What To Expect From A Visit To The Incredible Carlingford Adventure Centre

If you’re looking for things to do in Carlingford with a group of friends, look no further than Carlingford Adventure Centre.

There’s endless things to do here with something for all ages, from land-based activities, like archery, to sea-based activities, like kayaking.

Oh… there’s also air-based activites in the hugely popular Skypark, but more on that in a moment.

In the guide below, you’ll find heaps of things to do at the Carlingford Adventure Centre along with some handy info.

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting the Carlingford Adventure Centre

Although a visit to the Carlingford Adventure Centre is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Located in Carlingford town across different park areas on the Cooley Peninsula, Carlingford Adventure Centre couldn’t be more central, and it’s a short walk from many of the hotels in Carlingford.

2. Endless things to do

You’ll be surprised with the variety of activities on offer at the centre. From fun individual activities, like ziplining and rock climbing, to team building opportunities, like orienteering, there’s loads for adults and kids alike (more below).

3. ‘Pay and play’

There’s a range of price options available, depending on what activities you’re looking for. They offer packages or pay-to-play rates. Pay and play rates cover all ages and abilities for activities like the zip wire, aerial course, archery, axe throwing, frisbee disc gold and the rock wall. As a price guide, a one-hour zip line session starts from €20.

4. Packages

On the other hand, there are packages catering for groups, including hens, stags, families or youth camps. For an idea on prices, a half day activity package for a Hens is around €50 per person and an overnight family staycation is around €129 per person.

5. On-site accommodation

If you don’t fancy staying in one of the hotels in Carlingford, there’s some en-suite dormitories and self-contained holiday homes here. Some of the group packages even include overnight accommodation.

About the Carlingford Adventure Centre

The Carlingford Adventure Centre is one of the best family-friendly activity centres in all of Ireland. They offer everyone a range of outdoor activities, covering land, sea and sky. It’s all about offering fun and challenging activities in a safe and friendly environment.

The centre was founded in 1990 and started with offering water sports. It soon added a forest adventure park and has now included what is called their Skypark, which is just outside of Carlingford town. 

Their range has expanded over the last 30 years to include land, water and sky-based activities for all ages.

Open all year round, the adventure centre has activities for little ones up to older people ready to get outdoors. From golf and canoeing to more adrenaline filled options like zip lining and rock climbing, it’s the perfect place to head for the holidays.

Things to do at the Carlingford Adventure Centre

One of the reasons that this place is one of the more popular places to visit in Louth is due to the volume there is the see and do.

Below, you’ll find everything from kayaking and foot-golf to ziplining, watersports and much, much more.

1. Skypark

One of the newest additions to the Carlingford Adventure Centre is the Skypark, and it’s one of the biggest adventure parks in Ireland.

It’s focus, as you might have guessed, is on some incredible aerial activities, but it also has some land-based options, too. The highlight for all ages is the Aerial Adventure Course which has over 30 challenges to make it through to the end. 

There are eight different courses, with varying levels so you’ll be sure to find something for the whole family to enjoy. For the little ones, there’s also the Skypark junior.

2. Ziplining

Carlingford is home to Ireland’s longest tree top zipline. The line travels through the forest for over 1km, with 15 different wires and 18 suspended challenges.

The exhilarating zip line can reach up to 60 feet above the quarry, with stunning views across Carlingford and the Mourne Mountains. 

3. Water sports

You can get involved in kayaking and canoeing on Carlingford Lough, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

Then you can finish off your peaceful paddle with a play on the water trampoline and pontoon. Just keep in mind that these activities depend on the weather and water levels, with winter sometimes only offering pontoon jumping.

4. Foot golf (or mini golf)

Foot golf is exactly as it sounds. It’s a combination of football and golf, and it’s a nice alternative to mini-golf, especially for kids.

You kick a ball from a ‘tee’ and aim to get it into an over-sized hole. The person who takes the least number of kicks to do so wins. At Carlingford, it’s a 9-hole course with obstacles and hills in the way.

5. Rock climbing

Home to the largest private, natural, rock-climbing wall in Ireland, Carlingford Adventure Centre is the perfect place to try some climbing and abseiling. 

They offer eight different climbs of varying difficulty with the highest climb being 45 feet high and offering stunning views over the water. The professional staff are there to help, so you’ll be trained and guided the whole way through. 

6. Orienteering

For both a fun and educational activity at the adventure park, you can try your hand at orienteering. Requiring some navigational skills with a map and compass to get from point to point, you’ll get to learn all the basics before setting off.

The course offers varied terrain and scenery taking you through the forest and around the side of Slieve Foy mountain. It’s the perfect team building activity, where you also get to learn some valuable skills. 

7. Archery

Kids of all ages love archery and Carlingford offers both an archery field and lessons, so you can learn the best techniques. Regardless of whether your solo or with a group, the centre has a range of archery activities to get you practicing your bow and arrow talents.

If you’re in a group, you can try the archery battle zone. This combat game like Dodgeball includes rubber arrows so you can have all the fun and adrenaline of aiming for the opposition team without getting hit yourself.

8. Aeroball

One of the newest activities to the centre, Aeroball, is a vertical action game involving trampolines and a combination of volleyball and basketball rules.

Suitable for all ages, you can take aim to score or try to block the opposition’s ball as you jump mid-air from one of four trampolines. The high energy and competitive game is a fun team building activity, that is perfect for either families or even a stag day.

9. Frisbee disc golf

Another skilful group activity, frisbee disc golf requires you to throw the frisbee around a course with holes or baskets to try and aim for. 

The nine hole course is located in the Skypark section of the centre and will certainly test your frisbee throwing skills. Whether it’s with the whole family or a fun friend’s day out, it’s a great option to combine with foot golf to see who has the best all round sporting skills.

Things to do near the Carlingford Adventure Centre

One of the beauties of the Carlingford outdoor activity centre is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Louth.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the centre (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. Climb Slieve Foye

Slieve Foye is the highest point in County Louth with a summit elevation of 589m. You can begin a climb to the top right in Carlingford town. The hike takes 2-3 hours and offers stunning views.

2. Cycle the Carlingford Greenway

The Carlingford Greenway is open to walkers and cyclists and offers an incredible view of the mountains and lough along the way. The trail follows the shoreline and takes you from Omeath to Carlingford. If you don’t fancy the Greenway, there’s several beaches near Carlingford to stroll along.

3. Take the Carlingford Ferry

Just around the coast in Greenore, you can take the Carlingford Ferry which connects the Cooley Peninsula with Northern Ireland via the lough. It’s an incredibly scenic boat journey of around 20 minutes, offering stunning views over the water and Mourne Mountains.

4. Grab food (or a pint!) in the town

If you fancy a pint, there’s lots of lively pubs in Carlingford. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s plenty of great restaurants in Carlingford too. If you’re not hungry (or thirsty!), you can wander over to Carlingford Castle!

FAQs about Carlingford outdoor activity centre

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where can I find Carlingford Adventure Centre prices?’ to ‘Is there much to do there?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.