The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour incl. Glendalough

This Dublin to Wicklow day trip is interesting because it takes you from the city into Wicklow rough scenery, then finishes at Glendalough. I love the early Killiney Hill walk, with Dublin Bay views that make the city feel very far away. I also love the guided Glendalough stop, including the Round Tower, plus time you can spend heading toward the upper lake if the weather behaves.

The main tradeoff is that lunch is not included, so you will pay at the pub or choose a deli-style option in the village.

Key things that make this Wicklow day tick

• Small-group coach feel with a max of 37, plus air-conditioned comfort for a long day
• Killiney Hill + Wicklow Mountains in one go, with viewpoints you cannot easily reach without a car
• Sally Gap and Lough Tay for heath and bog views, plus the Guinness Lake film-stopping vibe
• Avoca Handweavers for craft shopping and a proper Irish tea break
• Glendalough time with a guide, Round Tower included, plus a choice to walk toward the upper lake
• Glendalough whiskey tasting at the end, a fun final nudge before heading back to Dublin

How this tour gets you out of Dublin without stress

If your plan is Dublin for a few days, you will quickly hit the problem of time and logistics. This tour solves it by turning the day into a planned route, with a professional guide and a coach that goes where big highway-only plans miss the good angles.

For me, the sweet spot is that you are not stuck doing all the hard work yourself. You ride out, you stop often enough to feel like you truly left the city, and you get enough guided context that the sites make sense instead of feeling like postcard scenery.

You also get a group size that is not huge. The tour runs with a maximum of 37, and on some days it feels close to a smaller crowd, which helps everyone hear the guide and move at a sane pace.

Meet-up, coach comfort, and what the day feels like

You start with a meet-up at central Dublin pickup points, with options in both North and South Dublin. From there, you travel in an air-conditioned coach, and that matters in winter, when Wicklow can be damp and cold.

The day runs about 8 hours 30 minutes. That is long enough to feel like a proper outing, but it still finishes before you feel totally fried. If you like your travel days structured, you will probably find this fits well.

One practical note: this is a “walk a little, see a lot” kind of trip. You will do a short walk at Killiney Hill, and at Glendalough you get guided time plus free time where you can decide how far you want to go.

Killiney Hill: Dublin Bay views in the first 40 minutes

Killiney Hill is a strong way to start, because it flips your perspective fast. You travel out from Dublin along the coast, then you get a short walk where the reward is straightforward, wide views of Dublin Bay.

This is one of those stops that is short on time and high on payoff. You will be moving your legs early, before the longer Wicklow driving begins, which makes the rest of the day feel easier.

Bring layers for this first walk. Coastal weather can change quickly, and even when the skies look fine in the city, the hillside can feel sharper once you are up there.

Avoca Handweavers at Kilmacanogue for crafts, tea, and browsing

After Killiney Hill, you head to Avoca Handweavers in Kilmacanogue. This stop is built for Irish culture in a very tangible way: you can browse handmade items, look at how craft is presented and sold, and pick up a few gifts that feel more personal than a standard souvenir.

There is time for a coffee and a homemade scone, or you can simply shop. Some items and refreshments are optional, so treat this as a “pay if you want” moment rather than something you must commit to.

I like this stop because it gives you a break from scenery. You still get a distinctly Irish flavor, but you are not standing on a windy viewpoint, and you can choose your own pace.

Sally Gap and Lough Tay: the Guinness Lake moment

Once you leave Avoca, you take a route that larger coaches do not use. The idea here is getting into the real wild feeling of Wicklow, through places like Enniskerry and Glencree, and then deeper into the Wicklow Mountains.

The big highlight in the Wicklow part is Sally Gap and Lough Tay, known as the Guinness Lake. You stop where the land looks like it belongs in a film, with heath and bog stretching across higher slopes. Even if you are not a “movie locations” person, you can see why this shows up on screen.

This is where the guide becomes more than a driver. You do not just get dropped at a view, you get help reading the scenery, which makes it more satisfying when the day turns to mist, rain, or low clouds.

Plan to take pictures, but also plan to actually look. The best views are not only the widest ones, they are the ones where you can spot how the terrain changes with distance and light.

Lunch near Laragh: pub food, Guinness, and choices

After the Wicklow viewpoints, the tour shifts to a traditional pub lunch at Lynhams of Laragh. Lunch is at your own expense. Expect Irish home-style cooking, and you can also try a creamy Guinness.

If pub food is not your thing, you are not stuck. Ask the guide for alternative info, including deli-style options available at the village stop.

This is also a good moment to reset your energy. You have been outside and on the move since early morning, so eat what you need to stay comfortable for Glendalough later.

Glendalough monastic settlement: Round Tower and valley time

Glendalough is the heart of the trip. You visit the monastic settlement in the valley of the two lakes, tied to early Irish Christian history and the life of the monastery.

You get a guided tour of major historic sights, including the Round Tower. The guide helps you connect the structures to what monastic life was built around, and that turns the site from “old buildings” into something you can picture.

Then you get free time to explore. This is not just a quick photo window. You have enough time to wander the grounds and, if you want, walk toward the upper lake through ancient forest.

Here is the practical part: Glendalough is where weather can change your plans. If it is clear, you can take longer walks. If it is wet or windy, you may prefer shorter paths close to the main settlement.

Either way, the site is the kind where a slower pace pays off. Even when you do not go far, the atmosphere and scale of the valley make the time feel worth it.

The return to Dublin and the Glendalough whiskey touch

On the way back, you return to the coach and you get a complimentary taster of local Glendalough Irish whiskey. It is a simple ending, but it adds a fun, Irish finishing note after a day that has been all about scenery and history.

Because the tour finishes with this last tasting, it also helps you avoid the “we are done, now what” feeling. You still have a focused activity, then Dublin comes back on the horizon.

In general, the return drive feels more relaxed than the morning, since you already saw the key stops. Still, if you want sunset light around Dublin Bay, you might plan your photos accordingly during the earlier coastal viewpoint.

Price and value: is $66.51 a fair deal for this day?

At $66.51 per person, you are paying for a full day with a professional guide, a small-group coach experience, multiple scenic stops, and guided time at Glendalough. You also get a complimentary whiskey taste at the end.

Most of the “entry” stops are listed as ticket-free at the key viewpoint and scenery stops, so the money you spend during the day is mostly your own choices. That means your biggest add-on is lunch, since lunch is not included.

So how do you judge value? For me, the math comes down to whether you would realistically do this route without a car. Without your own wheels, Killiney Hill, Sally Gap, and Glendalough in one day becomes hard to coordinate. Paying for the driver and the route becomes the convenience you are buying.

If you are the type who wants maximum time on your own, this can feel like a guided structure rather than a total free roam day. If you want the best shots and the best reading of the places, it is good value for what you get.

Weather reality: when Wicklow turns wet, the plan still holds

Wicklow weather can be dramatic. The day can be rainy, cold, and gray, especially in winter or at higher elevations. The good news is the tour is built for this. When conditions are poor, the guide can adjust timing so you still get the full experience.

That flexibility is important. You do not want to lose the main stops just because the weather is uncooperative. You also want to keep your own expectations realistic. If you pack for wet conditions, you will have a more comfortable day and a better attitude when the clouds sit low over the mountains.

My advice: bring a rain layer and shoes you do not mind getting muddy if paths are damp near the lakes or forested areas.

Who should book this Wicklow and Glendalough tour

You will likely enjoy this tour if you:

• Want to see beyond Dublin in one day without renting a car
• Like guided history at Glendalough, but still want free time to roam
• Enjoy short walks with big views, instead of long hikes every stop
• Appreciate a mix of scenery and culture, crafts at Avoca, then monastic ruins at Glendalough

You might skip it if you:

• Want a day with zero walking and no outdoor time
• Prefer lunch fully included, with no pub meal budget
• Expect unlimited time at each stop, since you are balancing several major highlights in one outing

Group vibe matters too. The day includes interaction and movement between stops, and safety around cliffs and lake edges is on everyone. If you like people-watching, you will notice how guides keep the group organized, but you should still follow barriers and keep distance in exposed areas.

Should you book this tour or do it on your own?

If you have limited time in Dublin and you want the “Wicklow highlights” route without the stress, I think this is an easy yes. The combination of Killiney Hill, Sally Gap and Lough Tay, plus a guided Glendalough visit with Round Tower and optional upper-lake walking is a strong use of a single day.

If you are traveling with a car, you might replicate some stops. But even then, the value of a guide is real, because the day becomes more than driving from point to point. You also avoid the mental load of figuring out the best viewpoints and timing for Glendalough and the mountains.

My rule of thumb: book it if you want guided structure and maximum scenic payoff per hour. If you want total independence and long unplanned stops, you may prefer a self-drive plan instead.

FAQ

How long is the Wild Wicklow day trip?

It runs about 8 hours 30 minutes.

What are the main stops on the tour?

You visit Killiney Hill, Avoca Handweavers (Kilmacanogue), Sally Gap and Lough Tay (Guinness Lake), a traditional pub lunch area, and Glendalough monastic settlement.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included. You can choose from pub lunch options or deli-style options at the village stop.

Is whiskey included?

Yes. You get a complimentary taste of Glendalough Irish whiskey, with the tasting at the end of the tour.

What is the group size?

The maximum group size is 37 travelers.

What kind of transportation do you use?

You travel by a smaller, luxurious air-conditioned coach, with convenient pickup points in North and South Dublin.

What happens if weather is bad or the minimum number of travelers is not met?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather or if minimum numbers are not met, you are offered a different date or a full refund.