Begin your Leixlip walking tour at Main Street, the charming heart of this historic Kildare town, where you can enjoy a hearty lunch at Salmon Leap Inn Gastropub on Main Street. This award-winning spot serves up classic Irish dishes like seafood chowder or a full Ulster breakfast, affordable, no bookings needed for small groups, but arrive early to beat the Saturday lunch crowd.
Stroll along Main Street to Leixlip Castle, a privately owned 12th-century Norman fortress with ivy-clad walls, evoking the timeless grandeur of a historical painting, its stories of Viking settlers and Guinness family ties adding depth. From there, wander up Mill Lane to St Mary’s Church, a medieval gem built post-Norman invasion, its ancient tower and Gothic windows steeped in history, with graves linked to Arthur Guinness’ early brewery days.
Next, head towards Captain’s Hill and pop into The Java Republic Café at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre (a short detour) for a rich hot chocolate or artisan coffee. If you’re after something more upscale, The Court Yard Restaurant at the Court Yard Hotel on Main Street offers refined dining with local ingredients in a stylish setting.
Finish your walk by looping to St Catherine’s Park, a lush 200-acre park with winding trails and the River Liffey’s picturesque flow, offering a serene end to your tour. Take a moment at the park’s weir cottages, a charming nod to local history. This 1-2 mile route captures Leixlip’s historic charm, local eats, and natural beauty.
Ireland county by county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Largest town walking tour
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Towns
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Villages
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Ireland’s County Kildare:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles– Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
