Irish Tintern Abbey *Free Site*

There is a large well surfaced car park on the same level as the Abbey
Access is very very good as mostly on ground level
Brilliant for Rainy days
No dogs inside the Abbey Complex
Toilets
There are a couple of resting area's

I visited this site in the winter and the site was closed however you can walk a good part of the outer abbey and look in but what may this place special is the settlement surrounding the abbey it is truly a awesome place and would recommend to visit to all

Best Bit - This castle has a lovely magical feel about it, great energies, well worth a visit

See:

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/tinternabbey/

 

 

Dunbrody Abbey *Free Site*

Large Level well surfaced car park at Dunbrody visitors centre
During the tourist season you can pay to gain access to the inside of the abbey, visitors centre and enclosed attractions
I visited the site in the winter period and walked the outer walls of the abbey which was enough for me
From the car park there is a approximate 200 yard walk to the abbey which is mostly level.

It is a nice site, although I did not see any resting places so not ideal for sketching or having a picnic
Dogs are welcome
Toilets when the visitors centre is open

See: http://www.dunbrodyabbey.com/

Clonmines [Private Site]

Sadly you can't gain access to this site however you get a pretty good view from here:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=52.256134,-6.755338&num=1&t=m&z=17

You might like to see:
http://irishantiquities.bravehost.com/wexford/clonmines/clonmines.html

From the Google link given above there is a car park which was very uneven with massive pot holes so please be careful, there is also a slip was into the estuary, it is the most magical place and very much worth the detour, also from the car park you can see a Cornish engine house one of few that were exported to Ireland.

Cornish Engine house situated behind the car park

This was a painting done from my above photo by Myles Mansfield
It goes to show what a picturesque place this area is!

Saint Mullins *FREE SITE*

There is a large car park down from the site which is a bit of a up hill trek but paved all the way up to the site, there is also a few spaces just outside the graveyard area, I would think in summer these go quickly and could not see parking especially for disabled visitors.
This site would just about be okay on a wet dull day
There is a donation asked for to gain access to the Visitors centre around the 3 Euro mark.
The staff are overly friendly keen to share there knowledge of the artefacts in the centre and the area
Guide Dogs Only in the centre but the outside areas are dog friendly
Public Toilets
Loads of  benches resting and picnic area's - lovely to sit and sketch / paint and very photographic
Best Bit - Saint Moling's well, it is very magical and has easy access
See:
http://stmullinsheritagecentre.com/

One of the saddest thinks I learnt from my visit to St Mullins is that the Grid Link Project is a proposed plan by EirGrid to erect a corridor of 400kV electricity super pylons from Wexford to Kildare. There are four proposed routes, two of which run through St. Mullins and the most beautiful and scenic areas ...of County Carlow. To preserve our unspoiled St Mullins landscape for future generations log on to http://saveourheartland.com/ to make a submission to Eirgrid before the deadline of 26th November 2013. It's easy, just clic on the linkhttp://www.saveourheartland.com/homepage/how-you-can-help/make-a-submission-to-eirgrid

Slade Castle *Free Site*

Parking is a little difficult when the harbour is busy in the summer months but in winter
you can park pretty close to the castle but watch out you don't block any ones driveway.

As the area is all on one level access is good

Not suitable for wet / windy days
Dogs welcome
Public Toilets near the castle
A few benches and resting area's
Wildly romantic castle in a small fishing harbour superb to sketch / paint / photograph
Best Bit -  Just soak up the atmosphere, imagine the hustle and bustle of yesteryear

 

see:

http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/02/slade-castle-co-wexford/