'Magical' is probably slightly overused in these reviews, but it barely does justice to this stunning family home just 10 minutes drive from Kilkenny Castle. It's the sort of place precious memories are forged, as I trust will be the case for me and my two kids (10 & 8). The apartment is full of character, charm and all mod cons including neff oven, wet room, solid wifi and even a secret door (or two)!!
The larger property is absolutely idyllic in the truest sense of the word - a rope swing from an ancient tree, a pond and a lake, a path through miles and miles of apple trees and two friendly mutts in Snaffles and Jaspar - all the ingredients for holiday memories we'll talk about for years. Rod & Julie are wonderful hosts as well, and their local knowledge proved invaluable when we did venture past the green gate marking the entrance to the Orchard.
Highbanks Orchard is a great base from which to explore Kilkenny city and the wider adea. We took in Castlecomer Discovery Park, Dunmore Caves, Graigenamanagh (www.pureadventure.ie for an amazing morning of canoes & kayaks), the Reptile Zoo and of course all the attractions of Kilkenny City itself. Every evening we collapsed in the extreme comfort of our homely apartments and switched on a DVD (Julie and Rod have a huge collection in the apartment, only dwarfed by their collection of books!) and promptly drifted into one of those wonderful sleeps that you only experience after a day packed of adventuring, running, laughing and cleaning ice-cream off your face!
The best testament to Orchard Banks is that for 4 whole days there was one word that was noticeable by its complete absence. That word is 'bored'.
Thank you Julie and Rod and seeing as we've already decided what we'll do on our next trip you can be sure we'll be coming back to visit!