Destinations > Ireland > Leinster > County Wicklow

County Wicklow

The county immediately south of Dublin is known as the garden of Ireland and it's a popular weekend getaway for Dubliners. Much of the county is taken up by the rolling Wicklow Mountains, which the energetic can traverse on the Wicklow Way hiking trail.

Wicklow (Cill Mhantáin)

This seaside town is a pleasant spot to break the drive south from Dublin. Some travellers use the town as a base for visiting the Wicklow Mountains.

Practical Information

Wicklow Tourist Information Centre

Fitzwilliam Square, Wicklow

Tel (0404) 69117

Website www.wicklow.ie/tourism

Open Jan-May Mon-Fri 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-5.30pm; Jun-Sep Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9.30am-6.30pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-5.30pm

Coming & Going

BUS

Bus Éireann (website www.buseireann.ie) buses connect Wicklow with Dublin, Waterford and Wexford with buses departing from the Grand Hotel.

TRAIN

Wicklow is on the train line linking Dublin with Wexford and Rosslare Harbour. The station is on Church Street, a 15-minute walk from the town centre.

Sights

Wicklow's Historic Gaol

This historic prison is run as a museum showing how prisoners were treated in the 18th century.

Kilmantin Hill, Wicklow

Tel (0404) 61599

Website www.wicklowshistoricgaol.com

Admission €6.50 (€4.50 students)

Open Apr-Oct 10am-5pm daily

Wicklow Mountains National Park

This picturesque area of low mountains and rolling countryside contains the Wicklow Way, a hiking trail that passes by several An Óige youth hostels.

Picturesque Glendalough is the most visited spot in the park. This valley has a couple of lakes and the monastery established by St Kevin in the 6th century.

Practical Information

Glendalough National Park Information Centre

Tel (0404) 45425

Website www.heritageireland.ie

Open Apr Sat-Sun 10am-6pm; May-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep Sat-Sun 10am-6pm

Glendalough Tourist Information Centre

Tel (0404) 45688

Website www.wicklow.ie/tourism

Open Jun-Sep Mon-Sat 10am-1pm & 2pm-6pm

Coming & Going

Bus Éireann (website www.buseireann.ie) and St Kevin's Bus Service (tel (01) 281 8119) run buses from Dublin to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains.

Accommodation

Glencree Centre for Reconcilliation

Glencree Centre, Glencree, Enniskerry, Wicklow

Tel (01) 282 9711

Glendaloch International Youth Hostel

The Lodge, Glendalough, County Wicklow

Tel (0404) 45342

Glenmalure Youth Hostel

Glenmalure, Greenane, County Wicklow

Tel (01) 830 4555

Knockree Youth Hostel

Lacken House, Knockree, Near Enniskerry, County Wicklow

Tel (01) 286 4036

Mountain Ventures Hostel

Ballinclea, County Wicklow

Tel (045) 404657

Tiglin Youth Hostel

R 763, Devil's Glen (near Ashford), Co Wicklow

Tel (0404) 49049

Sights

Glendalough Visitor Centre

Set on a monastic site founded by St Kevin in the 6th century, the Glendalough Visitor Centre has an exhibition about the site and also shows an audio-visual presentation.

Glendalough, Co Wicklow

Tel (0404) 45352

Website www.heritageireland.ie

Admission €2.75 (€1.25 students)

Open Jan-mid Mar 9.30am-5pm daily; mid Mar-mid Oct 9.30am-6pm daily; mid-Oct-Dec 9.30am-5pm daily