Love in Offaly
I had a French friend who pronounced Tullamore as tout l'amour. He was quite right, there's a lot to love in Offaly. First up, the new Tullamore Dew distillery has opened, with tours, tastings and a chance to blend your own; though how your own blend can beat almost 200 years of whiskey experience beats me (€35 at tullamoredew.com). Then walk it off at the Lough Boora Discovery Park, 20 minutes away, where artists have filled this magical place with all kinds of astonishing artworks (admission free, loughboora.com). Round it off and stay at the atmospheric Kinnitty Castle at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, with more lovely walks on your doorstep (B&B from €150, kinnittycastlehotel.com).
Rus in urbe
With sustainability and food futures on our minds, give yourself an eco trip to Dublin where you can see farming in a whole new light at the RHA's brilliant A Growing Enquiry exhibition, including Laura Fitzgerald's musings on the love lives of tractors and Jane Locke's plans for growing your own after the apocalypse. It's good, and good-looking fun, with a serious side too (runs until April 24th, rhagallery.ie). Then sleep over at Wren Urban Nest on nearby St Andrew's Lane where you can rest assured that everything is sustainable, biodegradable, upcycled and recycled, and should it happen to rain, why even that is being collected as you gently snooze. It's also nicely chic in a Scandi kind of way (rooms from €159 for two, wrenhotel.ie).
Fixed camp
Camping has got fixed ideas lately, as tents grow walls and caravans lose their wheels. For example, check out Tamarit on Spain's Costa Dorada where the new bungalows have just the right vibe of vaguely temporary to make you feel you're still ever so slightly roughing it while having a smooth time. Less than an hour from Barcelona, a two-bed unit comes in from €595 for a week in June. With 250 bungalows, plus 365 camping plots, it's a sizeable resort, so there are tons of kids activities and nice things for adults too. tamarit.com
Did we say ponies?
Walk in Scotland's Cairngorms with a wild experience as Scot Mountain Holidays brings you on a wilderness adventure, including a guided hiking, a Nordic hot tipi to hang out in, comfy mattresses and duvets in your own tents, plus lodge accommodation at either end. And the clincher? You'll be hiking in the company of lovely Highland ponies, Goldie and Foxy, who carry the bags. A three-day hike costs from £635 (€762), and they'll pick you up from Inverness or Aviemore station, which has direct rail connections to Edinburgh – all adding to the adventure. Dates from April 10th, while bespoke trips can be organised for groups of four or more. scotmountainholidays.com
