County Wicklow and West Cork

You can spend a whole day at Glendalough alone. A web search will give you details on the churches, ruins, and walks in and around the sight itself. There are tours of the site conducted by park people (I think, and I think it is free but it might not be; there is a national park tourist office on site). The tour is worth for the outlining of history.

Google Wickow Way. The full walk is 40 km but it can be broken down into smaller sections. The National Park Tourist office has advice on other shorter, easier walks but IMO it would be a shame to leave the area without heading up a track.

Powerscourt Estate didn't impress me but it impresses others so google and see if it might be your cup of tea.

Many people just stick to the hills in Co Wicklow but on the coast is Wicklow town and it has the historic gaol which is interesting. You could also check out Avoca and the valleys around there.

You don't mention when you are travelling although you may have previously (or your interests which would have been helpful) but if you are coming at any time Dec-Feb be warned that in the past couple of years roads have been closed because of snow and so on. The region's height makes it one of the colder places on the east coast generally so just be aware of that.

Hi,

Thank you so much for that reply.
We're heading over this month! Thanks for the warning though.
Our interests are varied and it's difficult when you don't know a country. I guess what we're looking for is a relaxed holiday enjoying the Irish country side and culture, doing as you suggested some nice walk that are under 3hrs. And also seeing some of Irelands famous atmosphere in pubs etc!

Thanks again,
R

hi
can i suggest a trip to Newgrange in county meath..just over an hour from dublin. it is an ancient neolithic passage tomb site that is 5000 years old and is an UNESCO world hereitage site (older than the pyramids and stonehenge). it surprises me that it is rarely in the plans of a lot people posting here as it easily accessible from dublin by car or bus tour and could be done in a half day.

weather wise be prepared for cool days with rain showers.

hope this helps
ger

I would suggest maybe redistributing a day from Wicklow to Cork.

Other places worth seeing in Wicklow include the military road from Dublin (Rathfarnham/Rockbrook) to Sally Gap (the pass and junction on the road between Glencree and Glendalough), Lough Bray, Lough Tay and Lough Dan, and the road from Sally Gap south to Glendalough via Glenmacnass. You could see all of these places with one day's driving, but there are also many walks you can do.

Some of the more pleasant walks would include, in increasing order of difficulty (but none of these are really difficult):
-a stroll around Upper and/or Lower Lough Bray (the latter is only five minutes from the road, but you can take your time)
-Powerscourt Gardens are very scenic, especially if stately gardens are your thing
-The Great Sugarloaf is a much easier walk than it looks, an hour and a half or so from the car park to the peak and back, but the last bit is a steep scramble over gravel.
-You can walk down to Lough Dan from one of the car parks on the road between Sally Gap and Glendalough - pass through the dates and follow the signposted road. A pleasant walk and it's nice down by the lake, but having to do the last uphill stretch right at the end is less fun. About 2 hours walking. If you're feeling adventurous you can easily extend it by climbing one of the nearby hills - Luggala is recommended, but do stay away from the cliffs over Lough Tay!
-From the same car parks, you can reach the peak of Djouce following the boardwalk on the Wicklow Way. Excellent views on a clear day, including sea views. About two hours.
-More adventurous still - climb Tonlegee either from the road between Sallygap and Glenmacnass waterfall (don't cross the river near the waterfall as this is dangerous) or from the other side. Excellent views from here as well but very rough and boggy ground.

If you're going off paths and away from the road, e.g. if you climb Tonlegee or Luggala or walk onto the higher ground around Glendalough (where there are steep and dangerous cliffs overlooking the Upper Lake that you need to be aware of and stay away from), you should have a map and compass and know how to use them, as the weather is very changeable and visibility can be very suddenly reduced. In any case, you should get the Ordnance Survey Discovery Series map no. 56 (I think) which covers the relevant areas of Wicklow.

Also in Wicklow - Enniskerry is a pleasant little village, while the Blue Light, just outside Sandyford on Ballyedmonduff Road, is a pub that has a real country feel despite being by this time on the outskirts of Dublin. I think they have music there sometimes too. The Roundwood Inn is supposed to have good food (the Coachhouse opposite it is unfriendly and overpriced...)

The Hungry Monk is a very good, but not cheap, restaurant in Greystones, on the coast.

The Roundwood Inn has nice food, but it represents poor value in my opinion. I would eat in and around Aughrim. The Stonecutter is good as is The Strawberry Tree, which is Ireland's only certified organic restaurant.