Aughrim: Discover granite, river and trails

Wooded hills, a river rich in wildlife and distinctive granite buildings define Aughrim. The village is a gateway to the southern slopes of the Wicklow Mountains and to Aughavannagh. If you want to combine nature, village history and a range of activities on your holiday, you’ll find different themes here to help plan your trip.

Riverside nature and trails around Aughrim

The Aughrim River is formed where the Ow and Derry Water rivers meet. It is an important habitat for dippers and herons, and is rich in brown trout. The natural riverside setting adds to the character of the village, which is surrounded by wooded hills. Aughrim is also on the R747 regional road between Arklow and Baltinglass.

For a walk, you can choose the Sean Linehan Walk: this easy 4 km circular route runs through woodland along Ballycreen Brook and takes about 60 minutes. It starts at Tinakilly Bridge on the eastern side of Aughrim. Jim’s Way, by contrast, starts at the village square and is about a mile long. Along the way, the circular route passes an impressive cross commemorating the year of the family and Pope Francis’s visit to Ireland. If you’re interested in another route, you can reach the Ciaran Shannon Way via Rednagh Road. Walkers still use the railway bridge to the mill as a shortcut from Killacloran to the village.

Granite and memories of village history

Aughrim is known locally as the “Granite Village”: granite features in many of its buildings, bridges and walls. St John’s Church is also part of this local building tradition. Dating from 1913, it was built from granite quarried at Tinakilly.

Several places recall the 1798 Rebellion. Rednagh Bridge was the scene of a skirmish between Crown forces and the rebels. A memorial was erected in the centre of the village in 1998 to commemorate those who took part in the rebellion. A marble plaque honouring Anne Devlin can also be seen on the bridge in Aughrim beside Market Square House. These landmarks provide tangible points of reference for the village’s history, distinct from its nature and walking experiences.

Fishing, crafts and regional produce

The National Disabled Angling Facility is a put-and-take fishing pond accessible to wheelchair users. Fishing rods and bait can be hired there. For a creative activity, Studio Upper Aughrim offers pottery and woodturning classes for adults and children. Fresh regional produce, homemade foods and crafts are sold at Aughrim Country Fair, which takes place in Aughrim on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

When planning your holiday, you can consider whether you’d like to focus your stay on walks, village history, fishing or craft classes. These interests can help you decide whether Aughrim is the right destination and find a suitable holiday cottage or holiday home for your trip, without needing to combine the different activities.

Discover more places

For more places to explore: Roundwood, Donard, Rathdrum, Rathnew, Kiltegan, Redcross, Tinahely and Shillelagh.

For the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.