Lulu’s Top 5 Places to See In Wicklow.
Hi Everyone,
I hope I find you all well. It’s been a busy week here at The Irish Store choosing the shots for the new collection and I can’t wait to share it with you. We’ll be launching soon – I’ll keep you updated so watch this space!
I had such a good time on the photoshoot in Wicklow last week that I found myself coming back for a long walk at the weekend when the weather felt positively Spring-like. It really is a glorious county so I thought we could take a little trip and I could share my top 5 places to see in “The Garden of Ireland”.
1. The Wicklow Mountains
Ok, I know this covers a multitude! After all, it is Ireland’s largest National Park and covers over 50,000 acres! It’s such an amazing landscape with its heather smothered slopes, swathes of forests, deep lakes and twisting country roads. The highest peak is Lugnaquilla at 925 meters but my personal favorite is the much loved Great Sugarloaf which stands at 501 meters making it a much easier climb! I just love its the fairytale look and volcano-like peak.
2. Glendalough
No trip to county Wicklow would be complete without a trip to the enchanting Glendalough. The name comes from the Gaelic “Gleann dá Loch” meaning ‘Valley of the Two Lakes”. The monastic settlement here was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century although the remains of the churches and round tower which can be seen today date back to probably between the 10th and 12th centuries. It’s easy to see why early medieval monks chose this stunning setting as a place of worship and reflection. There’s something truly tranquil and spiritual about it and I love coming here.
3. Powerscourt Estate
When you visit the Powerscourt Estate, you can see why Wicklow is called “The Garden of Ireland” The stunning gardens here were first designed in 1731 and cover over 47 acres. They were also voted no. 3 in National Geographic’s top 10 gardens in the world! I love the Italian Gardens where you get the best views of the Sugarloaf Mountain and your visit won’t be complete without a visit to Ireland’s highest waterfall!
4. Powerscourt Waterfall
The Powerscourt Waterfall is about 6 km away from the main estate and stands at the dizzying height of 121 meters. ( ok- so it’s hardly Niagra but’s it our highest!). Nestled at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, it’s the perfect spot for a summer picnic.
5. Russborough House
This stunning Palladian mansion dates back to 1741 and is the longest house in Ireland, measuring 210 meters! You can take a tour of the house itself and it’s amazing interior or ramble around the surrounding parklands with gorgeous views of the Wicklow Mountains and Blessington Lakes.
So there ends my whistle-stop tour of Wicklow. I know I’ve only touched on a few of the many gems this county has to offer and I’m sure a lot of you out there have your personal favorite. I’d love to hear about them!
See you all next week and let’s continue our journey through this gorgeous country.
Why not shop our exciting range of Irish sweaters, Irish jewelry and Irish gifts on The Irish Store? And don’t forget to use BLOG10 at the checkout to get a 10% discount!
Slán go fóill!
Lulu.
The Irish Store Founder
