Dublin Day Trip Ideas: A Local’s Guide

Maynooth is situated about an hour from Dublin by rail and is among my top picks of places to visit in Dublin by train. This picturesque Irish university town is an ideal destination for a weekend Instagram photowalk. 

I saw a post on Instagram advertising a photowalk in Maynooth in July. The timing was perfect so I hopped on the train and was on my way. In the end, I was the only one that actually showed up for the walk. 

Fortunately for me, my friend Alisa drove out to Maynooth to join me on this weekend photo adventure. Here’s a sample of the things to see and do that we discovered along the way on our photowalk through Maynooth.

1. The Royal Canal

The Maynooth Irish Rail train station is situated along the banks of the Royal Canal. I had a little time to kill before Alisa arrived so took a quick walk along the canal path. 

I discovered a series of white numbered plates at intervals along the canal. Judging from the picture on top, these were designated fishing spots. I didn’t realize that the Royal Canal was stocked with fish!

2. Maynooth’s High Street Shops

We walked from the train station to Maynooth’s high street which was lined with colorful shops and cafes. I particularly liked this life-sized doll outside The Glass Doll.

3. Maynooth Castle

Maynooth Castle is another photogenic gem to explore and is one of my top picks of Irish castles to visit. We walked through the imposing stone arch and emerged into a leafy courtyard surrounded by the remains of the castle and castle wall.

4. Ivy-Covered Facades

Facades covered in ivy were another photographic highlight from our walk in Maynooth. Some of the buildings seemed as if they were being eaten alive by foliage.

5. The Church at St. Patrick’s College

Maynooth University is one of the most picturesque institutions of higher learning that I’ve visited in Ireland. The North and South Campuses are a study in contrasts. 

We focused our attention on the historic Southside featuring St. Patrick’s College rather than on the ultra-modern North Campus. 

St. Patrick’s College is anchored by an impressive church tower.

We visited on a Saturday afternoon when the campus was peaceful and quiet. As we strolled the perimeter of St. Patrick’s College, we discovered a door that was ajar. 

As we stepped inside, the rector emerged toting something to his car. We quickly explained that we’d found the door open and our curiosity got the better of us. He was super-friendly and escorted us to the main church hall. Not a bother at all.

The interior of the church at St. Patrick’s College was positively stunning. We looked up at a patterned red and blue ceiling with a series of shiny organ pipes jutting out. The rose-patterned stained glass window anchored the scene. We’d hit the photowalk jackpot!

If you enjoy photowalks, check out these pictures of Dublin for inspiration of places to go beyond Maynooth.

Once again, our curiosity got the best of us when we discovered an unattended staircase. We wandered up the stairs and emerged into the choir’s balcony featuring sweeping views of the interior.

Back at ground level, we admired medieval art on the walls and regal but uncomfortable looking seats for those attending church services.

6. The Courtyard Garden at St. Patrick’s College

One of the passageways at the side of the church at St. Patrick’s College led into a beautiful garden courtyard. We weren’t sure if we were supposed to be there but there was no way we could forego such amazing photo opportunities!

7. Maynooth University’s Bicentenary Garden 

The final stop on our photowalk (and the most picturesque spot that we discovered in Maynooth that day) was the Bicentenary Garden. 

Located off to one side of Maynooth University’s South Campus, the sprawling park features a more manageable walled garden. In July when we visited, the area was abloom with all manner of wildflowers.

Not only the flowers, but the trees also added to the atmosphere.

Ireland Photowalks are a great excuse to get out and explore the sights in your own backyard. Maynooth is just an hour by train outside of Dublin but it felt a world away as Alisa and I snapped photos happily all afternoon long.

Birdwatching in Ireland is an activity that I enjoy. There are many places in Dublin to see resident and migratory birds like Ireland’s Eye and Bull Island. But, sometimes it’s nice to go a bit farther afield. 

It’s about a two-hour drive from Dublin to Wexford which puts the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve just within reach as a day trip from Dublin. 

Read on to find out more about why you should visit the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve in January as either a day trip or weekend break from Dublin. Visit and decide for yourself whether this is indeed the best winter birding in Ireland.

Climb the Observation Tower and Hide

The Wexford Wildfowl Reserve features an observation tower that you can climb (complete with an awesome wrap-around painting of the local birds in the stairwell). Windows at the top open for clandestine views of the wetlands and Irish Sea beyond. 

When we drove from Dublin to Wexford in January, we were so amazed by the huge flocks of geese and other birds circling over the reserve.

Walk the Boardwalk and Warm Up in a Hide at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Once you’ve gotten your fill of the view from the tower, climb back down and find the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve’s boardwalk. Step through the reserve without getting mucky thanks to this helpful path. Peer out at the local birds using the tall reeds to shield yourself from view.

If you wander far enough down the boardwalk, you’ll encounter another enclosed birdwatching hide (very helpful for a visit to Wexford in winter!). 

We peered out at a local pond and spotted a few ducks splashing about. At this time of year, the action was definitely all in the air above us as you’ll see more below.

Seek Out Stunning Ocean Views and Sunsets

If you time your day trip from Dublin to Wexford just right, you can watch the sunset over the Irish Sea from the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. In January in Ireland, the sun sets between 4 and 5 pm. Birds tend to be most active at dawn and dusk. 

Note that you’ll bounce along a narrow beach-side track in your car to get to the reserve so I recommend not waiting until the sun has fully set before departing back to the main road and your return to Dublin. I would feel a little nervous driving on those roads after dark.

See Greenland White-fronted Geese Overwintering in Wexford

The main birding attraction at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve in winter is Greenland white-fronted geese. Thousands of these unique birds over-winter in Wexford and are super-entertaining to watch as they splash about in the wetland ponds.

Observe Brent Geese in Flight

Brent geese are another common visitor to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. Huge flocks of Brent geese swirled over our heads making for a dramatic scene as the sun began to set over the wetlands.

Watch Whooper Swans Come in for A Landing

Mute swans are pretty common in Ireland and can be seen regularly on the Dodder River and Grand Canal in Dublin. We were excited to see flocks of whooper swans milling about in the grass and soaring in pairs or small groups. 

See Barnacle Geese at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve in January

Hiding among the reeds at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, we also saw a few barnacle geese. I’m inherently impatient and lazy when it comes to birdwatching which is why I love ducks and geese so much. 

Spotting and photographing these large, slow birds is so much easier than, say, hummingbirds in California or other small, fast species that tend to flit about.

Spot Ducks Galore at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

There are plenty of ducks at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. Consulting my The Birds of Ireland guide suggests that the birds in the photo above are a flock of teals. I could have spent hours just watching the ducks go about their day.

Birdwatching in Ireland in Winter: What to Wear

In January, it’s typically cold at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. It can feel much colder though because of the wind blowing in off of the Irish Sea. 

What should you bring on a day trip from Dublin to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve? Make sure to wear a warm coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. You’ll be glad you did when you find yourself standing outside peering through binoculars in wonder at huge flocks of geese circling overhead.

How to Get to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Taking a day trip or weekend break from Dublin to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is easiest by car. The fastest route from Dublin is to take the M11 motorway to the R741. The turn-off from R741 to the nature park is a little tricky to find. 

The final kilometer or two runs on essentially an unpaved track next to the beach. Check out this handy map for help finding your way along the final distance to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve.

Is Ireland’s Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Worth Visiting?

As you can see, I really enjoyed my time at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. Granted, it’s a little far from Dublin but still within reach for a day trip if you are motivated. 

In January, the sheer volume of birds combined with the golden winter light made the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve an ideal place for birdwatching in Ireland. Definitely check it out if you are in the neighborhood. 

In fact, I hope to go back again sometime, perhaps at another time of year, to see how the residents change over time.

There are plenty of Dublin day trips to choose from. However, many day trips from Dublin are on the well-established tourist track. 

Places like Trim Castle and the Boyne Valley and Newgrange are well trodden by tourists. 

If you are looking for a non-touristy Dublin day trip, I invite you to consider Rogerstown Estuary and Ardgillan Castle; the perfect combination of outdoorsy adventure and a taste of upscale Irish manor living.

SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: It is also well-worth spending some time in Dublin itself. Check out our huge list of one day Dublin City itineraries to keep you busy. If you love birdwatching in particular, head to Clontarf, North Bull Island, or Ireland’s Eye.

Hiring a GoCar in Dublin

GoCar is the perfect alternative to renting a car in Dublin. We’ve taken GoCar to County Wicklow for the day in the past. 

GoCar’s carshare service normally charges by the hour with a component of distance. Be aware that only a single driver can hire a GoCar so it won’t be possible to share driving duties with a partner. 

Rogerstown Estuary

You can find lots of little known nature areas within an hour’s drive of Dublin. How far is Rogerstown Estuary from Dublin? Dublin to Rogerstown Estuary takes about 45 minutes by car. 

Rogerstown Estuary is an ideal non-touristy Dublin day trip destination for a hike and a bit of birdwatching. You can find up to date details on how to get there, opening hours, and parking coordinates on the Rogerstown Estuary Facebook Page.

A Turvey Parklands Walk

Park near the Turvey Parklands and embark on a nature walk to Turvey Hide. Walk on well-marked trails through tall grass and meadows. 

You may even spot some cattle grazing not far from the path. Beware of Bull! a sign warned. That’s my philosophy when hiking and in life.

Rogerstown Estuary Birdwatching at Turvey Hide

We visited Rogerstown Estuary on a cold November day. After our hike from the Turvey Parklands car park, we welcomed the opportunity to warm up at Turvey Hide. 

Local volunteers sporadically staff the hide and spend their days observing birds of prey like osprey and peregrine falcons and plenty of resident and migratory wildfowl like redshanks.

BirdWatch Ireland Reserve Baleally Lane 

Return to your GoCar and drive across the mouth of Rogerstown Estuary to Baleally Lane. The BirdWatch Ireland Reserve at Baleally Lane is a little difficult to spot. 

Look for a long muddy driveway with just a couple parking spots in front of a gate boasting a BirdWatch Ireland sign.

Rogerstown Estuary North Hide

Walk across the pasture to a gate leading to a trail marked by a rough fence. Keep an eye out for stonechats and other birds flitting about. 

Be careful about the timing of your visit to the North Hide since the hide can be cut off by water at high tide.

You may also find avid volunteers observing the resident birds in the North Hide. Often they’ll have their scope trained on something interesting like a bird of prey. Stay for a chat and you might spot a curlew flying over Rogerstown Estuary like we did. 

Now that we’ve gotten some exercise, it’s time to spend the afternoon at the magnificently situated Ardgillan Castle. 

Ardgillan Castle

Ardgillan Castle is just 30 minutes onward drive to the north of Rogerstown Estuary and is a perfect stop to add to a non-touristy Dublin day trip. Ardgillan Castle and Demesne sits dramatically on the Irish Sea and offers spectacular photo opportunities.

Walk Ardgillan Demesne

The expansive and well-manicured Ardgillan Demesne surrounds the big house and offers ample opportunity to stretch your legs. In fact, this outing is arguably one of the best walks in Dublin. 

Sit on the grass and listen to the wind whistle across the land and hear the waves crash below. You may even hear trains passing by along the coast. 

Owned by the Taylor family for over two centuries, in exchange for rights for the train to pass over their land, the Taylors in turn could hail any passing train and ride for free. What a life!

Tour the Big House

Tours of Ardgillan Castle are available and take about an hour. The original furnishings were sold with the house in 1962 when many artistocratic families could no longer afford the upkeep of such grand houses. 

Ardgillan Castle is decorated with period furnishings and some cheeky items of flair such as a large stuffed bear wearing a top hat. Explore both above and below stairs and learn more about the history of the residence.

Ardgillan Castle Rose Garden

After the leisurely Ardgillan Castle afternoon tea service, we walked off all the decadent treats in the Ardgillan Castle rose garden. We visited in late Fall but there were still a number of flowers in bloom. I can just imagine how radiant and fragrant the Ardgillan Castle rose garden is in spring and summer.

Ardgillan Castle Walled Garden

No Irish manor home is complete without a walled garden. We took some time to explore the Ardgillan Castle walled garden which featured well-manicured hedges and flower beds.

Ardgillan Castle Fairy Tree Trail

One of the most enchanting features of the Ardgillan Castle grounds is the Ardgillan Castle Fairy Tree Trail. Check out the forested area at the border between the Ardgillan demesne and formal gardens and discover tiny houses reputed to be the homes of resident fairies. What better way to capture the imagination on a non-touristy day trip from Dublin!

As you can see, the area north of Dublin is full of non-touristy gems just waiting to be explored. What better way to do it than with GoFar by GoCar?

Dublin is an amazing place to call home. If you live near the City Centre like we did, Dublin is so compact that you don’t need a car. 

We could easily walk into town or take a bus or the DART to explore most places in and around Dublin city. However, there were occasionally times when we want to go further afield outside of Dublin and a car makes things much easier. 

If you only need to drive occasionally, Dublin’s various carshare services are a cost effective alternative to owning a car. Grab a car for an hour or two to run errands or book a car for the day to take a day trip outside of Dublin. 

In this post, I’ll share two different County Wicklow one day driving itineraries to give you a sense of what is possible if you book a GoCar or Toyota YUKÕ car in Dublin. 

Exploring Wicklow for a Day with GoCar

We recently tried GoCar to unlock a day trip to Ireland’s County Wicklow. There are a number of pros and cons that I’ll share with you today and I’ll show you the fantastic places we were able to visit on this one day Wicklow Ireland itinerary.

How GoCar Works

GoCar is a car sharing service much like ZipCar in North America. Sign-up for an account, scan the front and back of your driver’s license, wait for your license to be validated and then you’re good to go.

GoCar will send you a membership card that you can use to unlock their vehicles (you can also use the GoCar app to open the car). The next step is to make a reservation. 

You’ll pay an hourly rate that maxes out at the daily rate for trips of 6 hours or longer. Think carefully about where you want to go because you’ll be charged a per km rate once you pass 50 kms. Here’s an overview of how GoCar works. 

A One Day Wicklow Itinerary with GoCar

Now let’s take a look at the cool places you can visit on a day trip from Dublin City to County Wicklow with a GoCar ride share reservation.

1. Mount Usher Gardens

We used GoCar to visit Mount Usher Gardens, approximately 40 km outside of Dublin. Upon arrival, pass through some high-end shops and an Avoca Cafe, buy your ticket (10.00 EUR at the time of writing) and explore the grounds.

A lazy river runs through the property.

Moss paths at Mount Usher Gardens lead up into a forest featuring trees curated from all around the world.

It was definitely damp when we visited in the Autumn and gorgeous mushrooms were growing in various shady places around the gardens.

Summer was not so far gone though. Plenty of colorful flowers still brightened the landscape at Mount Usher.

We walked along the river and practically had Mount Usher to ourselves. It pays to visit County Wicklow in the shoulder season after the hordes of summer tourists have departed.

We enjoyed listening to the sound of a small waterfall rushing past.

We swayed across a rickety suspension bridge. I must say, I was slightly alarmed when I emerged on the other side and noticed a warning not to jump on the bridge. Uh oh.

Ireland is known for lush gardens and County Wicklow has a number of lovely examples. We wandered past an old mill wheel at Mount Usher inside a walled garden overflowing with riotous wildflowers.

2. Wicklow Town

After a good long walk, we left Mount Usher Gardens and drove to Wicklow town. Public parking is free on Sunday so we parked our GoCar at Wicklow Gaol and went in to have a look around (tickets cost 9.50 EUR for an adult at the time of writing). 

In use since the 18th century, Wicklow Gaol has a storied history. The self-guided tour of Wicklow Gaol introduces visitors to a number of key characters in the gaol’s history. 

Petty thieves were locked up with murderers in extremely cramped conditions. Rebels from both the 1798 Rebellion and 1916 Rising were incarcerated here. 

There is even a replica transportation ship on the upper floor to show what conditions would have been like on the journey to Australia.

3. The Black Castle

After we finished our tour of the Wicklow Gaol, we left our GoCar parked there and proceeded to explore Wicklow Town on foot. We were running out of time on our reservation but there was still more we wanted to see. 

No problem… we checked the GoCar app on our mobile phone. Since no one was waiting to pick up the GoCar upon our return, we were able to extend our reservation by one hour. 

This allowed us to travel down to the waterfront in Wicklow Town. We followed the Vartry River to the spot where it meets the Irish Sea. 

Climbing a small hill, we arrived at a windswept point overlooking the sea. 

The ruins of Wicklow’s Black Castle stood nearby, clinging to the cliffs. Dating back to the 12th century (now I see why they call this region Ireland’s Ancient East), the remains only hint of the castle’s former glory in the era after the Normans arrived in Ireland.

We scrambled up and around the hill enjoying spectacular views out to sea. It’s easy to understand why this spot was ideal for a fortification in centuries past. It was a clear day and we could see for miles.

The views from Wicklow’s Black Castle were simply stunning. Some might even rate Black Castle among the best castles in Ireland.

After exploring the Black Castle for about 30 minutes, we made our way back to our GoCar for the return journey to Dublin.

The Pros and Cons of GoCar vs Hiring a Car

So, what are the pros and cons of using a GoCar instead of hiring a car for a day trip from Dublin?

GoCar Pros

• Picking up and dropping off a GoCar is much faster and simpler than renting a car from Hertz, Enterprise, or the like. Unlock the GoCar with your card or mobile phone once the reservation starts and off you go. 
• You can reserve the GoCar for just the amount of time you need (we booked the GoCar for about 6 hours for our trip to County Wicklow).
• There is no need to refuel the GoCar before returning it under most circumstances
• You can extend your trip using a mobile phone as long as no one has a reservation immediately after yours.
• You aren’t beholden to a car hire company’s office opening hours for pick up and drop off (i.e., the Hertz location in Ballsbridge is only open limited hours on Sundays). 

GoCar Cons

• If the GoCar has less than a quarter tank of petrol, you are supposed to refuel using the card provided. Both times we’ve used GoCar, the fuel gauge has been at or below a quarter :-/ The refueling card is not the most intuitive to use (you need to go to a specific brand of petrol station and figure out what your car number and PIN are).
• GoCar can be more expensive if you take one for a long time or long distances since you are charged by the hour plus a per km surcharge.
• You are only allowed to associate one driver with a GoCar reservation. If you are planning a longer drive, it would be preferable to be able to share driving duties with a spouse, family member, or friend.

Overall, we found that the pros outweighed the cons in taking a GoCar on a day trip from Dublin to County Wicklow. It was a bit more expensive than hiring a car but the convenience more than made up for it. 

We look forward to using GoCar to get to more places that aren’t well served by Dublin’s public transportation system.

Exploring Wicklow for a Day with YUKÕ Toyota Car Club

On another occasion, we reserved a YUKÕ Ireland car share for a day trip from Dublin to County Wicklow. There are just so many cool things to see and do in Wicklow that we felt it justified a second visit by car.

How YUKÕ Ireland Works

YUKÕ Ireland is another car sharing service that operates in Dublin and is a GoCar competitor. Download the YUKÕ app to your smartphone, upload your driver’s license for verification, and in about 48 hours you’ll be good to go. 

Reserve a car via the app and use your phone to unlock the car at the time your reservation begins. 

We found that the pros and cons of taking a YUKÕ car vs a traditional car hire were similar to those of GoCar. However, we found that there are a couple of advantages to using a YUKÕ car instead of a GoCar. 

• YUKÕ Ireland allows multiple drivers per reservation. If we are traveling a long distance, you can split up the driving duties. As mentioned, this is not possible (at least not at the time of writing) with GoCar.
• YUKÕ’s fleet of cars is entirely Hybrid. That means that you get an automatic transmission. I always find it easier to drive an automatic (less stress and hassle on the road) even though I can drive a manual transmission (stick shift).

A One Day Wicklow Itinerary with YUKÕ Ireland

Now let’s take a look at the fun day trip to County Wicklow that we constructed for the reprise of our car share adventure. 

1. Delgany and Firehouse Bakery

We’d heard great things about Delgany village and in particular Firehouse Bakery so it seemed like the perfect first stop on our car share enabled Wicklow drive.

Park in the back and walk through the posh grocery store to access the bakery. Prepare for an indulgent experience. 

We had a sausage roll with chili jam, a chocolate-filled cruffin, and a cappuccino to fuel our Sunday adventures.

2. National Botanic Gardens in Kilmacurragh

Next up, we checked out the National Botanic Gardens in Kilmacurragh. We’ve been to the National Botanic Garden location on Dublin’s Northside near Glasnevin in Dublin City many times (home of the inspiring annual exhibit of Sculpture in Context), but this was our first walk in the Wicklow Branch. 

You’ll find sweeping views of Wicklow Mountains National Park and plenty of old growth trees surrounding a dilapidated mansion.

The amazing flowers at The National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh will lift your spirits.

3. Take a Hike at Glendalough

We decided to head over to Glendalough, Wicklow’s famous 6th century monastic city to see what was going on. That’s the advantage of taking a car to Wicklow, you can adjust your plans as the whim strikes. 

It was not too crowded when we arrived at noon. We paid 4 EUR to park and then hiked to the monastic settlement and around Lower Lake. 

Upper Lake was essentially a beach for the day thanks to the seasonal summer weather. The lake was very busy with families splashing around. 

There was a queue to park at Glendalough by the time we left. It pays to go early. 

4. Lunch at the Coach House in Roundwood

We stopped at the Coach House in Roundwood to wait out some afternoon thundershowers. A glass of Wicklow Wolf craft beer and perfectly-crisp-out-of-the-fryer fish and chips was a welcome interlude on our Wicklow day trip.

5. Victor’s Way

One of the main reasons we decided to drive to Co. Wicklow again was the opportunity to visit Victor’s Way. 

Pay 10 EUR to explore this Indian sculpture park and meditative forest walk near Roundwood. The owner of the experience asks that you maintain silence and a mood of contemplation when you visit.

We discovered absolutely amazing views from the Wisdom Seat at Victor’s Way. 

The wide open field featured a set of musicians in the form of Ganesh including one wearing a flatcap and playing uilleann pipes.

Mindfully observe the Ganesh statues from all sides and you’ll be rewarded with the details that come into focus and bring a modern touch to this ancient god. 

Can you spot the laptops and mobile phones among the sculptures?

Hanuman guards the entrance to the Meditation Forest Path at Victor’s Way. The well-marked path will lead you past a series of engaging and occasionally disturbing statues. Take time to read the context, observe from all sides, and contemplate life.

I decided to go all in on the Victor’s Way experience and take a brief “forest bath” on a rustic forest recliner. Lie down on the rickety wooden bench and look up at the treetops and sky.

The Meditation Forest Path takes you around a series of serene ponds dotted with sculptures. I’ll admit that this sculpture made me relive many a scene from The Walking Dead.

Keep an eye out for signs with inspirational and slightly cryptic messages throughout the Victor’s Way Forest Walk. E.g., 

“The right way is the untrodden, it becomes the wrong way when you step on it” 

A field of sheep and bales of hay at the perimeter of the Victor’s Way Forest Walk made my day. 

6. Wicklow Wolf Brewery and Taproom

After spending about 90 minutes at Victor’s Way, we headed to Wicklow Wolf Brewery and Taproom, our final stop of our YUKÕ-car-driven day out.

We sampled 4 Wicklow Wolf craft beers on a tasting tray: Heff Bezos hefeweizen, Tundra Tropical IPA, Mammoth IPA, and Raindrop Mixed Berry Sour. 

Grab a seat upstairs overlooking the brewery. Slàinte!

Summing up the Dublin Car Share Day Trip Experience

GoCar and Toyota’s YUKÕ car share service offer a cost effective and low stress option for unlocking a day trip outside Dublin city. County Wicklow is a great destination option for a car share road trip. 

Because you pay by the hour with a surcharge for long distances, the convenience of Wicklow makes it an ideal option for a car-share day trip that also keeps your costs down.

County Wicklow and some idyllic walks can be found just an hour’s ride outside of Dublin. We visited Glendalough on an organized day tour when we first moved to Ireland. 

The tour was great but a bit rushed and we wanted to return to explore the area again on our own terms. The chance presented itself on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in early September when we decided to try out Saint Kevin’s Glendalough bus service for our triumphant return to the Wicklow Mountains National Park, one of the most popular places in Ireland’s Ancient East. 

While driving certainly offers the most flexibility in exploring the region, we don’t have a car so the St. Kevin’s bus service was super helpful. For 23 EUR return, the service runs twice a day on the weekends departing Dublin City at around 11:30 am and returning at 4:30 pm. 

The bus drops off and picks up passengers at the Glendalough Visitor Centre. We found this gave us just enough time for a brisk hike up and around Spinc and Glenealo Valley (White Route) taking in sweeping views of the Upper Lake with a few moments to spare to marvel at the scenery and take some pictures before hiking back to the Visitors Centre for the return bus to Dublin. 

The Walks Ireland blog features a helpful map of the trail. Here are ten highlights of our hillwalk centered on Glendalough in County Wicklow.

1. The 6th Century Glendalough Monastic Site

The 1500 year old monastic city is a highlight of any trip to Glendalough. The walking trails begin and end very close to the ruins and cemetery. 

Glendalough also features prominently on the iconic Wicklow Way hike. We took a little time to steep in the atmosphere outside the round tower and wandered among the Celtic crosses and other gravestones. 

It’s tempting to spend quite a bit of time here exploring the fascinating history, but if you do, your hillwalk will end before it even begins and you won’t have time to make the full circuit around the upper lake before you’ll need to board the Glendalough bus back to Dublin.

2. The Ascent from the Glendalough Monastic Site

The good news about Spinc and Glenealo Valley loop trail is that you get the hard part out of the way early. The bad news is that the trail is quite steep near the start. 

We ascended past Poulanass Waterfall through a beautiful silent forest marching up 600 wooden planks to the top.

3. Rewarding Views of the Upper Lake

We were rewarded in our efforts with sweeping views of the Lower and Upper Lake as well as a brief glimpse of what the trail had in store for us next. We looked forward to seeing the lakes and their surrounds up close.

4. Walking the Line at Glendalough

A very narrow wooden boardwalk runs along the top of the ridge. We looked out over the valley below and at the protected vegetation surrounding the trail. 

We smiled as we attempted almost acrobatic moves to sneak past hikers going in the opposite direction on the narrow trail.

5. The Magnificent Bucks of Glendalough

As we made our way along the boardwalk, I spied a stunning buck grazing in the grass. We stood watching in silence. I love unexpected wildlife sightings on our hikes!

6. Glendalough: The Pinnacle

Slightly beyond the halfway point in the trail, we encountered the most beautiful spot of all. We could see the Glenealo River snaking its way down the hill into the Upper Lake spilling past rock formations. 

The sun chose this moment to come out making the scene overlooking the Glendalough Valley even more idyllic.

7. Grinning Goats of Glendalough

We thought the hard part of the trail was over at this point and from a cardiovascular perspective it was. However, the descent into the valley to the shore of the Upper Lake runs down a steep rocky path which is admittedly a bit tough on the knees. 

I soon forgot about my aching legs when I spotted magnificent mountain goats dotting the hillside. If we weren’t time constrained (i.e., we didn’t want to miss the bus from Glendalough back to Dublin), I could have stood there photographing the goats for hours! One of them even seemed to be grinning at me!

8. Rocky Descent Back to Glendalough Visitor Centre

We completed our rocky descent past ruins of an old lead mine with views of the Upper Lake encouraging us onward in our journey.

9. A Walk in the Woods at Glendalough

The trail flattened out again at water’s edge. We wandered through a forest of tall trees with golden light reflecting off the amber tannic waters of the Upper Lake. This part of the trail felt quite zen and we had the trail nearly entirely to ourselves.

10. A Glendalough Ice Cream Break!

After nearly four hours on the trail, we were ready for a treat. Fortunately, there is an ice cream kiosk near the car park on the Upper Lake. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get a photo of my delicious soft serve cone. I ate it too fast after all the exertion from the invigorating climb and descent.

While it may feel more convenient to drive from Dublin to Wicklow, if you don’t have a car, a day trip to Glendalough on St. Kevin’s bus service offers a fantastic way to do an introductory hillwalk and get some exercise in the stunning areas of natural beauty on Dublin’s doorstep in County Wicklow.

It’s easy to take the things in your own backyard for granted, but resisting that temptation is key, particularly when your backyard in Dublin is the spectacular Wicklow Mountains. 

We love playing tourist both at home and abroad so of course we’ve been to County Wicklow a number of times in the time we’ve lived in Ireland. 

Still, this beautiful landscape is so changeable and full of life that I always discover something new each time I go. 

I found this to be particularly true on my latest adventure; a full day guided Wicklow Mountains Tour with Richie. In this post, I’ll walk you through the magic of Wicklow seen through fresh eyes on a repeat visit to the area.

1. The Grotto at Glencree

Our first stop was Glencree Visitors Centre, an idyllic and remote setting. Formerly a barracks and orphanage, it is now used to promote peace and reconciliation among parties in violent conflict. 

I can see the calming influence that the natural landscape might have on those staying here. I descended a set of mossy steps to the Grotto at Glencree. 

A babbling brook wound its way through a lush green tangle of forest. The place was so serene. We don’t have a car so a bus tour like this is the only way we get to see hidden gems like this (aside from the more expensive option of hiring a car). 

2. The German Cemetery

We were surprised when our driver, Richie, pointed out the German War Cemetery at Glencree. The site is run by the German War Graves Commission and is the final resting place for about 100 kriegstote (war dead) killed off the coast of Ireland or taken as prisoners of war by the British mainly during World War I. 

The cemetery was another quiet and scenic spot to collect my thoughts before meeting up with the bus back at the Glencree Visitors Centre.

3. PS I Love You

Our Wicklow Mountains Tour also included a stop at the stone bridge made famous as the spot where Gerry and Holly first met in the movie PS I Love You. It was indeed a lovely and romantic spot with a burbling stream running just below. 

I hadn’t seen the movie prior to the tour but was curious afterward and watched Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank’s tragic love story play out. Public Service Announcement: this movie is a serious tearjerker.

4. Lovely Lakes

We also discovered on our tour that Wicklow is full of beautiful lakes like Guinness Lake above and the Upper and Lower Lakes at Glendalough; not to mention many others. Richie expertly managed to park the bus along the narrow winding roads so we could avail of some great photo opportunities.

5. St. Kevin’s Way

I’ve been to Glendalough on two other occasions and had the feeling that I’d seen it all. Richie sensed this and took me aside and asked if I’d be up for an off-the-tourist-track hike. Definitely! 

He pointed out St. Kevin’s Way on the billboard map near the Glendalough Visitor’s Centre and talked me through the key twists and turns required to get there. To start, the hike involved a fairly flat stroll alongside a shallow river. 

Richie warned me that the trail was rather steep in parts. That was no joke! A fellow hiker (there were very few people on the trail, by the way) walked back about 200 meters with me to point out the exact spot to enter the forest and begin the ascent. 

The trail is marked but easy to miss. The hike up the hill was totally worth it for the solitude and views. I really enjoyed the chance to escape from the bus for a couple hours and commune with nature.

6. Wildlife Surprises

Speaking of communing with nature, another upside is wildlife spotting. As I was walking along St. Kevin’s Way, I spotted exactly two other hikers. 

Both were staring off into the woods. I followed their line of sight in both cases. In one instance, I spotted this lovely fox staring back at me in the distance. In the second case, I saw a curious deer checking us out. Amazing!

Apparently mountain goats are less concerned about the presence of people. I spotted a herd of four goats lounging in the shade of a tree right along the main trail between the lower and upper lakes. Just chillin’.

7. On the Boardwalk

Emerging from St. Kevin’s Way at Glendalough, I peeled off onto the boardwalk that runs along the Lower Lake. Hearing the boards thump under my feet was somehow very zen. 

I also really appreciated the bright yellow gorse that was blooming both in the shadow of the monastic settlement and pretty much along every road in Wicklow at this time of year. The pop of color added a bit of cheer to the place despite the drab skies. At least it didn’t rain!

8. Avoca Village

Our final stop was in Avoca Village for a spot of lunch (discounted but not included in the price of the tour). It had started to rain so most people spent the lunch hour huddled in the warmth of Fitzgerald’s pub. 

If the weather is nice (or if you are a hardy soul), Avoca Mill, the oldest working woolen mill in Ireland, is a short walk up the road.

I’ve been to Wicklow a few times before and thought I had seen and done it all. Gray Line’s Wicklow Mountains Tour certainly proved me wrong in that regard. We had a fantastic time exploring County Wicklow with fresh eyes.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Dublin Visitors’ Centre on the Wicklow Mountains Tour. They provided two free tickets (for me and my mum) for the day trip. However, opinions expressed in this post are my own.