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Private Tour from Dublin to Powerscourt House and Glendalough
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From €850 per person
County Wicklow earns its nickname as the “Garden of Ireland,” and this private day tour gives you a proper look at why. You’ll head south from Dublin into the Wicklow Mountains, stop at Lough Tay, explore the ancient monastic valley of Glendalough, and finish at Powerscourt - one of Ireland’s finest estates, with 47 acres of gardens and views of Sugarloaf Mountain.
It’s a private tour with a dedicated English-speaking guide and an air-conditioned vehicle, so the pace is yours to set.
Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough - 3 hours (includes travel from your hotel)
The drive through the Wicklow Mountains is worth the trip on its own - rolling hills covered in heather, lush valleys, and glimpses of ancient woodland. You’ll arrive at Glendalough, a valley monastery founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin. The remains include a well-preserved round tower, one of the most recognisable landmarks in Wicklow, along with the ruins of several early churches. It’s a quietly remarkable place.
Lough Tay - 1 hour
Tucked into the Wicklow Mountains, Lough Tay is known locally as the “Guinness Lake” - its dark waters and white sandy shore really do resemble a pint of stout. It’s a popular photography spot and has appeared in several films and TV productions. The surrounding scenery of heather-covered slopes and rugged peaks makes it worth a proper stop.
Powerscourt House and Gardens - 2 hours (admission not included)
Powerscourt Estate has been here since the 13th century, when it was a castle. The current Palladian mansion dates from the 18th century and the gardens that surround it span over 47 acres. You’ll find Italian terraces, a Japanese garden, a Triton Lake with classical statues, and a Walled Garden that’s particularly good in bloom. The whole thing sits against views of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Admission is approximately €14 per person. If you’d like to skip the queues, a concierge option is available - the tour team can purchase tickets on your behalf, charged separately after booking.
Powerscourt Waterfall - 2 hours (includes travel back to your hotel)
Ireland’s highest waterfall at 121 metres sits within the Powerscourt Estate, surrounded by beech, oak, and pine trees. The flow is most dramatic after heavy rain. There are trails through the woodland, and red squirrels and deer are regular visitors. It’s a lovely way to wind down the day before heading back to Dublin.
Time Glendalough to beat the coaches. The valley gets busy from mid-morning. If your itinerary allows flexibility, ask your guide to hit Glendalough first and early - before ten, you’ll have the round tower and the graveyard almost to yourselves. The round tower’s doorway is three and a half metres off the ground (it was built that way deliberately, to keep Vikings out), and you want to be looking up at it without a queue around you.
Walk between the two lakes. The Green Road from the visitor centre along the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake takes about 25 minutes each way and passes the main monastic ruins. It’s flat, buggy-friendly, and far better than staying near the visitor centre car park. The Upper Lake is noticeably quieter and the views up into the glacial valley are worth the extra steps.
Powerscourt waterfall timing. The 121-metre waterfall is at its most dramatic after wet weather - which in Wicklow is most weather. The woodland trails loop through beech and oak, and deer are common in the late afternoon. It’s a calmer end to the day than the formal gardens, and a good place to let the afternoon slow down before the drive home.
The actual village is Laragh. If you need lunch or a coffee break near Glendalough, Laragh is 1.5km east of the monastic site - that’s where the pubs and cafés are. Trinity Mountain Bothy does good soup and sandwiches for walkers; Lynhams of Laragh is the local pub with food, open late by local standards. Both are quieter than anything at the visitor centre.
Enniskerry and the Powerscourt Estate. The Powerscourt gardens and waterfall sit just outside Enniskerry, a small estate village 40 minutes south of Dublin. The village square has Poppies café (open since 1982, good soup and home baking) if you want something before or after the estate. The waterfall is 6km from the gardens by road - a separate car park and separate entry fee - and the woodland trails at the base are worth the detour, especially in the afternoon when the deer come out.