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Thanks very much for giving us the opportunity to visit Airfield this week!

I went with my three smallies; 1, 2 and 4 years and brought granny along too. We all had a great time. It was our first time to Airfield and we'll definitely be back again.

 

The kids loved the different activities, especially the art and craff table and watching the cows getting milked. The staff were really lovely and gave a very informative but child friendly talk about each activity and answered any questions the kids had.

 

The weather was so hot the day we went so we had to cut our visit short but next time we'll definitely bring a picnic and spend the day as there's loads of lovely little picnic spots and a gorgeous playground in the forest, perfect for smallies!

We ended the visit with a trip to the Farm Shop cafe; loads of lunch options and reasonably priced. We tried the homemade icecream (check out their faces when they learned that it came from the cows we just saw being milked!) Overall a really nice family day out!

 

Airfield Estate is like a giant garden that everyone wishes they had.

I had been to Airfield estate around seven or more years ago with my daughter and my son who was a baby at the time. I didn’t get to see much of the estate at that time because it had rained that day and we didn’t go back until last weekend.

I have five children now ranging in age from 11 years to 11 months and with such varying ages it can be a problem to find an activity or day out that will keep them all engaged and entertained but, this wasn’t a problem in Airfield.

We headed for the farm animals first which they all loved especially because they could get up so close to them. They found a fort and ran all the way to the top and had a little play before running off to find the cows. They absolutely loved watching the cows being milk and it was great because there was someone there to talk them through the process and they also got to talk to the farmer as he worked. They had seen a cow being milked at the zoo in the past but, it was far away, very overcrowded and a very brief experience. This was the total opposite because as a family we got one to one attention and the cow was right in front of them and they could watch as many cows being milked as they liked. This was their favourite activity of the day.

I loved to walk through the trees like a mini forest oasis in the middle of the city and it was so peaceful. We came across the adventure playground which had something for all the kids, they played on slides, zip wires, crawled through tyre tunnels and played lots of imaginary games in the wooded area. Eventually I got them to move on to see the vegetable gardens, my five year old thought it was a great maze and loved the fun of pointing out the weeds to the gardener and telling him to pick them. The older kids loved looking at the different plants and seeing the plum and apple trees. The gardener was very polite and patient and answered all their questions.

My oldest son and daughter were very interested in the history of the vintage cars and the younger kids just loved to look at them and try to sneak inside when I wasn’t looking.

I know that what is grown in Airfield estate is used in their cafes and restaurants so, I tried the food in the Market café. The food was so fresh and delicious, and the kids loved the very generously portioned cakes.

It got hot and sunny after lunch, we needed some shade, and we found a lovely cool area between the trees in front of Airfield house. The branches of the trees were low so the bigger kids could climb the trees while my three-year-old daughter collected acorns and I put the baby to sleep in the shade.

I loved Airfield estate and would love to send my children on one of their summer camps, they would just love digging and planting, feeding the animals. I saw some people doing a flower arranging course while I was walking around, and it looked really enjoyable.

As a parent one of the best things is that, unlike a public park, there is no anti-social behaviour and no dog poo. I happily let my children run and play. I would recommend Airfield Estate to friends and family, there is no need to drive hours out of Dublin when we have exactly what the kids want right in Dundrum. I didn’t know that Airfield had an annual pass but, I met some parents on the day who had the pass and said it was great. I would definitely go back, it’s so close and there is no big drive home when the kids have had a long fun day.

We had a such wonderful day at Airfield Estate – we went early on Saturday and we really enjoyed the quiet space - it’s such a rare treat to be in and to stop to appreciate this gorgeous place that’s on our doorstep.

 

On arrival we went to visit the animals first – my daughter particularly enjoyed the cows – even got a lick from a calf. We saw chickens, pigs, donkeys, goats and rams.

 

 

After that the playground was next on the list, with slides, see-saw and climbing frame. There was also monkey bars and a type of rope climbing wall. Lots and lots of fun here and suitable for all different ages.

Then, much to my daughters delighted, there was a maze and a zip line, which we had brilliant.

 

We loved wandering through the estate – it was so relaxing just seeing all the flowers and the fruit trees. The place is kept so well, it’s something that young and old can enjoy.

 

I think it’s a brilliant place to go for a day out with the kids, lots and lots to keep them interested.

 

We had a lovely stop off at the café and enjoyed a cookie and coffee for mum :) Also, on a side note, it was brilliant to be able to plug in and charge the car in the carpark too. And it was free!

Thanks so much for letting us enjoy the day here at Airfield Estate – I would recommend to other families, and I think the annual pass is a fantastic idea, especially as there are seasonal events and activities to enjoy there. It’s definitely on our list to visit again.