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WicklowNature & adventure

Our most recommended Wicklow Nature & adventure

From Dublin: Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour

1. From Dublin: Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour

Embark on a guided day trip through the lush pastures of Ireland from Dublin. Tour the vast Wicklow Mountains and see the monastery of Glendalough. Lose yourself in the medieval lanes of Kilkenny. Depart from Dublin and set off on a luxury bus to Glendalough. As you journey out of the city, your guide will fill you in on many interesting facts and fun stories about Dublin. Arrive at Glendalough, considered one of the most beautiful corners of Ireland. Enjoy an optional guided tour of the monastic settlement and some free time to explore the area or relax at a local café. The more adventurous can opt to take a hike to the Upper Lake and return via a boardwalk (approx. 2.5 km). The route takes you past the Lower Lake through a stunning nature trail that leads deep into the valley and on to the Upper Lake. Continue through the Wicklow Mountains. As you drive, your guide will tell you about its geology and history. Pass through famous movie locations featured in P.S. I Love You and Braveheart. Stop for a 10-minute photo opportunity at the Wicklow Gap before a scenic ride to Kilkenny. Once you reach Kilkenny, have free time to navigate the narrow lanes and historic buildings. Admire its extraordinary castle where you can picnic, or enjoy lunch in the local pubs. Then, join an optional guided tour of the city before making your way back to Dublin.

From Dublin: Half-Day Trip to Glendalough and Wicklow

2. From Dublin: Half-Day Trip to Glendalough and Wicklow

Escape the hustle and bustle of Dublin and soak up the serenity of the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough on a day trip by bus. See sights such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and Roundwood village. The tour starts mid-afternoon, leaving you time for lunch or a pint of Guinness before the experience begins. After getting picked up from your chosen pickup point in central Dublin, enjoy a brief sightseeing tour of the capital as you travel to Glendalough.  Take in panoramic views of the aptly-named Sugar Loaf mountain and pass through the quaint village of Roundwood on your journey through the Wicklow Mountains. Upon arrival at Glendalough, soak up breathtaking Irish scenery, history, and wildlife at the "Valley of Two Lakes". Enjoy at least 90 minutes of free time to explore the Celtic Christian monastery ruins which were built on the lakeside by Saint Kevin many centuries ago. Discover intricately carved stone Celtic crosses and round towers where monks hid golden chalices and other valuables from the many Viking raids which took place in the region. Stand by the water's edge and scan the oak trees to see if you can spot the endangered native red squirrel at play. As you explore, try to spot the location where the Braveheart wedding scene was filmed and where PS I Love You's Gerard Butler famously bumped into Hilary Swank. Return to Dublin after an amazing afternoon in the fresh air of the Wicklow Mountains with photos and memories of your Irish adventure.

From Dublin: Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains Morning Tour

3. From Dublin: Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains Morning Tour

Travel out of Dublin and into the countryside around on a 5-hour morning or afternoon tour to Glendalough and Wicklow. The tour begins with an introduction to Dublin City, as you head south toward County Wicklow, known affectionately as the Garden of Ireland. Sparkling lakes, dense forests, and romantic babbling brooks make this a spectacular scenic drive and a fine day out from the big city. You will also see the scenery made famous by films such as Braveheart and P.S. I Love You. Make your way over the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough, the valley of the 2 lakes. Enjoy a relaxing walk to the Upper Lake and explore the monastic ruins of St. Kevin's monastery. Then enjoy lush surroundings as you make your way through the Sally Gap before returning to Dublin.

Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow, & Glendalough with Sheepdog Show

4. Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow, & Glendalough with Sheepdog Show

Admire the tower of Glendalough, the wild beauty of the Wicklow Mountains, and the medieval city of Kilkenny on a full-day guided tour from Dublin. Depart from Dublin and make your way directly to Kilkenny, a town that was once the medieval capital of Ireland. Enjoy walking down the cobbled streets and visit the Black Abbey and the Cathedral of Saint Canice. After that, travel through the Wicklow Mountains to your next stop. Visit the monastic site of Glendalough. Hollywood Blockbusters like ‘P.S. I Love You’ and ‘Braveheart’ have been filmed here. Explore the area renowned for its ruins, magnificent lakes, and waterfalls. Finally, head over to a sheepdog farm and watch a sheepdog herd with his master. Look at the Border Collies using a tactic called “The Eye” on sheep. Witness a shepherd and his dog at work and watch how they herd a flock of sheep.

Day Tour of Wicklow Mountains National Park from Dublin

5. Day Tour of Wicklow Mountains National Park from Dublin

Explore the beautiful Wicklow Mountains National Park on a full-day tour from Dublin and enjoy fun outdoor activities such as a guided walk. Hear fascinating stories about the historic region from expert guides. Depending on which option you select, your first stop will be a lovely spot in the mountains, where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as a 1.5-hour guided walk. If you want a less energetic experience, visit Powerscourt Gardens and stroll through the delightful Japanese garden. Continue through the valleys and glens of Wicklow Mountains, stopping at Enniskerry, where the movies "P.S. I Love You" and "Leap Year" were filmed. Drive by the ribbon-shaped Lough Tay, and get spectacular mountain views of Sally's Gap and Guinness Lake, locations for scenes from the blockbuster films Excalibur and Braveheart. End your tour at the tiny 6th-century monastery of Glendalough, and learn about the hermit priest, St. Kevin. Here you will have some time to enjoy a walk or just relax in this beautiful spot, known as "the valley of the two lakes", before returning to Dublin.

From Dublin: Wicklow and Glendalough Tour

6. From Dublin: Wicklow and Glendalough Tour

Your day tour to Wicklow departs from Suffolk Street, outside the old stone church, in Dublin. For our first stop, we are visiting the new and unique Beyond The Trees. It is the first of its kind in Ireland. A spectacular new visitor attraction. Explore the Treetop walk and viewing tower at Avondale and enjoy incredible views of the beautiful Wicklow countryside from the viewing tower. If you are feeling brave, you can get a slide down the tower at an additional cost. After a scenic rural drive, stop off in Hollywood also known as 'the original Hollywood.' Then head to the beautiful valley and monastic site of Glendalough, where Saint Kevin settled in the 6th century. Here you will have 1.5 hours to discover the area, the visitor center, and St. Kevin's Church. Experience the working side of Wicklow with a visit to a working Irish sheep farm. Meet your friendly local farmer, who will introduce you to farm life, like the diverse farming practices of sheep farming and the commands used to control the sheepdogs. The highlight of this stop is a sheepdog exhibition where the farmer will corral the sheep with their trusty border collies.

Dublin: Full-Day Wicklow Mountains Tour w/ Glendalough Visit

7. Dublin: Full-Day Wicklow Mountains Tour w/ Glendalough Visit

This tour brings you to the best places in the Wicklow mountains. Your Italian guide will brief you about the monastic site of St. Kevin in Glendalough and will walk you to the lakes in the National Park. Visit the award-winning gardens at Powerscourt with their curious pet graveyard, the Japanese garden, the winged horses, the Rapunzel tower, and much much more. After a full day of fresh outdoor exploring, take the chance to enjoy the traditional Irish Stew at the pub Johnnie Fox's, probably the most hidden gem of the Wicklow mountains.

From Dublin: Powerscourt House, Guinness Lake & Glendalough

8. From Dublin: Powerscourt House, Guinness Lake & Glendalough

Explore the ancient beauty of County Wicklow with an experienced qualified tour guide. All at your own pace! Starting with convenient pickup from your hotel, you will be driven by Mercedes limousine to your first stop, the 18th century Powerscourt House and Gardens (voted number 3 private gardens in the world by National Geographic). Here, you will get a chance to browse the mix of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, ornamental lakes, secret hollows, and rambling walks set in over 47 acres. After this we will head for the majestic Powerscourt waterfall. Cascading down 120 meters, it is the highest waterfall in Ireland, set in lush parkland. Then on to the breathtaking Lough Tay (Guinness lake). This lake formed part of the Guinness estate and got its name because it looks like a pint of Guinness on its side! This is also the site where the TV series "Vikings" is filmed. Also, the movie "Saving Private Ryan" was filmed nearby. After that, we head cross country to the quaint village of Laragh, where we stop for lunch (cost not included). The Wicklow Heather restaurant is a very popular choice with guests offering great local dishes and maybe even a pint of Guinness! but it must be booked as it gets very busy. After a relaxing lunch, its down to Glendalough. This is the world famous 7th century monastic site of Saint Kevin. Here you will discover the 1,000 year old Round Tower and Cathedral of the monastic city while you retrace the steps of pilgrims of centuries past. Inspired by your time here, we head for home.... Taking the coast road, we will explore the picturesque seaside towns along the way, passing the homes of some of Ireland's rich and famous, finally dropping you back relaxed to your hotel.

From Dublin: 3-Day Dingle, Killarney & the Wild Atlantic Way

9. From Dublin: 3-Day Dingle, Killarney & the Wild Atlantic Way

Day 1 Head south of Dublin and travel through the Wicklow Mountains to your first stop at the famous Glendalough. Here, enjoy some free time to admire the lovely lakes, learn more about their history at the visitor center, and bask in the serenity of the monastic city ruins. Afterward, continue your quest to the West and visit the traditional market town of Kilcullen for a lunch break. After lunch, travel to the Rock of Dunamase and the ruins of Dunamase Castle in the ancient plains of County Laois. Later on, visit "Ireland's Prettiest Village", Adare; where you can admire a superb collection of thatched cottages and old structures, including the ruins of a 15th-century Franciscan Monastery. Finally, head for County Kerry and the windswept Dingle Peninsula, a stronghold of Irish culture and language, where you will be staying in the town of Dingle for the next two nights. Day 2 Today, find out why the Wild Atlantic Way is known as one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world in the Dingle Peninsula. Enter the heartland of the Gaeltacht (the areas within Ireland where the Irish language is the principal tongue of the local people). Discover the best of the peninsula including highlights such as Conor Pass, Tóchar Maothaithe, the Beehive Huts, Slea Head, and Gallarus Oratory. After a day full of natural splendor, spend the night in Dingle. Day 3 Before leaving the Dingle Peninsula, stop at Inch Beach, where you can get a glimpse of your next destination, the Kerry Mountains and Killarney National Park. Pass by a few lakes and take a short walk to the Torc Waterfall, a 20-meter high cascade of water that originates high in the mountains. Break for lunch in the lively town of Killarney before making your way across country to the Rock of Cashel, a spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone. Take some time to explore its Round Tower, High Cross, and Gothic Cathedral. From here, enjoy a relaxing drive with time to reflect on the past three days as you make your way back to Dublin for the early evening.

Wicklow: Private Day Tour from Dublin

10. Wicklow: Private Day Tour from Dublin

Start with a pick-up at your chosen location and drive south into County Wicklow from Dublin. Your qualified guide will share many stories and local folklore about the places you will visit. Tailor the tour to your liking and decide to visit the Powerscourt House Gardens in Enniskerry. Explore the gardens at your own pace and then relax over a coffee looking out towards the Wicklow countryside and sugar loaf hill. You can also do some shopping at the Avoca craft shop. Afterward, drive through the Wicklow Mountains National park with some scenic stops along the way. Such as the Lough Brays, Luggala, the Guinness family Estate, and the P.S. I Love you bridge. Actually many films and TV series were made in this national park such as "The Vikings", "P.S. I Love You", "Leap Year" and today they are filming Enchanted II. Enjoy some lunch in an Irish Pub near Glendalough. Taste some lovely fresh Wicklow produce. Explore Glendalough and the 6th-century monastic site of St Kevin. Enjoy a walk in this wonderful scenic valley with its two lakes and a mixture of deciduous woodland. If there is anything else you would like to do, your guide is with you and would be happy to help arrange this.

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What people are saying about Wicklow

We really loved the whole trip! Phil, the guide, shared heaps of interesting facts about Ireland and the surroundings while on the bus as well as when we were visiting the sights. Besides the guided tour, there was also enough time to wander around by yourself to have a look at other things you might want to see. The only thing that would have made the whole experience even better would have been to have about 30min more to spend in Glendaloch, as avid hikers don't have quite enough time to explore it all extensively. Still, it was a fabulous experience and we would definitely book a tour with them again!

Great tour. Beautiful scenery through the Irish countryside and a good chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Dublin city. Our tour guide Brian was a wealth of local knowledge and his storytelling and humour made it a thoroughly enjoyable commute to and from Kilkenny. Our bus driver Martin was also a lovely chap and navigated the winding Irish countryside with aplomb. All around, a great way to spend a day in Ireland! Would highly recommend.

Everything was fabulous, pleasant Irish music on the bus, very beautiful green scenery during the bus drive, the locations/towns/attractions which we visited were very interesting, our tour guide (Hazel) and the bus driver were very kind.

The tour guide was awesome Won’t let you get bored and has got the knowledge of every building and roads Also a great sense of humor along with every story Must try

Lovely, wise and professional people. Everything was amazing. I enjoyed the journey and thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.