President Michael D. Higgins performed the official opening of ‘Beyond the Trees Avondale’, a spectacular new visitor experience in Avondale Forest Park in Co. Wicklow, combining a stunning 700 metre Treetop Walk with a 12 storey high Viewing Tower and the highest slide in Ireland.

Avondale House and Treetop Walk © Coillte

Visitors to Beyond the Trees Avondale will experience the beauty of Avondale’s tree canopy on the Treetop Walk and enjoy incredible views of the beautiful Wicklow countryside from the spectacular Viewing Tower. The Beyond the Trees Avondale experience will be further enhanced in the autumn when restoration work on Avondale House, the home of Charles Stewart Parnell, will be completed and the house will open to visitors.

Avondale occupies a significant place in Irish history both as the birthplace and home of Sir Charles Stewart Parnell, a key figure in Ireland's home rule movement of the 19th century, and also because of the work of Samuel Hayes who inherited the estate in 1770. 

In addition to Samuel Hayes being the author of Ireland’s first book about trees, he also played a very important role in Irish forestry – it was he who realised that the ancient forests of Ireland were disappearing and who set about creating a forest park at Avondale, which is often thought of as the birthplace of Irish forestry. Following his death, Avondale was inherited by his cousin, Sir John Parnell, great grandfather of Charles Stewart Parnell.

Avondale Treetop Walk © Coillte

Ireland’s newest visitor experience is a €19 million collaboration between state-owned forestry business Coillte, Fáilte Ireland (Ireland’s national tourism development agency) and EAK Ireland Treetop Walks, bringing a truly unique visitor experience to Ireland’s Ancient East.

Speaking at the official opening of Avondale House and Forest Park, President Michael D. Higgins said: “In terms of lived experience, may I suggest that places like Avondale House and Forest Park allow us all – people from diverse walks of life, of all ages and backgrounds – to reconnect with nature, to reaffirm its critical position in our lives, perhaps even to commit to taking individual and collective actions to protect it, to tackle declining biodiversity and climate change. This could be the greatest impact and legacy of this beautiful forest park which I am so pleased to formally open today.”

President Higgins opens Ireland’s newest visitor attraction © Fáilte Ireland

Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, added: “Investing in standout attractions is a key element of attracting international visitors to Ireland and encouraging domestic tourists to explore different areas of Ireland. Beyond the Trees Avondale is a totally unique world-class addition to the tourism offering in Ireland and will attract thousands of visitors to Wicklow and the wider Ireland’s Ancient East region, driving regional tourism growth and economic benefits for local communities.”

Visitors arriving at Beyond the Trees Avondale enter through the Walled Garden before beginning their journey on the elevated boardwalk, which is up to 23 metres above the forest floor at its highest point, making their way out over the Avonmore River valley. 

The Viewing Tower © Coillte

The surrounding forest habitat and the natural gradient of the land means that although the Treetop Walk does not climb or descend more than a few degrees, visitors can see all of the different levels of trees from the forest floor to the canopy. 

The Treetop Walk culminates in the journey to the top of the spectacular Viewing Tower, made from locally sourced Douglas fir and larch wood. Standing amid a grove of eucalyptus trees on the edge of the historic Great Ride at Avondale, the Viewing Tower reaches 38 metres into the sky. 

Sunset at Avondale © Coillte

The spiral, ramped boardwalk of the tower rises slowly through the forest, never exceeding a gradient of six degrees which makes it fully wheelchair and pram accessible with resting points on each level. Adventurous visitors, young and old, can ‘whoosh’ their way quickly back down via a 90 metre spiral slide, providing an exhilarating end to the unique Beyond the Trees Avondale experience.

Beyond the Trees Avondale has been created with sustainability and accessibility at its core and expects to attract 200,000 to 250,000 visitors in its first full year of opening.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tour of Ireland’s Ancient East, including a visit to Avondale House and Forest Park, please do contact our friendly team today.