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One Day Tour of Wicklow
Distance: Approx 80 miles (130 km) Duration: a full day.
This tour starts and ends in Dublin and about half of the driving distance on this tour is on motorways or major roads getting to and from the start and end points - these journeys will pass quickly and the rest of the route is a very enjoyable drive through wonderful scenery.
Many of the stops are ones where you could easily spend several hours, so it may not be possible, or even desirable, to see them all in one day. Pick and choose according to your own interests, but to get the best of the tour make an early start in the morning, aim to arrive at Russborough House at its opening time of 10.00 am, and you should be on track.
Drag the map, zoom in and click markers for more information.
Saggart
Saggart (A) is basically a fairly uninspiring suburban town, but for those who like graveyards, a brief stop here is worthwhile. As well as very interesting old gravestones, the old graveyard has two early crosses and a large granite stone with a double Celtic cross which dates from the 10th century. Another stone has a grotesque head cut on it and is thought to be pre-Christian
Russborough House
Russborough House (B) is one of Ireland's finest and most beautifully decorated houses, a very extensive Palladian mansion, built in 1741 by Joseph Leeson, first Earl of Milltown, and in constant habitation throughout the centuries since.
Russborough has often hit the headlines in Ireland, and not always for happy reasons.
Photo by sitomonSir Alfred and Lady Beit, who owned and lived in the Russborough from 1952, had an extensive and valuable art collection, including works by Goya, Vermeer, Rubens and Gainsborough. Unfortunately they were repeated targets of thefts. Four times between 1974 and 2002 valuable paintings were stolen, most of which have happily been recovered.
The Beits donated their collection to the National Gallery of Ireland, and they were removed from the house for safekeeping - understandably! However in 2008 a number of them have been returned and hang again where they belong, including the ‘Morning’, ‘Midday’ ‘Sunset’ and ‘Night’ series by Claude Joseph Vernet, which were originally painted for the house and hung there for most of the last 260 years.
Other things to look out for during a tour of the house are the fabulous stucco ceilings, by the Lafranchini brothers, wonderful mantelpieces, intricately inlaid floors, fine furniture, tapestries, carpets, porcelain and silver. Outside there is a very large beech hedge maze, which children - of all ages! - will really enjoy.
Blessington Lakes
More properly known as Poulaphouca (meaning The Devil's Hole) Reservoir, but generally called Blessington Lakes (C) this is a mostly artificial lake formed when the River Liffey was dammed to create a hydroelectric power station. It covers about 5,000 acres and is Ireland's largest reservoir, supplying much of Dublin's water. The lake and its 50 miles of shoreline are popular places for locals to fish and walk and it's worth a short stop if you have time.
Hollywood (D), a small village just a few miles from the lakes, is a good place to stop for an early lunch. The Poualphuca Inn serves good food, but if soup and a sandwich will suffice go the Tutty's, a traditional pub that has changed little over the years and is much the better for it. However if it's too early for lunch when you get here, move on, there is an excellent place for a later lunch further along the route.
Wicklow Gap & National Park
Photo by RichiAfter leaving Hollywood you will travel some 25 miles over and through the Wicklow Mountains. Most of this area is within the Wicklow Mountains National Park (E), an area of somewhat desolate beauty, with heath and bog and numerous streams running down the mountainside to the lakes below.
The area is very popular with walkers and there is an extensive network of way-marked walking trails, with maps available at the Visitor centre in Glendalough, though unless you are spending a few days in the area you won't have time to follow one of these to-day.
Glendalough
Photo by TambakoUndoubtedly the highlight of to-day's tour, the monastic city of Glendalough (F) is one of Ireland most visited historic sites. After St Kevin founded his church here in the 6th century it was for 500 years it was a great ecclesiastical centre and place of pilgrimage.
It grew in both size and reputation until 1214, when it was destroyed by the Normans and fell into decay. But the ruins we see to-day make it easy to imagine how it once was, and Glendalough is a place that continues to have a very profound impact on many of those who visit.
Photo by CortomalteseAmong the things to see are the famous round tower, built about 1000 years ago and used as a store and a refuge in times of danger; a small cave like place, now known as Kevin's Bed, which was probably a bronze age tomb; St. Kevin’s Cell, a circular stone hut of which only a few stones remain and St. Kevin's Kitchen, a small oratory, which is beautifully situated on the shore of the lake.
The area gets its name - which translates as "the Glen of the Two Lakes" - from its surroundings, and taking some time to walk by the lakes is an essential part of any visit. There are several easy strolls, but a climb to higher ground will reward you with stunning views over the lakes and down to the monastery below, as in the picture on the left.
Mount Usher Garden
There are two reasons why Mount Usher (G) is a stop on this tour that you really should not miss. The first is of course the garden itself - a wonderfully planted and organically managed 22 acres along the Vartry River, which was designed originally in the late 1800's by famous garden designer William Robinson. His belief that gardens should look natural and reflect their surroundings is beautifully realised here.
Although the garden looks natural and as though it somehow 'just happened', that naturalness is actually the result of careful planning, intelligent planting and a lot of hard work, which results in great colour and interest no matter what time of year you visit. From the cheerful early bulbs and fresh greens of Spring, to the dazzling colours of Summer and the magnificent Autumn colours right though to the stark shapes of Winter branches, you will always have something to enjoy.
The second reason to visit is that Mount Usher is now managed by the people who own the Avoca shops, always a pleasure to browse through, and their courtyard store here is no exception. There is also a really, really good cafe, which is the perfect stop if you have opted for a late lunch.
Powerscourt House & Gardens
Undoubtedly one of the great gardens of the World, Powerscourt (H) is a place of contrasts, from its formal terraced gardens, complete with statuary and reminiscent of the garden at Versailles, to rambling woodland walks through sleepy hollows to Ireland's highest waterfall. There are walled gardens, sweeping lawns, an ornamental lake, a quirky tower modeled on a pepper pot from the house dining room, and also picnic areas and a kid's playground, all against a backdrop of the Sugarloaf mountain, making for a most dramatic setting.
The house has had a somewhat chequered history. There was originally a castle here, dating back to the 13th century, but the current house was built in the mid 1700's by Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt. The Wingfield family continued to live there until 1961 when the estate became home to the Slazenger family.
Then, in 1974 it was completely destroyed by a catetropic fire which left it just a shell. It remained in this sorry state until 1996 when a restoration programme, which is still ongoing, began to bring it back to life.
My personal favourite part of Powerscourt is the animal graveyard, where both the Wingfield and Slazenger families buried with considerably care not just their beloved dogs and cats, but also favourite cows, including Eugenie, a Jersey cow who died at the ripe old age of 17, having produced more than 100,000 gallons of milk!
After leaving Powerscourt it's a straight run back to Dublin along the M11, during which you can relax and pity the poor commuters returning in the opposite direction from a hard day's work in Dublin!
Useful Information for Touring in the Wicklow Area
The links below are to more information about some of the places included in this tour, and to some other places or activities you can enjoy in the same area.
Glendalough | Killruddery House and Gardens | Devil's Glen Equestrian Village | Mount Usher Gardens |
