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Award Winning Private Tour of Glendalough, Powerscourt & Wicklow
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From €830 per person
Wicklow - the Garden of Ireland - is only thirty minutes south of Dublin, but it feels like a world away. Mountains, hidden lakes, sandy beaches, bogs and quiet villages sit at the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, and this six-hour private tour gives you a proper look at three of its best spots.
You’ll walk in the footsteps of St Kevin at Glendalough’s 6th-century monastic site, explore the story of the 1798 Irish Rebellion at Wicklow Jail, and wander the beautiful gardens at Powerscourt. If time allows, there’s also a photo stop at Powerscourt Waterfall - the largest in Ireland. Your guide is a natural storyteller who genuinely knows and loves this part of the country, and they’ll help you make the most of the day.
Round-trip transfer from anywhere in Dublin is included. Free Wi-Fi is available on some vehicles.
At Glendalough, the flat walk between the lakes is the one to do. The Green Road runs from the visitor centre along the Lower Lake, past the round tower, through the woods, and out to the boardwalk at the foot of the Upper Lake - about 3 km return and manageable for all fitness levels. It takes you past the round tower, the cathedral ruins and several of the smaller church sites in one easy loop. The dramatic Spinc ridge walk is 9 km and needs boots and a full morning - that’s for another day.
The round tower doorway is 3.5 metres off the ground. That is not a quirk of design - when the Vikings came up the valley looking for monastery silver, the monks pulled the ladder up after them. Your guide will have the full story, but it’s worth knowing before you arrive so you’re looking for it rather than past it.
At Powerscourt Gardens, allow more time than you think. The formal gardens cover roughly 20 hectares and the Italian terrace alone can eat half an hour. National Geographic ranked them third in the world behind Versailles and Kew - the Italian terraces, the Japanese garden, and the Triton Lake all need time. If a photo stop at the waterfall is on the itinerary, it’s a separate 20-minute drive from the main gardens. Let your guide know in advance if Powerscourt Waterfall is a priority - on a short day the logistics matter. The village of Enniskerry is a five-minute drive from the estate gates: Poppies on the square has been doing proper soup and home baking since 1982, which makes it a better lunch than the estate café if the schedule allows.
Wicklow Gaol is currently closed for major renovation - check the tour operator’s itinerary notes before booking if the Gaol is specifically the reason you want this stop. The town itself, with the Black Castle ruins on the headland and the harbour walk, is worth the stop regardless.