Kilkenny and the Wicklow Mountains

When you step away from the urban area of Dublin, you will find Ireland to have a lot of rolling green hills, and vibrant fields of flora and bush. I wanted to explore these areas, so for this part of the adventure I hopped onto the Paddywagon bus in Dublin, and headed south towards the Irish countryside of County Wicklow and County Kilkenny for a tour of these areas.

County Wicklow

County Wicklow is known as the Hollywood of Europe, and there is a quaint small town with the same name as its California counterpart. It is the backdrop of many well known movies that includes PS I Love You, and Braveheart. Needless to say, if you are a movie buff, you’d likely enjoy this area. The following three photos are what I took while visiting the town.

Wicklow Mountains National Park

Covering 20,483 hectares, and after visiting Hollywood, we drove to the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Here you can enjoy the rolling hills of the Wicklow Mountains, the magnificent bogs, the forests, and waterfalls. Should you decide to do any recreation activities at Wicklow Mountain National Park, please read some necessary information here.

Tucked away within the National Park is a place known as the Wicklow Gap, and it is a 26 km section that stretches from Hollywood to Laragh. It is called Wicklow Gap Road, and it is one of two routes that crosses the Wicklow Mountains from east to west (the other is a road through the Sally Gap in North Wicklow). This road through the Wicklow Gap offers an important regional route through the mountains, and a popular biking and tourist route because of the many spectacular scenery you’ll encounter along the way. One of the things I learned about this area was that Wicklow used to be a forest of oak and spruce trees before the trees were cut down, and that mining was in the area until the 1950s.

Glendalough

Also within the beautiful Irish countryside of County Wicklow, you’ll have the pleasure of encountering the 501 metre tall Great Sugar Loaf Mountain. For those with any mobility concerns, it is a easy hike should you want to attempt it. Although the worst part was nearing the summit; you’ll have to be a bit more cautious for the final 40 metres or so. Now to give my readers context, the tallest peak in Ireland is Carrauntoohil, and it is 1,034 metres high, while the tallest peak in my home country is Mount Logan at 5,959 metres. Quite the difference to say the least.

For all you history buffs, our stop in Glendalough contained a ton of history in this pristine area. I walked around the ruined monastic city famed for St. Kevin’s Cross and its Round Tower dating back to 11th century. I also walked through a small forest of trees, and happened upon the stone ruin of St. Kevin’s Kitchen. It has amazing stone masonry, and the Christian monasteries are unlike anything I have seen before. Here are some other photos that I took during my time in Glendalough.

I also took some time to leisurely stroll along the river banks through the woods to the clear lakes that reflect the banks so exquisitely. Not to mention the various brooks that flowed through the landscape; all of which are truly stunning to see. For those with any mobility concerns, the walking distance was easy but be mindful of the stone and dirt pathways.

County Kilkenny

Ah Kilkenny, a wonderful city that was built by the Normans, and once the capital of Ireland in the middle-ages. It is renowned for Kilkenny Castle, which dates back to 12th century, as well as St. Canice’s Cathedral and round tower. I decided to walk in and around Kilkenny Castle. It had many beautiful rooms some with marble fireplace mantles, and huge tapestries. There was a lot of history in this medieval town. I learned a lot about Oliver Cromwell from visiting Kilkenny, and he doesn’t have a good name in Ireland from my understanding.

Below are some of my photos from my walk around Kilkenny Castle.

Outside of the Kilkenny Castle grounds, you’ll find narrow street and colorful shops and buildings. I walked up the main shop area and came across the cathedral but due to time constraints, I did not go inside. There is a lot of walking in Kilkenny, so you have to be sure to pace yourself.

Finally, I suggest taking the time to enjoy a pint of Smithwick’s while in Kilkenny :o)

Well, this is it for now. The Celtic tour is next; which is another historical exploration, but this time of County Meath. Don’t forget you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Until next time…