The Village at Wheelocks: Tours, Walks + What To Expect

If you’re looking for family-friendly activities in Wexford, the Village at Wheelocks is a great shout.

Visitors can pick seasonal fruit, take a guided tour, attend seasonal events, explore the woods and pet farm animals.

There’s also a nice cafe to kick-back in that dishes up sweet treats!

Some quick need-to-knows about The Village at Wheelocks

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

1. Location

You’ll find The Village at Wheelocks in Tomnafunshoge, in Enniscorthy. It’s a 25-minute drive from both Gorey and Courtown and a 30-minute drive from Wexford Town.

2. Admission

Admission to shops and restaurants at The Village at Wheelocks is free. However, there is a charge for admission to special seasonal events and tours. Prices vary depending on the event.

3. The Cafe

The modern 80-cover cafe has a pleasant farmhouse ambience. It’s a greet place to head for a cup of coffee and a cake or a meal with friends. Sit indoors or outside in the courtyard. The cafe also offers a kid’s menu and vegetarian options.

About The Village at Wheelocks

Back in the 1950s, Cyril and Margaret Wheelock established a fruit farm, providing seasonal produce to shops, markets and supermarkets in the area.

Their high quality produce and passion for producing the finest strawberries in Wexford meant the business thrived.

In recent times, the family has gone one step further, offering visitors an interactive experience.

Set on 17 acres, the Village complex offers forest trails and riverside walks, some farm animals to pet and the chance to learn more about where our food comes from.

Things to do at The Village at Wheelocks

There’s plenty of things to do at the Village at Wheelocks that make it a perfect spot for a family morning out. Here’s what to expect:

1. Fruit picking

Fruit picking experiences are available from May to October. Your guide will give a short and informative talk about the fruit and the best pay to pick them. You can pick your own perfectly ripe strawberries in summer.

No bending down – these plants are grown at waist-height in the polytunnel. It’s a great way to take home a delicious taste of Wexford strawberries at their best.

Other fruit picking options are also available seasonally. These include blackcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries, rhubarb and even pumpkins. Hunt out your jam recipes and make delicious preserves and pies from your own handpicked fruit.

2. Woodland walks

A trip to The Village at Wheelocks is a great opportunity to enjoy a farm walk. The attraction covers 17 acres which includes woodland, forest trails and walks beside the Ballyedmond River.

Children can run ahead spotting animal tracks, birds and even hidden fairy doors! Walk are easy along well-trod gravel which include humpback bridges, seats to rest a while and even an uprooted tree stump, now inhabited by the Little People!

As the seasons change, so do the walks. It’s a good opportunity to return and see spring buds, summer wild flowers and plenty of autumnal foliage, fungi and lichens.

3. Tours

If this is your first visit to The Village at Wheelocks, we would definitely recommend a guided tour. Learn a little about the family and the history of this local Wexford fruit farm.

You can also learn about the different fruits grown and harvested on the farm, and pick up a few tips on the best way to grow, pick and handle the fruit.

Group tours and bespoke guided tours are also available by prior arrangement. It’s an education for all the family.

4. The Christmas Experience

The Christmas Experience at The Village at Wheelocks includes a Christmas train to ride and various activities in the magic forest. Of course, Santa drops in to make sure everyone’s been good this year.

You’ll be welcomed by the chief Elf and then meet and greet Mrs Claus before boarding the train. The elves will accompany you on the trip through the woodland and magical tunnel of lights. Keep your eyes open as Rudolf is lurking in the trees somewhere!

Disembark at the Christmas crib where there are plenty of treats as you explore the covered tunnels. You might spot the elves reading letters and making the final preparations. Finally, youngsters will meet Santa himself in his sitting room.

Places to visit nearby

One of the beauties of the Village at Wheelocks is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Wexford.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Village at Wheelocks.

1. Vinegar Hill (5-minute drive)

The famous battlefield at Vinegar Hill is a short drive from The Village at Wheelocks, at Templeshannon. This is the most famous site of the 1798 Rebellion where a bloody four-hour battle left 1500 dead. Today this peaceful site offers panoramic views of Enniscorthy town and the meandering River Slaney.

2. Enniscorthy Castle (10-minute drive)

Another interesting place to visit near The Village at Wheelocks is Enniscorthy Castle. Set on a hill above the town, this 13th century site includes a fine castle with tower and battlements. Home to Norman knights, Irish rebels, English armies and local prisoners, it is packed with history.

3. National 1798 Rebellion Centre (10-minute drive)

More Irish history can be found nearby at the National 1798 Rebellion Centre in Enniscorthy. Meet the participants in the Rebellion, join in the 4D battle experience and check out some of the weapons used in the Vinegar Hill Battle. Award-winning tours and re-enactments bring this attraction vividly to life.

4. Tulach a’ tSolais monument (15-minute drive)

Finally, head to the Tulach a’ tSolais monument completed in 1999 to commemorate the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion. The project recreated an ancient tulach burial mound cut through with a concrete walkway. It represents the connection between the living world and the “other side”.