Travellers who want to cover a difficult route without hiring a car.
day trips IrelandMe tour notes
Dublin to Wicklow, Glendalough Small Group Tour with Horse Riding
Small group day tour from Dublin combining 1.5 hours horse riding at Killegar Stables in Wicklow with a visit to Glendalough's 6th-century monastic valley.
From €125 starting price · live price may vary
Check dates & prices ↗ Free cancellation on most dates · Booked securely with Viator
Duration8 hours
PriceFrom €125
Rating4.7 from 526 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
This tour combines two of Wicklow's best offerings: horse riding in the mountains and the ancient monastic valley at Glendalough. The horse ride runs for approximately 2 hours and is central to the day, not just a brief add-on. You'll be assessed at Killegar Stables before heading out on a track nearby, so all experience levels are welcome.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
At Killegar Stables: You'll be assessed before heading out, so don't worry if your riding experience is limited - the stables cater to all levels. Boots and helmets are supplied. Jeans are the right call for the ride; avoid loose trousers. The 1.5 hours in the saddle is through Wicklow countryside, not just an arena loop, so the assessment is about matching you to the right horse rather than a pass/fail.
What the price covers
- Horse riding in Wicklow
- Local guide
- Driver/guide
- Live commentary on board
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
- Pick-up from the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street at 9:20am - please arrive 10 minutes early (5 min)
- Killegar Stables - horse riding (90 min) - You'll be assessed at the stables before heading out on a track nearby. Approximately 1.5 hours in the saddle. Boots and helmets are supplied by the stables; jeans are recommended.
- Enniskerry Village lunch stop (45 min) - Poppies Cafe is recommended for its locally produced food and wide range of options to suit everyone.
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (60 min) - After lunch, the tour continues through the National Park.
- Lough Tay - the Guinness Lake (20 min) - Set in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, this lake was a filming location for both the "Vikings" series and "Braveheart". A good spot to stop for pictures.
- Sally Gap (20 min) - A very scenic spot in County Wicklow with a few stops along the way.
- St Kevin's 6th-century monastic site, Glendalough (30 min) - You'll visit this ancient monastic settlement and have time to take in the valley and its two lakes.
- Free time to explore Glendalough Valley and its two lakes (60 min)
Meeting point: The Molly Malone statue sits outside a large stone church on Suffolk Street.
Local tips that make the day better
Enniskerry lunch stop: The tour points you to Poppies Café on the village square, which is exactly right - it's been open since 1982, the soup is made on the day, and the home baking is the sort of thing you'd come back for. Forty-five minutes is comfortable for a sit-down lunch. Enniskerry itself is a Victorian estate village - the square is small and well-kept, and Powerscourt estate is just up the road if you have any interest in seeing some of the most celebrated gardens in Europe (though you won't have time on this itinerary).
At Glendalough: The guided section covers the monastic core - the round tower, the cathedral, the story of St Kevin's monastery. Your free hour afterwards is when the valley opens up. Walk the flat Green Road between the Lower and Upper Lake (3 km return, good underfoot) and you'll pass nine of the monastic ruins in the process. The Upper Lake is where the crowds thin and the real Wicklow starts. Deer come out of the woods in the late afternoon on the Lower Lake side. The Glendalough Hotel bar is literally beside the car park if you want a pint before the drive back.
What to wear: After the horse ride you'll have the rest of the day walking. Jeans work for both, but bring a light layer - the Sally Gap and Glendalough can be cold even in summer. Food and drinks aren't included, so pack something for the morning and budget for Poppies at lunch.
Good to know before booking
- Specialised infant seats are available
- You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be at least 14 years old and accompanied by an adult
- Jeans are recommended; boots and helmets are supplied by the stables
- Pick-up is from the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street at 9:20am
- Maximum group size of 8
Make more of the area
- Glendalough - a 6th-century monastic city in a glacial valley with two lakes; St Kevin came here to get away from people, people followed him, and a thousand years later the coaches still come at half ten - but arrive early or stay late and the valley is entirely different
- Enniskerry - built around Powerscourt estate, with gardens National Geographic ranked third in the world behind Versailles and Kew; the 1974 fire gutted the house the week after its restoration was finally completed, and the gardens survived intact
Questions before you book
How long is Dublin to Wicklow, Glendalough Small Group Tour with Horse Riding?
The published duration is 8 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Dublin to Wicklow, Glendalough Small Group Tour with Horse Riding cost?
The listed starting price is From €125. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €125 · 8 hours Check dates & prices ↗
