County Wicklow begins less than 20 minutes south of Dublin city centre, which makes it one of the most accessible yet underrated landscapes in Ireland. The Wicklow Mountains — the largest upland area in Ireland — rise from the city's suburbs to bogland plateaus, glacial valleys, reservoirs and river gorges that feel genuinely remote despite their proximity to a major European capital.
Glendalough is the county's standout attraction: a sixth-century monastic settlement founded by St Kevin in a glacial valley with two lakes. The round tower, cathedral ruins and ancient crosses are among the finest early Christian remains in Ireland. The valley trails — ranging from an easy 30-minute loop to a four-hour mountain circuit — give the site a context that most guided visits miss.
Powerscourt Estate and its gardens rank among the finest formal gardens in Europe. Laid out across 47 terraced acres with the Great Sugarloaf mountain as a backdrop, they reward an unhurried two-hour visit. Powerscourt Waterfall — Ireland's highest, 6 km from the estate — is a separate stop worth combining on the same day.
The Military Road, built in the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion to allow British troops access to rebel-held mountain territory, is now one of the great scenic drives in Leinster — winding south from Rathfarnham through the Sally Gap and Glenmalure to the Wicklow town.
Suggested itinerary
Powerscourt + Military Road
40 min from DublinPowerscourt Estate opens at 9am — the formal terraced gardens with their statuary, fountains and Great Sugarloaf backdrop reward a full two hours. Drive 6 km north to Powerscourt Waterfall for a 30-minute walk in the wooded gorge below Ireland's highest waterfall. Return south on the Military Road through Enniskerry and over the Sally Gap — stop at Lough Tay (known locally as Guinness Lake for its dark water and white sandy shore) for the view. Continue to Laragh or Roundwood for the night.
Glendalough + Upper Lake walk
5 min from LaraghGlendalough is best on a weekday morning when coach tours haven't arrived. The Lower Lake monastic site — round tower, cathedral, St Kevin's Kitchen — takes 45 minutes at a relaxed pace. The Upper Lake walk (1.5 hrs, easy, mostly flat) follows the lakeshore through oak woodland to the head of the valley. The Spink trail above the south side of the Upper Lake (2.5 hrs, moderate) gives views over the valley floor. Return to Dublin on the N11 via Ashford.
Highlights
- Glendalough — St Kevin's sixth-century monastic ruins in a glacial valley; round tower, cathedral, ancient crosses and forest walking trails
- Powerscourt Estate — 47 acres of formal terraced gardens; widely regarded as among the best in Europe; Great Sugarloaf mountain as backdrop
- Powerscourt Waterfall — Ireland's highest waterfall at 121m, set in a wooded gorge 6 km from the estate
- Wicklow Mountains National Park — 20,483 hectares of blanket bog, heather moorland and glacial corries; good walking from Glendalough, Luggala and Glenmalure
- Sally Gap — a high-altitude mountain crossroads on the Military Road with sweeping views over Kippure and the Liffey headwaters
- Brittas Bay — five km of Blue Flag beach on the east Wicklow coast; one of the finest beaches within reach of Dublin
- Vale of Avoca — the wooded river valley made famous by Thomas Moore's poem; Avoca village has a working handloom mill producing tweed since 1723
Attractions in this guide
Local tips
- →Glendalough fills with day-trippers from Dublin on sunny summer weekends — arrive before 9:30am or after 5pm for relative solitude
- →Powerscourt Gardens and Powerscourt Waterfall are 6 km apart with separate entry fees — a car is needed to visit both in the same day
- →The Military Road from Rathfarnham over the Sally Gap to Laragh (for Glendalough) is one of Ireland's great scenic drives; allow 90 minutes rather than the sat-nav's 45
- →Wicklow Mountains National Park has no visitor centre in the mountains themselves — bring a paper map or download offline maps before heading into the uplands
- →The Wicklow Way long-distance walk crosses the county north to south — sections can be walked as day walks from Laragh, Glendalough or Glenmalure
- →Avoid driving the Sally Gap or Glenmalure road in heavy fog — visibility can drop to zero and there are no barriers on the bog road edges
Ready to go?
Plan your Wicklow trip
Best time to visit
April – October (Wicklow is best avoided during major bank holiday weekends when the mountains get crowded)
Getting there
Dublin Airport (DUB) is the entry point — Wicklow is 40–80 minutes south of the city depending on your destination. The DART rail line serves the coastal towns as far as Greystones. A car is essential for Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains National Park and the Military Road. The N11 and M11 are the main arteries south from Dublin.
Region
Wicklow · Leinster · Ireland
Attractions covered
2 in this guide
