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Have you ever walked along the treetops, climbed a giant treehouse, or even stayed overnight in one? From gentle canopy walks suitable for buggies to high-wire adventure courses for thrill-seekers, there’s a treetop experience out there for every family. Here are some terrific tree top adventures in Ireland and the UK worth planning a day out — or a whole trip — around.
Tree Top Adventures in Ireland for Families
Lough Key Tree Canopy, Roscommon
Ireland’s original Tree Canopy Walk at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park in County Roscommon is a truly fun experience immersing you in the history, flora and fauna that make Lough Key so unique.
The 300m long creation of timber and steel gently rises 9m above the woodland floor and offers an engaging “bird’s eye” view of nature as it meanders through the treetops, with panoramic views of the shimmering island-studded lake.
You enjoy the Tree Canopy Walk as part of the “Rockingham Remembers Tour”, a self-guided tour with an engaging audio guide as you learn about the Park’s history, flora and fauna over the treetops, through the 19th century underground tunnels and, if you’re not scared of heights, up to the top of the refurbished 5-storey Moylurg viewing tower.
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Beyond the Trees Avondale Tree Top Walk & Viewing Tower, Wicklow
The Treetop Walk and Viewing Tower at Beyond the Trees Avondale is one of the first attractions of its kind in Ireland and the UK, and it’s designed to be enjoyed by all generations.
Your journey through the forest on the Treetop Walk begins as the boardwalk makes its way out over the Avonmore River valley. Play areas and interactive games along the route encourage you to take a different view of the forest and explore the bird and animal life of the surrounding area.
Reaching 38 metres into the sky, the Viewing Tower can be seen peeping above the eucalyptus trees for miles around. It’s accessed via a short underground tunnel, where you’ll learn about the abundant life below the forest floor before emerging for the next part of your adventure!
The spiral ramped boardwalk rises slowly through the forest and has a gentle gradient, making it wheelchair and pram accessible, with resting points on each level. After ten gentle circuits you’ll reach the circular viewing platform at the top, with 360° panoramic views over Avondale Forest Park, the Vale of Avoca, the Wicklow Mountains and beyond.
To continue the adventure, take the option to whizz back down to earth on the giant spiral slide inside the Viewing Tower — or simply head back down the ramped boardwalk to the forest floor.
Treehouse Adventure Area at Birr Castle Demesne, Offaly
Where better to play than up a tree! Situated in the picturesque surrounds of Birr Castle Demesne, County Offaly, the Treehouse Adventure Area and playground features Ireland’s largest treehouse along with a bouncy pillow, sandpits and a hobbit hut. Tiny feet will love building castles in the sandy play areas, while more adventurous climbers can test their bravery crossing treetop rope bridges and exploring secret tunnels.
The bouncy pillow typically operates at weekends and during school holidays, weather permitting, and there’s a coffee shop on site for when everyone needs a break. Dogs are not permitted within the playground area.
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Squirrel Scramble at Kilruddery House, Wicklow
Squirrel Scramble at Kilruddery House in Co. Wicklow is an adventure tree park offering fun for all the family, with more than 40 different challenges to climb, balance, slide and crawl. Zoom along the zip-lines through narrow passages in the woods for a thrilling adventure!
A family ticket gives you a set session in the Squirrel Scramble Tree Adventure Park, so it’s worth checking current session times before you go.
Zipit Forest Adventures in Roscommon, Dublin & Cork
Zipit is a treetop high ropes forest adventure park for young and old, where children can let their imagination run wild and adults can embrace their inner child. Climb high into the treetops, swing into cargo nets, even ride a BMX across a bridge, before zipping down one of the many ziplines.
Children from age 7 upwards, right through to adults, can enjoy hours of excitement and adventure. Zipit Forest Adventures can be found at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park in County Roscommon, Tibradden Wood just outside Dublin, and Farran Wood near Cork.
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Castlecomer Discovery Park Tree-Top Adventure Walk, Kilkenny
Discover your inner climber by completing the Tree Top Adventure Walk at Castlecomer Discovery Park in Kilkenny.
Walking high above the sycamore treetops, 10 metres above the ground, this 140-metre-long course gives a bird’s-eye view of the park to those brave enough to venture up!
There’s plenty of other fun to be had at Castlecomer while you’re visiting, including Ireland’s longest zipwire, pedal boats and Canadian canoes on one of the picturesque lakes, woodlands with 6km of trails, an Elf & Fairy Village, an interactive coal mining museum, design craft workshops, and the award-winning Jarrow café.
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Tree Top Adventures in the UK For Families
BeWILDerwood, Norfolk
BeWILDerwood is a huge, award-winning forest of family fun and outdoor adventure, filled with treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, storytelling, boat trips, marsh walks and more.
The fantasy-themed Bewilderwood — a world of Boggles and Twiggles, where children hear the story of Swampy the Marsh Boggle on a lovely little boat trip — was devised by its founder and author, Tom Blofeld.
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The Treehouse at Alnwick Garden
Step into another world and discover wobbly rope bridges, wooden walkways and a treetop restaurant at The Treehouse at Alnwick Garden. The Treehouse sits high in the canopy of a copse of mature lime trees overlooking The Garden.
Enormous and beautifully crafted, the Treehouse is built from sustainably sourced Canadian cedar, Scandinavian redwood and English and Scots pine, and looks as though it’s been there forever.
There are walkways in the sky and wobbly rope bridges for bouncing on, all accessible by wheelchair and buggy. On the Treehouse’s deck you’ll find the Roost, one of The Garden’s education rooms, which shows films and hosts activities at certain times of the year. And at the heart of the Treehouse is one of the most beautiful and unique restaurants you’ll find anywhere — complete with a roaring log fire, trees growing through the floor, handcrafted furniture and screens created from fallen branches.
Kew Gardens Tree Top Walkway
At the Tree Top Walkway at Kew Gardens, you’ll walk 18 metres above the woodland floor through the tops of trees, taking in breathtaking views across the Gardens and beyond.
The Treetop Walkway is 200 metres long and gives visitors a rare insight into the complex ecosystem of the forest canopy — a world teeming with birds and insects, lichens and fungi.
There are 118 steps up to the walkway, but a lift is available for disabled and mobility-impaired visitors (it’s worth checking lift status on the day of your visit). Buggies must be left at ground level and children must be supervised at all times.
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Landmark Forest, Carrbridge, Scotland
At Landmark Forest at Carrbridge near Aviemore, you can walk through the pine branches on one of the UK’s original treetop trails, built decades ago and the model for countless similar trails since. The Treetop Trail has since been refurbished and widened for buggy and wheelchair access.
While you’re there, enjoy the Red Squirrel Trail, a really special part of the forest at Landmark — if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a few red squirrels darting around high in the branches!
The Treetops Walkway Experience at Groombridge Place
The UK’s longest and highest Treetop Walkway can be found at Groombridge Place in Kent, where you’ll discover a handcrafted walkway an incredible 350m long, standing over 20m above the forest floor.
Thrill-seekers can experience something truly magical as they climb higher and higher along the ropes into the tree canopy of the huge Oak, Pine, Beech and Chestnut trees that make up this ancient forest.
There are sturdy wooden platforms at the beginning and end of the Treetops Walkway, and a chunky four-sided rope ladder provides an additional entry and exit point along the way. The adventure takes at least 30 minutes to complete and is suitable for all ages, although under-10s must be supervised at all times.
Amazing Treehouses to Stay In With the Kids
Glamping Treehouses at River Valley Holiday Park, Ireland
The Glamping Treehouses at River Valley Holiday Park in County Wicklow can accommodate up to 2 adults and 4 children, or 4 adults and 2 children — a safe and comfortable alternative to camping.
The treehouses are fully insulated and have two double beds and two single beds, a balcony, a toilet, and come equipped with a picnic table, small fridge, microwave, kettle, lighting and heaters for a bit of extra comfort.
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Kinlochlaich Tree House, Scotland
The award-winning Kinlochlaich Tree House is a unique octagonal eco building perched above the ground in an 18th century orchard overlooking a woodland burn, with an oak tree at its centre.
Built in 2007, the Tree House sits in the extensive and beautiful gardens of the historic Kinlochlaich House, on the south-facing slopes of the Appin hills.
The huge, open-plan living space encompasses a kitchen, sitting area and dining table, with a separate double bedroom and bathroom. Half of the main room forms a gallery, offering a great spot for children to sleep in, or simply an area to gaze down on the rest of the house.
Step onto the decking outside and you’re immediately amongst a canopy of trees, immersed in this enchanting private spot.
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Owl’s Lookout at North Hill Farm in Hertfordshire
For fun family treehouse glamping, head to Owl’s Lookout at North Hill Farm in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire — a handy base for visiting the Harry Potter Studios in Leavesden or Legoland Windsor.
Located in a woodland setting, this quirky, self-catering accommodation has entirely circular rooms: a master bedroom, a children’s room with a double and single bed (sleeping 3–4 children), a bathroom and a kitchen-diner.
There’s also a hot bath/sauna area with its own toilet and shower, and below the Lookout you’ll find a BBQ area, benches and a fire pit (wood supplied).
The Apple Treehouse in Somerset
The Apple Treehouse is a magnificent, large and luxurious treehouse not far from Taunton in Somerset. Nestled in the boughs of two mature lime trees on a small farm at the edge of a charming conservation village, it has three bedrooms — one ensuite, one with a family bathroom, and a bunk room with full-sized bunks.
There’s a private hot tub, and guests can also use the farm’s indoor heated swimming pool every day from midday to 7pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are treetop walks and adventure parks suitable for young children?
Most of the gentler canopy walks — like those at Lough Key, Avondale and Kew — are family-friendly and suitable for children of most ages, though some have step access only or ask that younger children be closely supervised. High ropes courses like Zipit and Squirrel Scramble usually have a minimum age (often around 7), so it’s worth checking the individual venue’s guidance before you book.
Are any of these treetop walks accessible for buggies or wheelchairs?
Several are, including the Treetop Walk and Viewing Tower at Beyond the Trees Avondale and the walkways at Alnwick Garden, both designed with gentle gradients for wheelchair and buggy access. Kew Gardens’ Treetop Walkway has a lift for visitors who can’t use the steps, though it’s sensible to check lift availability on the day.
Can we stay overnight in a treehouse in Ireland or the UK?
Yes — this list includes several treehouse stays, from family glamping treehouses at River Valley Holiday Park in Wicklow to unique architect-designed treehouses in Scotland, Hertfordshire and Somerset, each offering something a little different for a memorable family break.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Popular treetop attractions can get busy, especially during school holidays and weekends, so it’s a good idea to check each venue’s website for current opening times, prices and booking requirements before you travel.
Save This for Your Next Family Day Out
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More Family Adventures You Might Like
- 10 Unusual Activities and Things to Do at Lough Key Forest Park
- Unusual Places To Visit in Ireland with the Kids
- 9 Amazing Family Adventure Centres in Ireland for Guaranteed Fun
- 10 Surprising and Thrilling Activities at Castlecomer Discovery Park
- 50 Fabulous Places to Take The Kids in the UK
- Quirky Places for Glamping in Ireland
Have you visited or enjoyed any of these tree top adventures in Ireland or the UK with the kids? Any other places we should add to our list? Tell us in the comments below.
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