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Irish Private Tours - County Wicklow

County Wicklow is just south of Dublin and is ideally located for a Day Tour out of Dublin. Wicklow is known as Ireland's Garden County for its landscaped gardens and natural heather clad mountains, waterfalls, valleys and lakes.

Glendalough round tower rising above the stone roofed St. Kevin's Church, with early gravestones behind The round tower and St. Kevin's Church at the Glendalough monastic site in Co. Wicklow

Enjoy the scenic drive through the mountains passing Lough Tay on the way to Glendalough, the monastic site dating back to the 6th century. Visit Avoca Handweavers craft shop and cafe and settle back for the coastal drive back to Dublin via Killiney and Dalkey.

Glendalough and Avoca Day Tour

This is the classic Wicklow day, built around the monastic city at Glendalough. Book it as the Glendalough and Wicklow tour.

  • Pick up from your accommodation or cruise ship.
  • Sally Gap scenic mountain drive crossing the bridge from the 'P.S. I Love You' movie.
  • Scenic drive with great views of Lough Tay also known as the Guinness Lake.
  • Glendalough monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin.
  • Avoca Handweavers, cafe and craft shop.
  • Avoca Village, location for TV series Ballykissangel.
  • Coastal drive back to Dublin via Killiney and Dalkey.

Wicklow Gardens and Scenery Day Tour

For guests who would rather see gardens than ruins, the Wicklow Gardens and Scenery tour keeps the mountain drive but swaps Glendalough and Avoca for two of Ireland's finest gardens.

  • Pick up from your accommodation or cruise ship.
  • Powerscourt Estate and Gardens, 19 hectares (47 acres) of landscaped grounds with views to the Sugarloaf.
  • Sally Gap scenic mountain drive on the Military Road.
  • Lough Tay viewpoint, the lake also known as the Guinness Lake.
  • Kilmacurragh National Botanic Gardens, known for its rare trees and shrubs and a plant collection developed extensively during the nineteenth century.
  • Coastal drive back to Dublin via Killiney and Dalkey.

Pricing

Either tour costs €700 plus booking fees for up to 6 guests, the price is per vehicle, not per person. Admission fees and meals are not included in the tour price. The standard tour duration is 8 hours, with additional time available at an hourly rate.

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Wicklow from the air featuring Glendalough lake and monastic site, Glenmacnass Waterfall, Powerscourt House, Brittas Bay, The Avoca Valley and Powerscourt Waterfall

The Sally Gap and Lough Tay

The drive south from Dublin climbs quickly into the Wicklow Mountains. Within half an hour the suburbs give way to blanket bog, heather and open sky. The Military Road then carries you over the Sally Gap, one of only two east to west passes across these mountains. British forces built the Military Road between 1800 and 1809 in the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion.

Lough Tay lies below the cliffs of Luggala on the Luggala estate, historically associated with the Guinness family. Visitors know it as the Guinness Lake, because dark peaty water meets the bright white sand the family imported for the beach. Fans of the series Vikings will also recognize it as Kattegat. The lake itself stays private, so we stop at the viewpoint on the road above, where the Wicklow Way crosses.

Glendalough

No visit to Co. Wicklow is complete without exploring the ancient beauty of Glendalough. Nestled in a glacial valley, this monastic site is a testament to Ireland's rich cultural and religious history. Explore the monastic ruins around St. Kevin's Church and the round tower, marveling at the craftsmanship that has withstood the test of time.

Windy Upper Lake at Glendalough with a pebbly shore between steep wooded mountain slopes under a blue sky Glendalough Upper Lake on a windy day

The Glendalough Upper Lake and Lower Lake add to the area's allure, offering a perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll. Hike along the well marked trails, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and let the awe inspiring scenery transport you to a bygone era.

The round tower stands about 30 meters (100 feet) tall and once served as a bell tower and landmark. St. Kevin's Church, close by, keeps its steep stone roof and is known locally as St. Kevin's Kitchen. The twin arched gateway is the only surviving monastic entrance of its kind in Ireland. Glendalough also sits within Wicklow Mountains National Park, which protects almost 23,000 hectares of mountains and valleys.

Avoca and the Meeting of the Waters

South of Glendalough the landscape softens into farmland and river valleys. Avoca Handweavers began weaving here in 1723, and it remains the oldest working woolen mill in Ireland. You can watch the looms at work, browse the shop, then stop for lunch in the cafe.

Avoca village served as Ballykissangel in the BBC series of the 1990s, and the main street still draws visitors who remember the show. A little further up the valley, the Meeting of the Waters marks the joining of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers. Thomas Moore celebrated the spot in verse, and it makes a quiet, shaded stop.

Powerscourt Estate and Gardens

Powerscourt anchors the gardens tour, a short drive from Enniskerry. The grounds cover 19 hectares (47 acres), and the design dates from 1731 onward. National Geographic once ranked them third in its list of the world's top ten gardens.

You can wander the Italian Garden, the Japanese Gardens, the walled gardens and the Pepperpot Tower. The Avoca Terrace Cafe in Powerscourt House looks straight out toward the Sugarloaf. Powerscourt Waterfall lies a few miles away and charges its own admission, so tell us if you would like to add it.

Kilmacurragh National Botanic Gardens

Kilmacurragh sits south of Glendalough. The National Botanic Gardens care for the site today, and it is known for its rare trees and shrubs and a plant collection developed extensively during the nineteenth century. David Moore, his son Frederick, and the owner Thomas Acton developed the planting from about 1854.

The grounds hold rare trees gathered during a great age of plant hunting, many of them now among the tallest of their kind in Ireland. The Acton Cafe, in the restored courtyard, serves lunch made with local ingredients.

The Coast Road Back to Dublin

The return route leaves the mountains behind and follows the Irish Sea. Killiney Bay opens up on the descent, a sweep of water often compared with the Bay of Naples. Dalkey has a medieval castle, small harbors and views out to Dalkey Island, before we drop you back at your accommodation or your ship.

Planning Your Wicklow Day Tour

Either day runs about eight hours, so there is time to linger at each stop. Bring a light waterproof jacket, because mountain weather changes quickly even in summer. Comfortable shoes help too, whether you walk the trails at Glendalough or the garden paths at Powerscourt. For a sense of the seasons, see our Wicklow weather guide before you travel.