoroughbred heritage with time in the gardens. Allow a separate journey from Athy or your canal-side base.
Start / arrival pointIrish National Stud, near Kildare town
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