Active Pursuits in County Wicklow and County Carlow

Cycling -- To hire a mountain bike, go to Wicklow Adventures, Hidden Valley Holiday Park, in Rathdrum (www.wicklowadventures.ie; 086/727-2872). Rentals are €15 per day, including helmet, hi-vis jacket, and map. Cycling Safaris (www.cyclingsafaris.com; 01/260-0749) offers a weeklong tour of the area starting at €810 per person, including bed, breakfast, and 1 night’s dinner; they also offer 3- and 4-night tours.

Golf -- If you’re looking for cachet, head to the championship Druids Glen Golf Club, Newtonmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow (01/287–0812; www.druidsglen.ie), a beauty of a championship course that bears more than a fleeting resemblance to Augusta and has hosted the Irish open four times. It also has a partner course nearby, Druid’s Heath. The Arklow Golf Club, Arklow, Co. Wicklow (tel. 0402/32492; www.arklowgolflinks.com), a seaside par-68 course, is another course not too far off.

Horseback Riding -- The hillside paths of Wicklow are perfect for horseback riding. More than a dozen stables and equestrian centers in the area offer horses for hire and riding lessons. Rates average around €30 to €50 per hour. Brennanstown Riding School, Hollybrook, Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow (www.brennanstownrs.ie; 01/286-3778), offers beginner’s treks up the picturesque Little Sugar Loaf Mountain, which has views across Dublin Bay.

Watersports & Adventure Sports -- Deep in the Wicklow Mountains, the Blessington Lakes are a 2,000-hectare (4,940-acre) playground of tranquil, clean, speedboat-free water. At the Hidden Valley Holiday Park in Rathdrum, Wicklow Adventures (www.wicklowadventures.ie; 086/727-2872) offers a variety of high-octane outdoor activities, including kayaking and laser tag. They also provide cycle tours and bike hire.