Free Things to Do in Louth

As parents, we here at My Kids Time know how expensive it can be to entertain the kids, so we thought that we would put together a useful list of things to do for free with the children - yes, ideas and activities that are completely free of charge.  Some ideas may involve a car journey, but half the fun is visiting a new area.  Pick a different town or village to explore, compile a list of interesting places to visit beforehand and then have fun!

Take A Hike: One of our favourite activities is to just get out and about for a long walk or a hike up a hill or a meander through a woods or forest - it's bound to put some colour in your cheeks! Bring a flask of hot chocolate and some snacks to keep them going. Visit the Coillte Outdoors website for some suggestions of places to investigate and explore. 

On Your Bike: Take out your bicycles and get active. Follow an established cycle trail or find an off-road route. There is some useful information here.

See the Sea: You don't have to wait for the sun to come out. Head to the beach with coats, hats and wellies, if needs be, and take a walk on the shore.  Bring fishing nets and explore rock pools.  Mind you, it's quite likely that the kids will want to get wet, so perhaps bring towels and a change of clothes, even if you don't plan on swimming! The long pier and castle ruins at Clogherhead are one of our favourite places to explore...

Nurture A Love of Nature: Visit the website of the environmental organisation, ENFO, and you can download a huge variety of posters and leaflets that are both informative and interesting.  Bring a relevant leaflet when you go to visit somewhere outdoors and have fun asking the kids to identify various flora and fauna!  Wear sturdy footwear and bring drinking water.

Make The Most of Libraries: Make sure to check out your local library and find out what classes and events that they run throughout the year.  Your local library branch is a wonderful - and free - resource for families.  Many of the branches run or host parent and toddler groups, storytelling sessions, arts and crafts classes, book clubs, chess clubs, games and activities sessions and so on.  Not to mention the fact that there is free computer access and the option to borrow books and DVDs!  For a change of scenery, why not visit a different library to your local branch? 

Picnic in a Playground: There are some great playgrounds throughout the Wee County. Why not print the list and aim to visit them all over time? It's an activity that is both free and good fun!  Make sure to bring some snacks and drinks or a picnic lunch.

Go to a Gallery: Arts centres such as the Droichead Arts Centre have interesting programmes of events, so keep an eye on their schedules. Some exhibitions and activities are free of charge. Another great place to visit is the County Museum Dundalk, which has a fascinating programme of events all year around - some of them aimed at Junior Explorers - and free admission! 

Arts & Crafts: And keep an eye on Louth Mykidstime and our Things To Do section - we're always adding to our arts and crafts ideas, recipe section and other great activity suggestions!