For British families seeking an accessible overseas adventure, southwest Ireland offers a perfect escape just an hour's flight away. David Young and his family recently discovered this during an action-packed visit to County Kerry, where they experienced everything from scenic greenways to vibrant Halloween celebrations.
A Greenway Adventure for All Ages
The Young family's adventure began on the Tralee to Fenit Greenway, where daughters Martha, nine, and Rose, seven, raced along the smooth pathway while two-year-old George demonstrated his own unique scooter technique, primarily involving collisions with his father's ankles. This delightful 14km route follows a former railway line that originally opened in the 1880s with ambitions of establishing Fenit's harbour as a trans-Atlantic trade hub.
Though those commercial dreams never fully materialised, and regular passenger services ceased in 1935, the line found new purpose in 2010 when Kerry County Council transformed the derelict track into a sustainable travel route. Today, visitors enjoy a safe, enclosed pathway perfect for families, winding through spectacular coastal scenery with views of Tralee Bay and the Slieve Mish Mountains on the Dingle Peninsula.
The family's greenway journey concluded at Fenit's old terminus station, where post-scooter chaos gave way to lunch at the Boat House Café, offering unspoilt views of the bay dominated by the Fenit Lighthouse, which has guided ships from Little Samphire Island for more than 170 years.
Halloween Celebrations and Family Accommodation
Their three-day visit coincided with the run-up to Halloween, and Kerry positions itself at the forefront of establishing Ireland as the global home of this festival rooted in ancient Celtic tradition. According to folklore, the Goddess of Winter (An Cailleach) emerges at this time to mark the end of harvest and beginning of winter.
The family immersed themselves in the Samhain Chiarraí (Kerry Halloween) festival, attending lantern-making classes at Tralee's Siamsa Tíre theatre and arts centre under the guidance of local model maker Phillip McSweeney. These workshops ensured plenty of handmade beacons illuminated the colourful Samhain processions staged across the county during the three-week festival.
Their accommodation at the Manor West Hotel proved ideal for families, featuring coveted bunkbed rooms that sparked friendly sibling competition. Evening entertainment included comedy magician Steve Mills, who delighted the children with balloon animals, including a specially requested pink pig for George.
Cultural Exploration and Active Adventures
The trip balanced relaxation with activity, including David's participation in the Tralee Half Marathon, a 21km route that showcased the area's stunning scenery, particularly the rain-swept closing stretch framed by the bay and mountains. After some well-earned recuperation time limited to just ten minutes in the hotel's Jacuzzi thanks to eager children, the family visited the Kerry County Museum.
Here, admission costs €5 for adults while children enter free, and interactive exhibitions kept everyone engaged, from medieval sword play to archaeological digs for plastic bones. The museum successfully presents Kerry's rich history in ways accessible to both children and adults.
Their final morning featured a spooky Halloween scavenger hunt at Tralee Bay Wetlands eco and activity park, where self-guided tours cost €4 for adults with children admitted free. The mystery trail culminated at the park's 20-metre observation tower, revealing a farmer captured by a giant spider – a fitting conclusion to their Halloween-themed adventure in what locals call 'the Kingdom'.
The Young family's experience demonstrates that an unforgettable family holiday combining active adventures, cultural immersion, and natural beauty lies just a short flight from the UK, waiting to be discovered in Ireland's spectacular southwest corner.
