Places to Visit in Wicklow

Things to do and See in the Garden of Ireland

Sep 10, 2009 Jude Schweppe

Wicklow is without doubt one of the most picturesque counties in Ireland and well worth a visit on a trip to the Emerald Isle.

Situated along the East coast of Ireland and less than an hour’s drive from Dublin, Co. Wicklow has much to offer the tourist, from stunning mountain walks, to breathtaking lakes and some of the most beautiful beaches on the East coast. By basing yourself, either in Wicklow town itself or South Dublin, many of its main attractions can be reached by bus.

A Day Out in the Wicklow Countryside

A trip to Glendalough, situated in the Wicklow Mountains makes for a wonderful day out, and if the weather is good, there are few places more serene or beautiful in the whole country. With its medieval Round Tower and Monastery there is plenty for the keen historian to explore, while a walk around the lakes and surrounding area is a must for every nature lover. Buses leave for Glendalough on a daily basis from both Dublin and Wicklow in the summer months, and there are a number of B&Bs and a hostel for anyone who fancies staying for a day or two.

Beach lovers should certainly make their way to one of the many golden beaches that stretch for miles along the Wicklow coast – Brittas Bay being the biggest and most popular of these stunning sandy stretches. The beach is not served by public transport, so the best plan is to hire a car for a few days and make the beach one of the stop off points on your touring itinerary.

Eating and Drinking in Wicklow Town

Wicklow town itself is a small but busy town and makes an excellent base for touring the rest of the county. It has one big hotel – The Grand Hotel, and a number of smaller hotels and B&Bs both in the town itself and within walking distance on the outskirts. As with most Irish towns it has numerous pubs, which in recent years have been transformed from old men’s drinking emporiums to stylish gastro pubs offering tasty snacks and main meals.

There are also a number of very good restaurants in the town and after a day tramping through the Wicklow hills the weary walker can refuel on Italian, Thai, Chinese or Indian, and of course the old reliable ‘meat and two veg’ that is served in the majority of Irish pubs and hotels.

Just outside Wicklow town, in a small village called Ashford, you'll find Mount Usher Gardens – beautifully landscaped grounds that are a delight to walk around at any time of year. The courtyard contains coffee shops and a number of beautiful craft and country fare shops selling everything from teapots to saddles! Buses run from Wicklow town on a regular basis and stop five minutes walk from the gardens. To avoid going too far and ending up on the main road to Dublin, make sure to ask the bus driver where to get off.

Johnnie Fox's Pub, Wicklow

Finally, no trip to Wicklow would be complete without a visit to Johnnie Fox’s pub. Nestled in the quaint township of Glencullen in the Wicklow Mountains, it is the highest pub in Ireland and is famous throughout the country for its delicious food, traditional music sessions, Dancing Hooley and of course that world renowned Irish ‘craic’. Unfortunately it is not very well served by public transport but if you can get there, either by car or bus, it is well worth the effort.

The copyright of the article Places to Visit in Wicklow in U.K./Ireland Travel is owned by Jude Schweppe. Permission to republish Places to Visit in Wicklow in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Glendalough