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Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow & Glendalough Tour & Sheepdog Show
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This full-day trip from Dublin packs three genuinely different experiences into one, and the variety is what makes it one of the highest-rated day tours in Ireland, with over 3,400 reviews. Ancient monastic ruins, a live sheepdog show on a working farm, and free time in one of Ireland’s most beautiful medieval cities - all without hiring a car or planning a thing.
Glendalough comes first. The glacial valley holds the ruins of Saint Kevin’s 6th-century monastic settlement, a round tower that has stood for over a thousand years, Celtic crosses, and two lakes wrapped in forested hills. You get 1.5 hours here, which is plenty to walk the main paths and take it all in. The drive through the Wicklow Mountains on the way is spectacular in its own right, passing landscapes that served as filming locations for Braveheart and P.S. I Love You.
The sheepdog demonstration is the surprise highlight for many people. At a working Irish farm, you watch expertly trained border collies respond to whistled commands and herd sheep across open fields with real precision. If the timing works out, there may be lambs to feed or collie pups to meet.
From there, the tour continues south to Kilkenny, where you have two hours of free time. The city is a pleasure to explore on foot - Kilkenny Castle and its gardens, the medieval mile of cobblestone streets, craft shops, and pubs that have been pouring pints for centuries. Your guide will point you toward the best options for lunch before you set off.
At Glendalough: with 1.5 hours, you can cover the main monastic site and get as far as the Upper Lake. The flat Green Road path runs from the visitor centre along the Lower Lake, past the round tower and the cathedral ruins, to the boardwalk at the foot of the Upper Lake - about 3km return and entirely accessible. The round tower is 30 metres of mica-slate and granite, built around the 10th or 11th century, with the doorway set 3.5 metres off the ground as a defensive measure against Viking raids. If you want to go beyond the obvious, the Poulanass Waterfall trail branches from the Upper Lake car park through oak woods to a 30-metre cascade - about 1.5km return and worth the short detour. Stay on the paths and keep to the lower valley; the Spinc ridge walk above the Upper Lake is spectacular but needs a full 4 hours. More walks and practical advice at Glendalough.
At Kilkenny: two hours is enough to walk the Medieval Mile from the castle to St Canice’s Cathedral if you move with purpose, but the better approach is to pick a direction and go slowly. The castle parkland behind the gates is free and covers fifty acres along the River Nore. Tynan’s Bridge House on John’s Bridge is the pub most locals will mention - no food, no music, just a Victorian bar and what’s widely considered the best pint of stout in the city. For lunch, Foodworks on Parliament Street does a good brunch and walk-ins at the bar if the dining room is full. The city is compact - fifteen minutes end to end on foot - so you have more room than it sounds. Castle entrance is optional and costs a small fee; the exterior and the castle gardens are free. Full food and pub guide at Kilkenny.
Glendalough timing: the tour’s 1.5 hours at Glendalough is best used on the lower valley walk rather than doubling back to the visitor centre café. Pack a snack and save your appetite for Kilkenny, where the food options are considerably better.
Kilkenny: what to skip in two hours: skip driving into the city centre - the medieval street plan was not designed for coaches - and skip the Kyteler’s Inn dinner queue on a Saturday unless you have time to spare. One drink in the historic cellar is worth it; sitting down to eat is a different calculation on a two-hour window.