Staycation Special: "A land of mountains, coastline, and fresh air, Wicklow earns its nickname as the Garden County"

Wicklow

A land of mountains, coastline, and fresh air, Wicklow earns its nickname as the Garden County. It’s close enough to Dublin for a day trip, but wild and varied enough to warrant a much longer stay.

Wicklow is all about being outdoors. While there are too many walks and viewpoints to list, Glendalough is perhaps the most well-known attraction thanks to its glacial valley, twin lakes, and a sixth-century monastic site featuring one of Ireland’s best-preserved round towers. After a picturesque, 40-minute drive, you can reach another landmark: the Sugar Loaf. Its distinctive peak offers rewarding views for relatively little hiking effort.

For a fairytale woodland walk, the Ballinastoe Woods trail is a pleasant route near the Sally Gap drive that opens out to fine views of Lough Tay (also known as the Guinness Lake), Luggala, and the Irish sea at the top. (It’s also near the P.S. I Love You Bridge, for the rom-com fans.)

The Blessington Greenway is ideal for families, offering a flat, easy path around the lake, with picnic facilities, a restaurant, and food trucks on hand at The Avon (The Burgage, Blessington). Similarly, Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest, makes for a relaxed afternoon out, with plenty of open space and on-site barbecues.

Easily accessible from Dublin via train and bus, The Bray Head Loop Walk provides coastal views across the sea, Dublin Bay, and the Wicklow Mountains in one go, with Bray itself offering a plethora of food and drink options to keep you refreshed afterwards.

For more serious walkers, the Wicklow Way runs from Marlay Park in Dublin all the way to County Carlow, typically taking a week on foot through the heart of the county. The route comprises most of the landmarks mentioned above and plenty more scenic spots like the less-busy Glenmalure Valley. Along the Way, The Dying Cow (somewhere between Tinahely and Shilleagh) is a tiny, traditional Irish pub with live trad and a pint so good it’s worth every step.

The Dying Cow

Where To Stay:

The five-star Powerscourt Hotel (Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry) is the top-end option, with a spa, fine dining, loads of nature to explore, and mountain views to match. For something more affordable and a whole lot more Jane Austen, Tinakilly House outside Wicklow town is a Victorian-era manor oozing with charm. It boasts spacious and cosy rooms, a great bar, as well as stunning sea views and gardens.

Where To Eat:

The Wicklow Heather (Glendalough Road) has been feeding hikers and locals on the doorstep of Glendalough for over 50 years, providing hearty fare from breakfast to dinner. As a coastal county, you should take the chance to indulge in some maritime delights. Opened in 2020 in Wicklow Town, Blue (S Quay) has established itself as a fine purveyor of seafood and more.

The Wicklow Heather

Don’t Miss:

A trip to an outdoor sports store before your visit. As pretty as those mountains are, you won’t want to be caught in a bad pair of shoes or without a jacket if the weather changes!

Read the full Staycation Special in the current issue of Hot Press: