Just 40km south of Dublin lies Ireland's oldest and most popular national park. Wicklow Mountains National Park covers a whopping 20,483 acres. The beautiful landscape of mountain lakes, cirque valleys, forests, moors and bogs was created by glaciers during the Ice Age.

You have the opportunity to visit famous sites such as the pitoresque Glendalough Valley, or to get off the beaten track and into the wilderness and isolation on foot. In addition to scenic views, you will find lush gardens and historic estates in this area. In short, the Wicklow Mountains have something for everyone.

Highlights of Wicklow Mountains

Glendalough

The most visited area of the Wicklow Mountains is the beautiful Glendalough valley. Among the steep forested slopes of this "valley of two lakes," is the ancient monastic settlement of St Kevin. The monastery of Glendalough was founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin, making it one of the oldest Christian sites in Europe. The settlement grew into one of Ireland's most dynamic universities. Today it is one of Ireland's most beautiful ruins. Besides a few chapels and a burial ground, Glendalough's highlight is St Kevin's Kitchen. With its intact round tower, this church is a fine example of a classic early Irish church. The remains of the settlement combined with the breathtaking scenery, are a highlight of Ireland for good reason. At the Glendalough Visitor Centre you can learn more about the history of this special place and start several walks. The walk to the abandoned Glendalough mines and mining villages is highly recommended.

Powerscourt Estate

This beautiful estate includes Powerscout House, an elegant Palladian mansion from the 13th century that is partially open to the public. However, the big draw here are the 20-acre gardens. National Geograpic named the gardens number three in the top ten most beautiful gardens in the world. These stately gardens were designed in the Victorian era and consist of a beautiful combination of landscaped gardens, terraces, statues, ponds and 200 different species of trees and plants. During a stroll, discover the beautiful Italian Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Pepperpot Tower and enjoy the views with the imposing Great Sugarleaf Mountain in the background.

Powerscourt Waterfall

Six kilometers south of Powerscout House is Ireland's highest waterfall. Because the narrow road to the waterfall has no separate footpath, it is recommended that you drive to the waterfall rather than walk from the mansion. Around the waterfall you can take walks past giant redwoods, ancient oaks, beeches, birches, rowan trees. The falls are most imposing after rain and are a great place for a picnic.

Miltary Road.

This 95-kilometer road runs north to south along the length of the Wicklow Mountains. The road offers beautiful views of the vast plains, overgrown moors, marshes, hills and small lakes that the Wicklow Mountains National Park is known for. Miltary Road was built by the British Army during the Irish Rebellion in 1798, in an attempt to drive the rebels out of the Wicklow Mountains. A well-known viewpoint is Sally Gap. It is worth taking a small detour on the R759 to the Lough Tay viewpoint.

Great sugarloaf

Great sugarloaf is not the highest of the Wicklow mountains at 501 meters, but it is one of the most striking. The cone-shaped mountain can be seen from all directions from afar. The hike to the top takes about 40 minutes. The magnificent view that awaits you here makes it well worth it!