Glendalough & Kilkenny From Dublin Full Day - Private Driver

About This Tour

This is a 10-hour private day out with a dedicated driver-guide, designed to show you a genuine slice of what Ireland looks like beyond the capital. You’ll cover the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, a local sheepdog demonstration, and a couple of hours of free time in Kilkenny.

It’s relaxed in pace - you’ll stop at viewpoints along the way, and the Kilkenny stop gives you time to grab lunch in a pub, try a pint, or have a look around the castle at your own pace.

What’s Included

• Private transportation
• Bottled water
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• English guide

What’s Not Included

• Lunch
• Gratuities

Itinerary

1. Dublin to Lough Tay via the Wicklow Mountains - You head out of Dublin and into the mountains, stopping at viewpoints along the way. The highlight of this stretch is Lough Tay - better known as the Guinness Lake - one of the most beautiful spots in Wicklow. (60 min)
2. Lough Tay - A second stop at the Guinness Lake to take it in properly. (15 min)
3. Glendalough - Step into the 6th century at St Kevin’s Monastery. The monastic settlement ruins sit in a stunning valley with lakes, rolling streams, and forest trails. A genuinely special place to spend an hour. (60 min)
4. Kilkenny - Free time in this medieval city to explore as you like. Grab lunch in one of the pubs, sample a Guinness, do some shopping for local crafts and produce, or take an optional tour of Kilkenny Castle - built in 1260 to control a crossing of the River Nore and still remarkably well preserved. (120 min)
5. Return to Dublin - A relaxed drive back to your hotel, with plenty of time to compare notes on the day. (90 min)

Good to Know

• This is a private tour, conducted in English
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; infant seats are available
• Service animals are welcome
• Public transport options are available nearby
• Suitable for all fitness levels

Local Tips

At Glendalough, one hour is just enough for the monastic city and the Lower Lake walk. Head to the round tower first - the doorway is three and a half metres off the ground because the monks pulled the ladder up when the Vikings arrived. Then take the Green Road west along the Lower Lake through the woods. The river path is flat and genuinely beautiful. You won’t reach the Upper Lake in an hour, but the journey toward it through the oak wood is the thing.

The road from Dublin through the Wicklow Mountains passes through Roundwood. That’s officially Ireland’s highest village, at 238 metres. The Roundwood Inn there has been going since the 17th century and is known for its open fire and Wicklow game in season - worth filing away for a return visit with more time.

In Kilkenny, two hours works if you pick a lane and walk it. The castle gardens are free and worth ten minutes. For the castle interior, get your ticket quickly - queues build. The walk up the Butter Slip to the High Street takes you past the Black Abbey (free, 13th century, five minutes) and on to St Canice’s Cathedral at the top of the town, where you can climb a 9th-century round tower for a view over the medieval city. Castle to cathedral and back is a kilometre and a half.

For lunch in Kilkenny, Tynan’s Bridge House on John’s Bridge is reckoned by the locals to pour the best pint of stout in the city - a Victorian bar with a tiled floor and no food, which means a pint and a wander. For a meal, Foodworks on Parliament Street does a solid lunch; Rinuccini opposite the castle does Italian with daily-made pasta. Both are a short walk from the castle gates.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Glendalough - A 6th-century monastic city at the foot of a glacial valley with two lakes, a 30-metre round tower, and woodland trails that feel unlike anywhere else in Leinster.
• Kilkenny - The Medieval Mile runs from Kilkenny Castle to St Canice’s Cathedral through a kilometre and a half of Norman lanes - Ireland’s smallest city with its largest hurling reputation.