VSOC Ireland

Tel: +353 (0)402 32309. €150 for a double room b&b (not per person).

An Ostan Beag Hotel, 62-63 Main Street, Arklow. Tel: 353-402-33044. Approximate weekend price €88.88 per person?

Swan Lake (Country House), Sea Road, Arklow (a short distance from the Arklow Bay Hotel).

Tel: +353(0)402-32377. En-suite price per person sharing €25.40

Valentia (Town House), Coolgreany Road, Arklow (ten minutes walk from Arklow town center) Tel: 353-(0)402-39200. En-suite per person sharing £25.50

Ashwood House (Farm House), Arklow. 4km south of Arklow. Tel: 353-402-31624. Approximate cost for an en-suite room €25.40 per person

County Wicklow is known as the 'Garden of Ireland'. The Wicklow Mountains are home to several major sights such as the monastic complex of Glendalough and the magnificent gardens of Powerscourt. Glendalough is one of Irelands most visited tourist attractions. The monastic settlement was founded in the 6th century. The site is of immense historical and archeological importance, and has a large visitor centre. The twin lakes the dramatic mountains and steep valleys are also accessible by way of nature trails and scenic walks.

The rugged Wicklow landscape is a haven for both walkers and climbers. Two of the county's main resorts, Arklow and Bray, are located in the east of the county. Central Wicklow is a mass of domed granite mountains, penetrated by deep glens and wooded valleys, and contains some of the finest scenery in Ireland. Beside the River Vartry, just east of the town of Ashford, are the breathtaking Mount Usher Gardens. Designed in 1868 by Edward Walpole, these romantic gardens contain many rare shrubs and trees, from Chinese conifers and bamboos to Mexican pines and pampas grass.

The small village of Avoca was made famous as the setting for the TV series Ballykissangel. The village is thriving on its tourism sector and avid television fans wishing to visit the site of one of the great 'nearly romances' in soap opera history. The famous Thomas Moore poem "Sweet Vale Avoca" is inspired by this area.

Arklow is a Viking town situated in the south of Wicklow, located about 50 miles from Dublin. One of its most striking features is a bridge called the Nineteen Arches, the longest bridge in Ireland. Arklow grew up around a pottery industry, and although the famous Arklow Pottery factory ceased production in April 1999, Wicklow Vale pottery keeps the tradition alive in the town. The main employer is currently IFI, formerly NET. Arklow, with its 8,500 inhabitants, is heavily involved with the Irish tourist industry. It has Georgian houses at Ferrybank in Templerainey, and the town boasts nature walks and wildlife reserves. Arklow has a Maritime Museum, located in the centre of town. The facility depicts the strong seafaring tradition of the area and is one of the finest museums of its type in Ireland. The main attractions are memorabilia, models of ships such as the titanic and recovered artifacts e.g. from the Lusitania. Arklow Golf club is considered one of the finest links courses in Ireland. There are a number of additional golf courses in the area including Woodenbridge, 5 miles from Arklow town.