The pandemic appears to be hopefully reaching its conclusion recently (touch wood). Although the word staycation seems like a distant memory, I still believe that when the sun shines Ireland would give anywhere else in the world a run for its money. I always like to spend one weekend on holiday in Ireland each year just to appreciate what we have right on our doorstep.
During last year’s June Bank Holiday weekend, my boyfriend and I went to stay at Rock Farm in Slane to escape the city centre for an evening. Living on Camden Street can have its perks, but some nights you do wish for an evening without the sound of back alley parties and Garda sirens. We found just the opposite on rock farm. Having grown up on a farm myself, I was unsure of how much of a novelty this staycation would be. Being in the country away from everything that was going on, I wondered whether or not we would get bored. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the number of things there was to do (more on this later).
About Rock Farm
Rock Farm is located a few minutes outside Slane. It's an organic farm (1 point already) that offers glamping experiences from luxury yurts to quaint shepherd’s huts. We opted for a yurt called Ash simply because we booked it last minute and that was all that was available. It was kitted out with a big double bed, fairy lights, a wood fire stove, a lamp that doubled as a charger as well as our own private deck and picnic bench for dining out. The toilets and showers were shared with the rest of the glampers, but we didn't really mind that because they were so well kept. There was also a kitchen with utensils to cook.
Wood Fire Hot Tub
When we arrived we went straight for the wood-fired hot tub. We had booked this in advance of our arrival. It cost an extra €30 on top of our room fee. You are able to book it anytime up to 4pm and if memory serves me correctly, you get it for 2 hrs. However, because we booked it for 4pm we were allowed use it for the whole night. The funny thing was the day we decided to use it was actually one of the hottest days of the year but it was still an enjoyable experience. We just had to wait for it to cool down a bit.
Explore the Farm
In the evening, we decided to explore the farm. We walked back towards where we parked our car, which was past the other huts towards the river. As we walked we could see Slane Castle in the background. We went through a gate and came across some piglets going about their business. They were very cute. After that we came to a fence that appeared to mark the boundaries of the farm. When we went beyond that we came to the most amazing field of yellow flowers with the river running past. There's a path cut in between the two. It was beyond beautiful. If you follow that path right to the end you will come to the main road and from there if you like you can walk right into Slane town.
Water Sports
For an extra cost you can go kayaking on the river beside the farm. We decided not to do this as we had already booked the hot tub. I suppose there are two types of people, right? However, it looks like a great experience especially if you get the right weather. There's also a man-made swimming pool on Rock Farm. We didn't have time to use it. But it seems perfect for a summers day.
BBQ and Pizza Oven
If you're going glamping there is nothing better than firing up the BBQ. Since this was our first time glamping we didn't come prepared and had no supplies. However, we learned our lesson and were prepared the second time around. The farm does offer packages for just this reason - we just weren't aware of it at the time. Packages include anything from breakfast supples to a pizza making kit.
Campfire
Another great activity available is a campfire. It's located near the hot tub. The only thing is it's communal. So make sure if you want to use it to get there first! Don't forget the marshmallows too!
Farmers Market
If you time your visit right and go on a Thursday you could be in for a treat. The market runs every Thursday on Rock Farm from 11-2 pm. We weren't there on a Thursday unfortunately. But it definitely seems like something worth trying while you are down there. The website says it does take away food, home made crafts and drinks.
Slane Castle Walk
Slane Castle is located just up the road from Rock Farm. As I mentioned before it's so close you can even see it from the farm. The trail is open on Sundays from 10 am to 4:30 pm. You can finish off your walk at the Silver Fox food truck located on the castle grounds just outside the courtyard. They offer coffee and sweet treats made from local produce (from no other than Rock Farm). If that's not enough, there's also tours of the castle as well as a distillery they have on site. Both the Castle and the Distillery are open on Saturday and Sunday.
Slane Village
Slane village is like any other small Irish village. It has the essentials. Some pubs, some coffee shops, corner shops, restaurants and a take away. Get a 99 in the local corner shop and have a leisurely walk around the peaceful town. When we went I really wanted to try the restaurant in town called Inside out. The food looked delicious and it had really good reviews. However, because Covid was still pretty prevalent it was fully booked. Instead, we opted for a take away. We ate it on our deck soaking in the evening sun. It was very much good vibes.
Bike Hire
Another activity we didn't get a chance to do simply because we didn't stay long enough. However, you can't beat a bike ride through the Irish country side on a summers day. Although I haven't done it in Slane, I can safely say it is always a good experience. The rental costs €25 according to their website and they have routes they can recommend.
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