5 Best Places to Walk Your Dog In Kilkenny

This month for Operation TransPAWmation, we’re shining a light on all the different ways you can have fun and get out and exercise with your furry friend. Regular exercise is essential to help keep our dogs from gaining excessive weight, and to ensure their overall physical and mental health remains intact. Getting out and about helps keep the brain active, is a great stress reliever and boredom buster; both for dogs and humans!

Check out our blog post below on the best walking trails both you and your dog can avail of in County Kilkenny.

1.Jenkinstown Wood

Just a 10min drive from Kilkenny City, Jenkinstown Park was once part of a large estate. Today, the old house is long gone but remnants of 1870s parkland have survived. On the grounds you can expect to find a free car park as well as a few picnic tables and an information board. Perfect for families with dogs looking for a day out in nature, there is also a deer enclosure next to the car park which is very popular with children of all ages.

2.Castlecomer Discovery Park

An easy walk in a charming part of Kilkenny, the Castlecomer Discovery Park makes for an exciting day out. About 30-minutes’ drive outside of the city you will find one of the county’s most beautiful natural areas. It’s the ideal place to visit on your Kilkenny weekend break if you’d like to experience beautiful scenery on a choice of lovely loop walks with your dog. Make sure to pop into Jarrow’s Café for some refreshments afterwards!

3. Castle Park & Lacken Walk

This lovely park is right in the heart of Kilkenny City Centre. The trail takes you along the River Nore, and is the perfect area to bring both your dog and kids to. There’s a playground in the park for kids to enjoy and also a dog-friendly café for adults. Visit the rose garden for a photo opportunity after your walk, or why not head straight into Kilkenny city for a bite to eat? You’ll no doubt meet plenty of other dog-parents along your walk, a great opportunity for some socialising!

4. Castlemorris Wood

This is a beautiful walk through the woods of the old Castlemorris Estate, only a 20 minute drive from the city centre. Described as a ‘lovely and peaceful walk’, it is often considered one of the best places to bring your furry friend to for a great day out, as well as being perfect for all fitness levels. Keep to the short trail for a very pleasant woodland walk with small kids or challenge yourself by taking the longest route to explore a ruined church and round tower.

5. Nore Valley Walk-Kilkenny to Bennettsbridge

A very accessible and pleasant walk through the County Kilkenny countryside, it is highly recommended for all owners of all types of dogs, particularly those who love long walks. This 12 km walk is very scenic and is a relatively easy route to traverse. Be prepared to leave your car behind or get collected at one end of the trail. The trail takes approximately 2 hours and most people return via the same route. Riversides and rural scenery treat you at every turn in this delightful corner of Ireland’s Ancient East!

What is Operation TransPAWmation?

Petmania’s Operation TransPAWmation began in 2017 to highlight the rise in overweight dogs in Ireland. Since then we have extended the campaign to a whole-health campaign for dogs and cats, helping 1000’s of pet owners get to grips with their pet’s overall health and wellbeing.

Now in its 7th Year, Operation TransPAWmation is designed to help dog and cat owners identify and make small changes that can help improve their pet’s overall health and wellbeing.

For in-person support on your #PetmaniaOT journey, you can also drop into any one of our pet shops nationwide and speak with a member of our team.