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A weekend of trial and error turned into a full summer of family camping for Martin Crummy and his wife. In 2026 they took their two young daughters to four Leinster sites to see which parks best suit families with small children.
They began by deciding on the tent. The family chose an air-frame model — a Vango Sherwood 600XL — because it is quick to erect and weatherproof. The trade-off was obvious: the tent is heavy and bulky. It arrived on a pallet, fills the entire boot of their compact car (the boot is 385 litres) and needs two people to lift it in and out.
Roundwood Caravan & Camping Park, County Wicklow
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Their first stop was a two-night stay at Roundwood Caravan & Camping Park, taken over a bank holiday mainly to practise pitching and settling into camping life. The site is a small, relaxed plot just outside Roundwood village, with a short walk to shops and cafés.
Walkers will find good routes nearby, including loops around the Vartry Reservoir and trails such as Lough Ton and Ballinastoe Woods. There is a modest playground on site, and other families were friendly enough that the children quickly found playmates. The downside here was the facilities: the toilets and paid showers were the weakest the family encountered on their trips.
River Valley Caravan & Camping Holiday Park, County Wicklow
The next outing was with members of their local GAA club, Naomh Barróg, at River Valley. The site felt more developed — a modern paid toilet and shower block and paid cooking hobs are available.
Food is a highlight. An outdoor area called “The Camp Out” has picnic seating beside a food trailer offering varied takeaway options, which the family enjoyed. The playground is very large and kept the children busy for hours. Paid attractions on site include foot golf, electric go-karts, archery, pedal go-karts, a tubing run and safari jeep rides.
At the campsite entrance there is a small village with a well-stocked shop, a pub that serves food (booking recommended) and a coffee shop, which adds convenience for families who don’t want to cook every night.
Nore Valley Park, Kilkenny
When availability was tight elsewhere, they booked a longer stay at Nore Valley Park in Kilkenny: four nights from Monday to Friday. The draw was the on-site pet farm, which the children loved.
Guests have full access to the farm, and a wristband costing €10 at check-in covers unlimited access to activities such as crazy golf, go-karts and tractor rides for the duration of the stay. Practical amenities impressed here: a large communal kitchen, free hot showers and several big fridges for communal use made multi-night cooking easier than on other sites.
Food offerings at the park include evening pizzas, breads and scones, but nearby dining options are limited. Kilkenny city is a short drive away for those seeking more variety.
Hidden Valley, County Wicklow
The family finished their summer with two midweek nights at Hidden Valley, River Valley’s sister site. The park is popular and often fully booked, so they managed only a short visit.
Hidden Valley packs a long list of activities — an aqua park, laser tag, soft play area, climbing walls, indoor and outdoor adventure mini golf, a boating lake, tubing, a games room, cinema and arts-and-crafts sessions. Almost all of these require separate payment, which can push up the total cost of a stay.
They found the river at the back of the campsite impressive, but felt there were fewer free options for children than at some other parks. On-site food was adequate but repetitive, and the small paid showers and toilets, while clean, seemed undersized for the site’s capacity.
Planning ahead: booking, costs and kit
Booking early is essential. Weekends and August dates fill fast, so families should look to reserve pitches as soon as campsites release dates for the following season.
- Essential kit: a robust tent, cooking gear, sleeping bags or airbeds and basic seating.
- Budget: camping pitches for a tent, two adults and two children typically cost about €50–€60 per night.
- Spend on quality: the tent is the main one-off expense but it pays to choose a durable model that suits family needs.
All costs mentioned in this piece were paid by the writer; no media discounts were accepted. The observations above are the author’s own and do not represent RTÉ.
