Things to do at Sundarban

There are so many fantastic reasons to visit Sundarban!

Sundarban is located in the beautiful, scenic Co Laois. Just a 1 hour drive from Dublin off the M7 motoray at junction 15, The Heritage is nestled in the quaint village of Killenard. The Heritage has a whole host of activities on site for you to enjoy during your stay.

Dine at SUNDARBAN

From our amazing eateries - Blake's restaurant, The Galleria Afternoon Tea Lounge and Seven bar there is something to suit your needs no matter what you're in the mood for. We also recently launched our new Terrace at Seven which is a state of the art heated terrace with a retractable roof where food and drinks are served from Seven bar. 

TEA ON GANGES

Our award winning Spa is one of the largest in Irelands and boasts a 7,000 square foot thermal suite and an array of treatment rooms for you to relax and rejuvenate. The Heritage signature products are Espa & Voya and all treatments are themed around their fabulous products.

BOAT SAFARI IN JUNGLE

The Heritage has its very own private Cinema on site and we welcome guests to join us for weekly movie nights - From your favourite classics on a Sunday night to kids movies during the holiday periods. Sit back with some freshly popped popcorn and a cocktail and enjoy a movie after dinner.

LUNCH ON GANGES

If you want to get outside in the fresh country air then our 5km walking track offers the perfect opportunity to get your steps in and take in the glorious countryside. Our walking trail wraps around the hotel and golf course so you can take in the views on your walk.

ADVENTURE DINNER EXPERIENCES

The adjacent Heritage Golf Resort gives avid golfers the perfect opportunity to get in a round during your stay. The Seve Ballesteros deisgned course makes it one of the most sought after courses in the coutry!

Experience Laois- You're Welcome to Discover

Every day, there is an adventure waiting to happen in Laois. With its mountains, canals, forest trails, rivers & lakes, Laois is truly an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. But it is also a warm and welcoming place for the rest of us.

Rich in history, Laois has been home to the Vikings, Quakers, French Huguenots to name but a few. All have left their mark around the county making it a wonderful place to step back in time. Discover lavish country estates and woodlands, climb ancient castles and visit round towers. Explore our towns and villages and meet our most unrivalled treasure, our people, who are warm and friendly, and easy with a smile, always ready to let you in on the amazing local secrets.

Discover micro-breweries, distilleries and wonderful organic and artisan food producers with treats to tantalise your taste buds. A perfect base for discovering Ireland's Ancient East, it’s so close to everything. Spend your days exploring and at night retreat back to some of the most diverse and luxurious accommodation in Ireland. Enjoy the wonderfully paced Laois life and enjoy the best in food and entertainment.

Emo Court and Parklands

Gandon designed Emo Court in 1790 for John Dawson, the First Earl of Portarlington. At the front of the house the Wellingtonia Avenue stretches for 1 mile. A beech walk behind the house leads to the nursery lake, which covers an area of 25 acres. Closer to the house there are formal lawns with a number of statues. Emo Court & Parklands is just a 10-minute drive from The Heritage and it’s the perfect place to go for a relaxing walk, cycle or to enjoy a picnic in their beautiful and picturesque gardens.

Rock of Dunamase

Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside make the towering Rock of Dunamase a strategic place to build a fortress. Through the centuries, warriors have fought to control this site. The Rock of Dunamase is a popular historic attraction found overlooking the valley of the O’Moores, just outside Portlaoise and only a 15 minute drive from The Heritage.

Ballykilcavan Farm & Brewing Company

The farm has been the home of the Walsh family since 1639 and the current owners, David and Lisa Walsh-Kemmis, are the 13th generation of the family to live and work there. The company sells a range of craft beers from traditional lager, red ale and stout to more exotic Indian Pale Ales and canned beers. Each batch is made by hand on their copper-clad 1000 litre kit and bottled on site. The Heritage has its very own brewed beer by Ballykilcavan brewery called ‘Hunter’ experience this unique Laois Ale at Seven bar – Grown, Brewed & Poured in Laois.

Brewery Tours- Tours available on selected dates or by appointment.

Heywood Gardens

50 acres of woodland, lakes and formal gardens including the sunken garden designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Heywood Gardens is the site of two garden types: the great park created by Frederick Trench in the late 1700s and the small interlocked formal gardens created by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll in the early 1900s. Perfect for a family day out. This is a beautifl place to spend an afternoon and admission is free. Heywood Gardens are a 35-minute drives from The Heritage.

Donaghmore Workhouse and Agricultural Museum

Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum is a unique attraction in Co. Laois, Ireland and aims to tell the story of the families who lived and died within the Famine Workhouse walls before, during and after the Great Famine. The Museum uses guided and self-guided tours combined with various exibits to explain the socio-economic conditions which led to the establishment of this and other Workhouses. Visitors to the Museum will also enjoy an Agricultural Collection made up of a wide range of artefacts donated by local people, ranging from Farm Implements, household items and hand tools located in one of the two buildings that make up the Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum.

Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Track

This is a network of purpose-built singletrack trails and forest roads that are designed for use by mountain bikes on waymarked circular routes. The routes are graded blue (moderate) and red (difficult/severe). This is the first phase of an extensive trail system being built in the Slieve Blooms. When complete, there will be more than 80kms of trails ranging from blue to black grade trails, complete with full trailhead facilities at Baunreagh and visitor services in Kinnitty village. The trails will cover a vast swathe of Coillte’s forests from Offaly to Laois and back.

SOLAS Eco Garden Centre

Only 3km away is SOLAS Eco Garden Centre in Portarlington, which includes an indoor 22,000 sq. ft. garden shop, an outdoor food court, greenhouse, plant area and a farmers’ market – all built out of recycled 40ft containers.

Take a Boat Trip!

Take boat trip on the Grand canal or river Barrow with BoatTrips.ie as they cut through a landscape steeped in heritage. Trips are by booking only, are 1hr, 3hr or 5hr in duration and run throughout the Irish summer, April to October. Witness the wildlife that thrive in these unique environments and that have shared the waterways with man for hundreds of years. Be sure to bring your camera as you'll have the opportunity to capture some very unique views and remote areas of county Laois.

Explore the surrounding areas:

Kildare Village Outlet Shopping

Shop till you drop at Kildare Village, one of the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe, is located just 15 minutes from The Heritage at junction 13. With luxury outlet boutiques providing fashion and luxuries for the home, Kildare Village offers the authentic previous seasons’ collections of a unique selection of Irish and international brands with savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price, seven days a week and all year round. Guests who stay at The Heritage can avail of an additional 10% off at Kildare Village on selected packages!

Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens

The Irish National Stud’s Japanese Gardens, renowned throughout the world and the finest of their kind in Europe, are far more than simply a treat for the eye. They also provide comfort to the soul, achieving exactly the objective that was set out when the gardens were created between 1906 and 1910. Devised by Colonel William Hall Walker, a wealthy Scotsman from a famous brewing family, the gardens were laid out by Japanese master horticulturist Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. Their aim was, through trees, plants, flowers, lawns, rocks and water, to symbolise the ‘Life of Man’. That plan was executed to perfection and Eida’s legacy is now admired by the 120,000 visitors who soak up the peace of the gardens every year. This amazing attraction is just a short 20 minute drive from The Heritage, what a wonderful way to spend your day!

Newbridge Silverware & Museum of Style Icons

The Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre is a contemporary shopper's paradise, highly recommended on the tourist trail of Ireland's Ancient East. The Visitor Centre houses the complete range of Newbridge Silverware products and incorporates the award-winning Café Carleton, the famous Museum of Style Icons and the unique guided Factory Tour. The Museum houses fashion collections and artefacts which once belonged to some of the greatest style icons of modern times such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Grace, Princess Diana, the Beatles and many more.