Guidebook for Wicklow
Sightseeing
Glendalough is a glacial valley in near Newtownmountkennedy, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin.
303 locals recommend
Glendalough
Glendalough is a glacial valley in near Newtownmountkennedy, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin.
Welcome to the Guinness Lake!
Lough Tay is a small but scenic lake set in the Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow. It lies between the mountains of Djouce and Luggala, and is most easily viewed from above, from the R759. From here you can view the home of the famous Guinness family and also the scene for filming on the TV series The Vikings.
Lough Tay is, along with Glendalough, one of the most photographed location in Wicklow.
Lough Tay is fed by the Cloghoge River and then drains into Lough Dan, located to the south. The beach on the northern side is bright white sand. It was imported by the Guinness family who’s estate runs through part of the Lough Tay area. The shape of the lake with the with the white sand at the top makes it look like a Pint of Guinness!
This is also a great stop along the Wicklow Way and there are several walks opportunities from there.
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 53.106598
Longitude -6.26667
22 locals recommend
Lough Tay
Welcome to the Guinness Lake!
Lough Tay is a small but scenic lake set in the Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow. It lies between the mountains of Djouce and Luggala, and is most easily viewed from above, from the R759. From here you can view the home of the famous Guinness family and also the scene for filming on the TV series The Vikings.
Lough Tay is, along with Glendalough, one of the most photographed location in Wicklow.
Lough Tay is fed by the Cloghoge River and then drains into Lough Dan, located to the south. The beach on the northern side is bright white sand. It was imported by the Guinness family who’s estate runs through part of the Lough Tay area. The shape of the lake with the with the white sand at the top makes it look like a Pint of Guinness!
This is also a great stop along the Wicklow Way and there are several walks opportunities from there.
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 53.106598
Longitude -6.26667
Parks & Nature
Powerscourt Estate, located in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland, is a large country estate which is noted for its house and landscaped gardens, today occupying 19 hectares. Wikipedia
Address: Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
Opened: 1741
Construction started: 1731
Phone: (01) 204 6000
201 locals recommend
Powerscourt Golf Club
Powerscourt Estate, located in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland, is a large country estate which is noted for its house and landscaped gardens, today occupying 19 hectares. Wikipedia
Address: Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
Opened: 1741
Construction started: 1731
Phone: (01) 204 6000
Duration: about 1.5 hours
A very enjoyable walk through lovely woods to the Devils Glen waterfall, returning alongside the river through the glen.
Devils glen DH
Duration: about 1.5 hours
A very enjoyable walk through lovely woods to the Devils Glen waterfall, returning alongside the river through the glen.
Mount Usher Gardens, located at Ashford, Ireland, was laid out in 1868. It is spread on twenty acres of land along River Vartry, having more than 5000 plant species.
Address: Mt Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Phone: (0404) 40205
38 locals recommend
Avoca Mount Usher Gardens
Mount Usher Gardens, located at Ashford, Ireland, was laid out in 1868. It is spread on twenty acres of land along River Vartry, having more than 5000 plant species.
Address: Mt Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Phone: (0404) 40205
A beautiful walk around the shores of the Lower Vartry Reservoir. Thriving wildlife, mountain views and a fantastic walk! The original (lower) reservoir was completed in 1863, and has a capacity of 11.3 billion litres and a maximum depth of 18.3 metres. A second embankment, 3.5 km upstream, was completed in 1923 to form the upper reservoir. This has a capacity of 5.6 billion litres and a maximum depth of 13.4 metres, as you cross over the dam on the southern end of the walk don’t forget to cross the road and look down on the waterworks which have been filtering and cleaning the water for the past 150 years.
Vartry Reservoir
A beautiful walk around the shores of the Lower Vartry Reservoir. Thriving wildlife, mountain views and a fantastic walk! The original (lower) reservoir was completed in 1863, and has a capacity of 11.3 billion litres and a maximum depth of 18.3 metres. A second embankment, 3.5 km upstream, was completed in 1923 to form the upper reservoir. This has a capacity of 5.6 billion litres and a maximum depth of 13.4 metres, as you cross over the dam on the southern end of the walk don’t forget to cross the road and look down on the waterworks which have been filtering and cleaning the water for the past 150 years.
The Great Sugar Loaf Mountain dominates the skyline as you drive south from Dublin into Wicklow. This unique mountains stands apart from the rest of the upland and is instantly recognisable by its conical shape. The route starts in a car park on Red Lane under a concrete arch. The obvious track leads you up onto a shoulder where the track turns right with loose rock underfoot. A steep climb brings you to the summit. Return the same route.
Grade: Easy
Distance: 2.5km
Estimated time: 1hr
Total height climbed: 200m
Highest point: 500m
Terrain underfoot: Mountain track
Suitable for: families and adults.
Notes: not suitable for pushchairs. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times. Upper section is steep and needs care especially when descending.
53.144421, -6.154584 (Sugar Loaf Carpark)
23 locals recommend
Great Sugar Loaf Car Park
The Great Sugar Loaf Mountain dominates the skyline as you drive south from Dublin into Wicklow. This unique mountains stands apart from the rest of the upland and is instantly recognisable by its conical shape. The route starts in a car park on Red Lane under a concrete arch. The obvious track leads you up onto a shoulder where the track turns right with loose rock underfoot. A steep climb brings you to the summit. Return the same route.
Grade: Easy
Distance: 2.5km
Estimated time: 1hr
Total height climbed: 200m
Highest point: 500m
Terrain underfoot: Mountain track
Suitable for: families and adults.
Notes: not suitable for pushchairs. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times. Upper section is steep and needs care especially when descending.
53.144421, -6.154584 (Sugar Loaf Carpark)
BirdWatch Ireland is restoring a wetland nature reserve in Blackditch, Newcasle as part of a four year project to protect rare waterbirds and fen habitat and to provide access to the visiting public. An assortment of different birds can be spotted here including the Little Egret, Kingfishers, Greenland White-Fronted Geese, and Whopper Swans. The Reserve is made up of reeds, willow and large groups sedge – providing shelter and hiding places for many different species of birds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I_W0dhR9SME
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 53.070424
Longitude -6.043071
BirdWatch Ireland's East Coast Nature Reserve
Sea RoadBirdWatch Ireland is restoring a wetland nature reserve in Blackditch, Newcasle as part of a four year project to protect rare waterbirds and fen habitat and to provide access to the visiting public. An assortment of different birds can be spotted here including the Little Egret, Kingfishers, Greenland White-Fronted Geese, and Whopper Swans. The Reserve is made up of reeds, willow and large groups sedge – providing shelter and hiding places for many different species of birds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I_W0dhR9SME
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 53.070424
Longitude -6.043071
Food scene
Wicklow Town Centre
Lots of lovely restaurants, coffee shops and bars to choose from