How to plan a weekend in the beautiful ‘Garden of Ireland’ County Wicklow

This article was created by National Geographic Traveler (UK).

Driving south from Dublin into County Wicklow, you’ll almost immediately encounter some of the most towering and timeless scenery the Emerald Isle has to offer. This is the “Garden of Ireland”. It is a forested area of ​​steep glacial valleys that rise dramatically to the desolate highlands of the Wicklow Mountains. Because of its beauty, it has been a place of pilgrimage since ancient times. From the 6th century to the 12th century, Glendalough Valley was home to one of the most powerful and learned monasteries in all of Christendom.

Wicklow is now home to walkers who walk most if not all of the Wicklow Way, a 132-mile-long path that winds through the heart of the county. Along the way, you can take detours to spectacular aristocratic country mountains such as Powerscourt House and Gardens and horticultural wonders such as Kilmacurrah National Botanical Gardens. A surge of civic pride and investment over the past decade has seen the launch of new tours and attractions, including the multi-million pound forest walkway ‘Beyond the Trees’. Meanwhile, on the coast, pretty towns with sandy beaches offer surfers and swimmers access to the Irish Sea, and the streets are paved with stories of smugglers, Vikings, rebels and poets.

Day 1: From the sea to the top

morning
To the north of the county and bordering Dublin is the lively beach town of Bray. The boardwalk stretches for a mile between the mouth of the River Dargle and a rocky promontory once notorious for smugglers’ caves. Wear your Life His jacket and join Bray Adventures for his sea kayaking lessons. As you paddle out of the harbour, your instructor will paint a picture of Bray’s 19th-century heyday as Ireland’s most glamorous seaside resort, pointing out landmarks such as the birthplace of Oscar Wilde. . Our final destination is a rocky sea stack where murres, cormorants, and kittiwakes nest. Lunch will be waiting for you in the town of Greystones. The Happy Pear serves hearty plant-based curries and soups, as well as vegan desserts.

afternoon
Drive to Powerscourt House and Gardens in Enniskerry, one of the most impressive and prestigious estates in the east of Ireland. The 18th-century Palladian mansion is simply decorated for the main event: its 47 acres of beautiful gardens. Beautifully arranged beneath a magnificent terrace and bordered by Wicklow’s Great Sugarloaf peak, the grounds are surrounded by ornamental lakes and follies that rival the grand palaces of continental Europe. I am. A self-guided audio tour tells the history of Ireland through the triumphs and tragedies of this great house. Then, stop by the on-site whiskey distillery or follow the road four miles south to visit the spectacular 398-foot Powerscourt Falls, Ireland’s tallest waterfall.

evening
Wild Summits’ Glendalough night hike and history tour has become the company’s most popular offering, as interest in the great outdoors has increased since the pandemic. The most sensational site of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Glendalough is home to the ruins of a magnificent monastic city. Founded in the 6th century, it grew in size and church power, becoming one of the major centers of learning in the West, until it fell into disrepair and was burnt down by the English in 1398. Departing just before dusk, your Wild Summits guide will depart as follows: Hikers pass through ruined monasteries, tour two lakes and climb mountains that are home to sika deer. The 9-mile journey ends with a return trip to the parking lot by the light of your headlamps.

Day 2: Collecting and Art

morning
Go on a guided walk with Geraldine Kavanagh, a self-taught foraging expert from Wicklow Wild Foods. Walking basket in hand along the banks of the River Avonmore near Rathdrum, Geraldine identifies plants such as nettles, nuts and berries, and shares their nutritional properties, tasting recipes and local folklore. A 25-minute drive north of Rathdrum, her work can also be seen in the gin produced by award-winning local company Glendalough Distillery. Glendalough Distillery offers seasonal botanicals. For a homemade lunch, drive west to Roundwood Her Store. The upscale grocery store and cafe sells all kinds of artisan produce and has a charming outdoor patio.

afternoon
Wicklow’s most remote tourist attraction is the 18th-century Russborough House, set in Lake Blessington on the border with County Kildare. It’s about an hour’s drive through the rugged highlands of the Wicklow Mountains. A guided tour of the interior reveals hand-carved ceilings, marble fireplaces, and mahogany staircases. Also on display is a treasure trove of tapestries, silverware, watches and oil paintings collected by the first owner, Joseph Leeson, a Dubliner and heir to the brewery, on his travels to Italy. Important works of art were added to by the new owner, Sir Alfred Beit, in his 20th century. These include Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of Mrs. Bacelli, which was miraculously returned to his collection three times after a dramatic art heist.

evening
Finish your trip to Wicklow with a visit to Strawberry Tree, Ireland’s first and only restaurant certified by the Organic Trust. Whether you order à la carte or opt for the 10-course tasting menu, each playful dish is a perfect expression of the current season using Irish ingredients. Most ingredients are grown on nearby organic farms or gathered by in-house foragers to create dishes such as deer tartare with fermented turnips and bilberries, followed by wild woodruff crème brûlée. There is also a deli, bakery and smokehouse on site. Stay longer when you book Brooklodge & McCreadin Village. This sophisticated 89-room 4-star hotel has included a restaurant since 1999. Doubles start at 125 pounds.

Three more immersive nature experiences

1. Wicklow forest bathing
A welcome new addition to Wicklow’s portfolio of nature activities are forest bathing classes in Ballygannon Forest, just north of Rathdrum, launched in 2021 by Dutch-born Catherine de Wit. Forest bathing, or forest bathing, is an invented Japanese meditation practice. Combat stress by asking participants to focus on the feeling of being among the trees. “Bathing” is metaphorical. Kat takes participants on a slow, mindful walk, encouraging them to engage with the details of nature through tasks, exercises, and shared circles. However, in her words, she leaves most things to the forest. The session ends with a picnic of natural tea and light refreshments prepared for the occasion.

2. Beyond the Trees at Avondale Forest Park
Avondale House has a long and important history as the family home of Wicklow’s most famous son, the great 19th century nationalist and orator Charles Stewart Parnell. After careful restoration of the Georgian main house, tours began in the summer of 2023. But the real gem of the Avondale mansion is its new mile-long wooden skywalk. It’s an accessible, buggy-friendly architectural wonder that takes travelers 75 feet above the ground. Walk along the valley floor, interact with the canopy of oaks, larches, firs, and even giant sequoias, and learn about forestry. The visit culminates in the 125-foot-tall spiral tower. Adults and children alike can descend down the slide from this tower.

3. national botanical garden,Kilmaklar
The historic gardens here are most famous for the Broad Walk, a boulevard of yews and rhododendrons that is carpeted with deep red petals every April, but there’s much more to discover all year round. In particular, you can find Chinese and Chilean species, both collected during the Victorian era. by Plant Hunter and more recently Head Gardener Seamus O’Brien. Kilmacarra’s great mansion, built in 1697, is in ruins, but his €14m (£12.2m) investment project is currently underway to restore it. Meanwhile, the 53-acre site will be reforested and opened to the public in 2023. Tours depart at noon and 3pm between mid-March and mid-October and can also be requested during the winter months.

Top 3 animal attractions

1. Wicklow Tours
We also offer one-hour tours and bespoke cross-country riding trips to suit each rider’s experience, and this working stable on the edge of the Wicklow Mountains is the perfect place to explore the landscape in the saddle. It’s a place. The jockey will be matched with one of his 35 horses (all Irish cobs, Irish sport horses, or thoroughbreds) and taken through the woods and onto the sandy beaches of Britas Bay.

2. K2 alpaca
The farm hosts a variety of interactive experiences with a herd of 80 fluffy Andean camels. They offer Prosecco His Trekking, where guests walk their friendly alpacas up to the viewing platform, enjoy a drink and learn about the animals and the area along the way. The farm also opened seven elegant self-catering cottages on site in 2022.

3. ireland falconry
At this center in Woodbridge, visitors can learn about the ancient field sport of falconry and experience experiences such as seeing hawk hawks, runner falcons, turkey vultures, black kites and owls in their natural habitat. . Explore the surrounding forest with an experienced falconer as birds demonstrate their flight and hunting skills. Finally, enjoy a meal at Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge, Ireland’s oldest inn, dating back to 1608.

5 places to enjoy wild swimming

1. Wicklow
The county’s namesake town is located on a picturesque coastline, settled by the Vikings in 795. From the cliff-top ruins of Black Castle, built during the 12th century Norman Invasion, descend to Travelerhawk Beach below.

2. Clara Bale
For some blissful river fun, head to the old stone Clara Vale Bridge and head to the park beside St. Patrick’s and St. Killian’s Churches. It’s easy to descend from the grassy edge to the shallows of the River Avonmore and walk upstream, admiring the trees and dragonflies.

3. Britas Bay
Wicklow’s most famous beach is this three-mile stretch of white sand surrounded by ecologically important dunes, grass and ferns. It has Blue Flag status and has lifeguards on duty during the summer high season, making it ideal for families to enjoy bathing and bodyboarding.

4. Water Conference
At the junction of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers there are picnic facilities surrounded by lush woodland. Swimming here is a right of passage. This is where Irish poet Thomas Moore was inspired to write his popular early 19th century poem, “The Encounter of the Waters.”

5. Greystone
Chichitown’s South Beach is a scenic half-mile of pebble and sand, perfect for swimming, but locals visit The Cove instead. This shingle beach south of the marina attracts morning swimmers all year round, followed by Rise at the Cove, a social enterprise cafe serving hot drinks with a portable sauna on site. I’m heading to