Ardscull, Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland.           Phone / Fax  00353 (0)59 8626188                E-mail anne@ardscullfarm.com

Arrive exhausted                    Leave enchanted

Ardscull Farm is located close to 3 major racecourses, The Curragh, Punchestown and Naas. The Curragh racecourse is home to all 5 of the Irish Horseracing Classics. The Curragh is also home to many horse training stables. On an early morning visit to the Curragh it is possible to see the trainers and jockeys preparing their horses for the next big race. It is a great chance to see the behind the scenes work of the "Sport of Kings". Nearby Kildare town is home to the National Stud and Museum allowing the visitor an oppurtunity to see the past and present of the Irish thoroughbred horse. The skeleton of the great Arkle is on foun on display there. Punchestown is the "Irish Cheltenham". The annual festival attracts the top National Hunt horses in Ireland and the UK.    The Japanese Gardens are located just outside Kildare town (20km from us). The Gardens , which symbolise life, traces the journey of the soul from Oblivion through twenty stages to Eternity. The Gardens offer the visitor both visually appealing views and also provokes thoughts about the true meaning of life.   We are located within walking distance of the 2003 award winning Wild Flower Park, giving you an opportunity to relax in the tranquility of the Park and Picnic Area. The park contains many beautiful mature trees with their proverbial "forty shades of green", the 11th. Century historic Moat of Ardscull and a monument to the 1903 Gordon Bennett Motor Rally. The area also won the National Tidy Towns 2005 Wildlife Award.   The River Barrow and the Grand Canal both pass through Athy. They are an anglers paradise. The canal contains Bream, Tench, Rudd, Eel, Pike and Hybrids, while the Barrow also contains coarse fish as well as Brown Trout and Salmon. The waterways also have maintained walk ways along the banks making it a perfect venue for a relaxing stroll..   Kildare is a Golfer's dream with a host of testing courses. The K Club, which has hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup is located within a 40 minute drive. Other courses, such as The Curragh, Cill Dara, Bodenstown are all located within a 30 minute drive. Local courses within a 5 minute drive are Athy and Kilkea Castle. Both of these are fine 18 hole courses.   Ardscull Farm's location makes it an ideal base from which to visit Ireland's capital city Dublin. It is just one hours drive away. An even handier way to travel to Dublin is by rail. Nearby Athy station (8km) operatesa regular service to and from Dublin. Journey time is approximately 50 minutes. When in Dublin, visitors can avail of organised guided city bus tour or just take in a spot of shopping.