Glendalough

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Wicklow Mountains National Park

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Leesa
Leesa
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A Glen for a Walk in Wicklow

  • August 11, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by ChocolateLady from Jerusalem, Israel
A Glen for a Walk in Wicklow

In the heart of Wicklow county is the Wicklow Mountains National Park, also known as Glendalough. There are several walks to the park, ranging from 30 minutes to over two hours and perfect for both the novice and experienced walkers alike.

While easily accessible by car, there are also bus tours to this park from Dublin that make this approachable for all visitors.

The most beautiful part of the walk are the waterfalls, but the vistas from the walks themselves are lovely and lush - even in the summer.

If you park near the main section, and don't want to see their movie about the area, this will cost you nothing at all but time. Another carpark down the road that has other walks starting from the other end of the larger lake will cost you to leave your car, so if you're on a tight budget, leave your car at the first lot and take a longer walk.

While not terribly unique (there's a much nicer waterfall at Usher), it certainly is lovely and you can stop anywhere along the way and just enjoy the views. The problem is, choosing which view you'd like to stop at!

We took one of the longer walks that went from the lower lake up to the waterfall and then along the range that took us back to the parking lot. The climb up to the waterfall was a touch steep, but nothing overly difficult, and that was the hardest part of the whole walk. It might actually be better to do it in the opposite direction that we did - going from the parking lot, up along the mountain range to the waterfall and then back down from there to the Monastic site. While this would be a less steep walk it does leave the best parts to last. If you're in Wicklow county, you really should visit this park.

Words just don't do Ireland justice, so take a look at the pictures - they're worth thousands!

From journal Short Break to Ireland Via the UK

Editor Pick

Glendalough

  • May 9, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by rufusni from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Glendalough

Glendalough is in the Wicklow mountains, a short drive from the city of Dublin. Its name comes from the Irish - Gleann dá locha which tranlated means the ‘Glen of the two lakes’. And yes there are two lakes, known as the upper and lower lakes. The scenery is beautiful, but Glendalough is known because it is the site of an ancient monastic community, with its distinctive round tower.

Glendalough wasn't chosen for its beauty, but rather its remoteness meaning solitude and a lack of comforts. The monks came here to commit to an ascetic life of prayer, firstly Saint Kevin and a few monks who followed him built temporary dwellings. Given the martyrdom of many of the saints much earlier, such as in the Roman empire, the Irish had a problem, as there was not this sort of persecution. So in their creativeness they came up with the concept of green martyrdom, were you didn't die but gave up life in a different sense. Saint Kevin was probably not the most successful green martyr or hermit, as a monastic community developed around him.

The earliest part of the monastic community is at the upper lake, but as the community grew, a new community was built at the lower lake, which was built with greater permenance in mind than the original huts that the first monks lived in. The monastic village is quite a site with the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul with its ruined romanseque arches and the distinctive round tower. Ruins also remain of a guest house, as Glendalough became an important pilgrammage site, and several churches but the most intact church can only be viewed from the exterior for safety reasons, the numbers of churches reveal the communities commitment to prayer and the number of visiting pilgrams, as well as many patrons of the community to give money. The round tower is still complete, but its purpose has been debated between a watchtower, a place of safety to escape trouble below, to store items of value or to be used as a 'bell tower'. To divide such uses as separate is difficult, but it seems to have been a common feature of many monastic communities, with trouble being taken to construct in the circular shape. There is also St Kevins Cross, which is a celtic cross, with the distinctive circle added, in this case a circle and not a ring. It should be noted that in the monastic village grounds is now a graveyard. At the upper lake are the remains of another church, Reefert church which is the oldest church of the site, were Saint Kevin was buried. There are also several stone circles, which have been suggested as being aids to prayer for the monks.

In terms of practicalities, this is a short drive by car from Dublin. There are also several options with bus tours and so on to reach Glendalough. There are two car parks one at the upper lake and one close to the monastic village site, which also has an information centre, were leftlets, maps and so on can be acquired. Its quite feasible to walk between the two lakes, though the path is quite stony, so sandals and high heels are not probably the best option here. There are also miles of walks into the hills above which are clearly marked, if you are feeling energetic. At the upper lake carpark there is a small kiosk selling a small menu of fast food, and snacks and drinks, but there are quite a few pubs and resturants around the village.

I love coming here, as an insight into the history of Ireland and the scenery is simply stunning with mountains, lakes and river as a backdrop, but also for the atmosphere. There is a spiritual dimension to the place - you can almost hear the prayers of the monastic community that were here still reverberating hundreds of years later. This is a great trip out of Dublin to see some of the countryside, and I would recommend it highly.

From journal Dublin Delights

Glorious Glendalough

  • December 27, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by fatjaz from London, United Kingdom
Glorious Glendalough

The Glendalough valley is one of the most impressive sights I have ever seen, and possibly the best in Ireland. Most people come to Glendalough to see the Celtic monastery founded in the 6th century. Whilst this is well worth a visit, it's setting is far more impressive. Around you is a great valley, and on a clear day the view is immense. If you're lucky enough to drive down, then you get to see the valley from an array of angles.

The monastery itself has loads of interesting things to see. The imposing 12th century St Kevin's Cross is very impressive, and is accompanied by a round tower that has its entrance well above head height - they obviously didn't like guests.

The cathedral is great, and there's a handy visitor's centre with lots to see and do.

With easy access from Dublin by bus or car, Glendalough is a real must to get a feel of Celtic life and culture, whilst not venturing far from the city.

From journal Random days in Dublin

Walking in Wicklow

  • December 27, 2001
  • Rated 3 of 5 by fatjaz from London, United Kingdom
Walking in Wicklow

There a few beautiful places to visit just outside Dublin if you like walking or scenery. The Wicklow Mountains is great for a day trip. These are really just hills outside south Dublin. They're easily accessible by buses from the town, and they are worth walking through.

At the foot of the mountains is a golf course, and as you gradually climb higher you get better and better views of Dublin.

The walking itself is not too hard going and the surrounding trees and plants are interesting. The Dublin climate is a little wet so everything seems to thrive up here.

There are several paths that you can take through the mountains, all of which seem safe and you're never too far from civilisation.

If you like a day-trip for some reasonable walking, then the Wicklow Mountains will be of real interest to you whilst in Dublin.

From journal Random days in Dublin

Glendalough - Day Trip from Dublin

  • November 28, 2001
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Leesa from Brighton, United Kingdom
Glendalough is one of Ireland's most important monastic sites, although its hard to appreciate as a non-historian. Essentially its a few basic stone building with a stone chimney-like tower, and plenty of celtic crosses in the cemetary.

With the monastery's wonderfully isolated setting and the drive through the Wicklow Mountains to get there, Glendalough is a good introduction to some of Ireland’s more rugged scenery as well as being an important ancient monastic settlement.

From journal Dublin's Highlights & Lowlights

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