Inistioge on the River Nore: Trails and History

Inistioge lies on the banks of the River Nore. Here, riverside paths meet traces of an Augustinian priory and a distinctive landmark: Inistioge Bridge. For your trip, you can choose between shorter and longer walks, insights into the town’s history, and excursions on or along the river. Nearby, Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum also offer a contrast to the paths in the town.

Bridge, churches and local history

Inistioge Bridge is a ten-arch rubble-stone road bridge in the classical style. Built in 1763, it defines the townscape. In the town, Saint Mary’s Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Columcille’s form a church quarter. Saint Columcille’s stands on the site of the early-13th-century Augustinian priory of Saints Mary and Columba; parts of the priory remain. The Inistioge Heritage Trail runs through the town and shares its history—one way to include local history as you explore.

St. Columbkille’s Holy Well lies to the northeast of Inistioge. Its elaborately designed entrance includes several carved stone slabs from the 16th century, probably from the priory. Behind the churches, the cemetery contains the mausoleum of Mary Tighe of Woodstock House. These places offer different historical points of interest, from the surviving priory to the carved stones and the mausoleum.

The Mermaid Gallery offers a wide range of paintings by Irish and international artists, limited-edition prints and gifts. It adds an artistic perspective to the historic sites. If you want to focus your stay more on local history, you can make the Heritage Trail, the church quarter and the Holy Well the highlights; the gallery provides another cultural stop.

Walks to suit your preferred distance

The Inistioge-Thomastown Trail starts at the village square and follows the riverbank towards Thomastown. For a circular walk, you can also choose between two moderate trails with different distances: the Woodstock Loop is 4.5 kilometres long and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to walk. The Ladies Loop is 3 kilometres long and takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The stated distances and walking times can help you choose a suitable option for your day’s plans.

On a walk through Inistioge, a wildlife guide can help you identify the birds and animals you spot. This lets you focus on local wildlife along the way, too. If you would prefer a walk with a stated distance and approximate duration, the two circular trails offer specific guidance; the route to Thomastown, by contrast, is described by its starting point at the village square and its course along the riverbank.

The River Nore and Woodstock Gardens

The River Nore is navigable by boat as far as the slipway in Inistioge. Boat trips to Inistioge must take place at high tide because of the tides. Kilkenny Eco Tours offers trips from Inistioge on the River Nore; depending on the tour, the journey starts at the slipway. If you are considering a boat trip, both the specific tour and the tides are relevant to your plans. Salmon fishing is especially popular during the fishing season on the stretch of river between Inistioge and Thomastown. Fishing on the River Nore is regulated and requires a licence, available from O’Donnell’s pub.

Nearby, Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum sits above the River Nore valley, with views of the village. The grounds include a walled garden, a rose garden and a rock garden, as well as a reconstructed Turner Conservatory, rare and exotic trees, and woodland paths. The Woodland Trail takes about 25 minutes: it follows the Noble Fir Walk or, alternatively, a longer loop along Monkey Puzzle Avenue back to the formal gardens.

A wheelchair-accessible bus is available on request to reach various areas of the gardens and arboretum. Operating days and hours may vary. This information may be useful when planning your visit; check the current schedule in advance. This way, you can consider Inistioge’s historic paths and a visit to the gardens as different highlights of your stay.

More local pages

You can also explore these places: Kilkenny, Freshford, Thomastown, Ballyragget, Mullinvat, The Rower, Callan and Graiguenamanagh.

For the broader travel overview: County Kilkenny.