The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour incl. Glendalough

Wicklow gives you the Ireland many first-time visitors hope to find: bare mountain slopes, boggy valleys, rocky coast, old stone ruins, and a pub lunch with a pint. This tour gets you there without renting a car or worrying about narrow roads. I especially like the small coach and the route through Enniskerry and Glencree, where larger buses cannot go.

Two parts make this a strong day out. Killiney Hill gives you a fine opening view over Dublin Bay, while Glendalough provides the day’s best mix of scenery and Irish history. The main tradeoff is time. Wicklow is a large area, and one day can feel brisk if you want long walks or quiet time at every viewpoint.

Why this Wicklow tour deserves a place on your Dublin plans

• A route beyond the main roads: The smaller coach can travel through Enniskerry, Glencree, and the mountain roads toward Sally Gap.
• Several kinds of scenery in one day: You get Dublin Bay, the Wicklow Mountains, bog and heather, Lough Tay, and the wooded valleys of Glendalough.
• Guides who make the drive part of the experience: Patrick, Ashley, John, Anthony, and Niall are among the guides praised for their stories, humor, safe driving, and local knowledge.
• A useful stop at Avoca: Have coffee and a homemade scone, browse Irish crafts, or simply use the stop to stretch your legs.
• Glendalough gets real time: The stop lasts about 90 minutes, with a guided visit and the option to walk toward the Upper Lake.
• Good value for a car-free day: At about $66.51 per person, transport, guiding, mountain viewpoints, and a whiskey tasting are included. Lunch is not.

From Dublin Bay to the Wicklow Mountains

The day begins at one of several central Dublin pickup points. Exact pickup arrangements matter, so check your confirmation carefully and arrive ready for a full day out. The tour lasts about eight and a half hours, including the drive back to Dublin.

You leave the city by coach and travel along the coast toward Killiney Hill. This opening section is useful because it eases you from urban Dublin into open views rather than placing you straight on a long mountain road. Your guide also uses the drive to point out sights and explain parts of Irish history, geography, geology, and daily life.

The coach is air-conditioned, and the group can reach a maximum of 37 people. That is not a private tour, but it is smaller and more flexible than a large sightseeing bus. Several descriptions put the group closer to 20 people on some departures, so the feel may vary by date.

Killiney Hill gives the day a strong start

You spend about 40 minutes at Killiney Hill, including a short walk. From the hill, you can look across Dublin Bay and see the coast from a different angle than you get in the city center.

This is a modest walk, not a mountain hike, but wear shoes with a decent grip. Irish weather can change quickly, and the tour requires good weather to operate. Bring a waterproof layer even if Dublin is dry when you leave.

I like this stop because it gives you exercise early in the day and makes the later change into mountain scenery easier to appreciate. The one limitation is that 40 minutes passes quickly. You get a view and a taste of the area, not a full exploration of Killiney.

Avoca is part craft shop, part coffee stop

The next stop is Avoca Handweavers in Kilmacanogue, with about 25 minutes available. You can browse handmade Irish goods or buy coffee and a homemade scone. Food and shopping here are at your own expense.

Avoca is best understood as a short cultural and comfort break. It is not the heart of the tour, and you should not expect a long weaving demonstration or a detailed craft workshop. Instead, it gives you a chance to stretch, use the facilities, pick up a snack, and look for a small Irish-made gift.

If you want coffee and a scone, budget for it. If you would rather save money for lunch, you can simply walk around and enjoy the stop without buying anything. Some people may find the 25 minutes too short for serious shopping, but that brevity keeps the day moving toward the mountains.

Glencree and Sally Gap take you off the usual coach route

After Avoca, the route turns away from the main roads. The coach travels through Enniskerry and Glencree before reaching the higher country around Sally Gap. This is one of the most useful reasons to choose this particular tour. You are not simply being driven to one famous ruin by the quickest road.

The Wicklow Mountains have a spare, rugged look. The upper slopes are covered in heather and bog rather than thick woodland, and the open terrain can feel surprisingly remote so close to Dublin. Your guide fills the drive with explanations and stories, which matters here because much of the pleasure comes from watching the country change through the windows.

This is also the section where a good driver earns the fare. The roads are winding, and the tour’s smaller coach is suited to routes that large buses cannot manage. Patrick has been singled out for careful driving and for keeping people informed, while Ashley has been praised for combining social, environmental, historical, and political detail with humor. Guides vary, but the standard of commentary is a major part of the experience.

Lough Tay is the day’s postcard view

At Sally Gap, you stop for about 30 minutes and see Lough Tay, often called Guinness Lake because of its dark water and pale beach-like shore. The setting has appeared in films and television, including Braveheart, P.S. I Love You, and Vikings.

The viewpoint is scenic rather than active. You will not spend the afternoon walking around the lake, and the view can be affected by cloud, wind, or rain. Still, this is one of the places where a short stop works. The shape of the lake, the surrounding hills, and the broad open sky make a strong impression even when the weather is not perfect.

Rain can actually add atmosphere to Wicklow, but it also makes the stop less comfortable. Keep a rain jacket close rather than buried in your luggage. Do not count on having time to dry out before the next stop.

Lunch at Lynhams of Laragh keeps the day practical

The group then stops at Lynhams of Laragh for about an hour. Lunch is not included, so plan to pay separately. The stated options include a traditional pub meal or a deli sandwich, and you can ask your guide about alternatives if a pub lunch is not your preference.

An hour gives you enough time for a proper break, which is important on a full-day coach trip. Irish home cooking and a creamy Guinness fit the setting, but you do not have to choose the most substantial meal. A sandwich may make more sense if you want to use your time at Glendalough for walking.

Because lunch is at your own expense, the advertised tour price does not cover every cost of the day. I would set aside money for lunch and perhaps coffee or a scone at Avoca. Even with those additions, the price remains fair for a full day with transport and guiding, especially if renting a car would add fuel, parking, insurance, and the stress of mountain driving.

Glendalough is the historical heart of the day

The final major stop is Glendalough, the Valley of the Two Lakes. You have about 90 minutes here, including a guided visit to the monastic settlement and free time to explore.

St. Kevin founded the settlement in the sixth century. It later included areas for manuscript work, an infirmary, guest houses, and a monastery. The surviving Round Tower and church ruins give the place a clear sense of its former importance without requiring a long museum visit.

Your guide explains the main sights, then you have time to look around independently. You can also choose to walk toward the Upper Lake through ancient woodland. That choice is useful, but be realistic about distance. Ninety minutes is enough for a look at the settlement and a short walk, yet it is not enough to cover every path around both lakes at a leisurely pace.

I would decide before arriving what matters most. If the Round Tower and monastic ruins are your priority, stay near the settlement and listen to the guide. If open scenery matters more, use your free time for the Upper Lake walk. Trying to do everything may leave you hurrying.

Glendalough also gives the day more substance than a simple scenic drive. The mountains are memorable, but the monastic site explains why this valley has drawn people for centuries. You get nature, archaeology, and Irish religious history in one compact stop.

The whiskey tasting is a small but fitting finish

Once you return to the coach, the day ends with a complimentary taste of Glendalough Irish whiskey before the journey back to Dublin. It is a small serving, not a full distillery visit, but it makes a pleasant closing ritual.

You can use the ride home to rest or talk with the group. One unusual strength of the tour is the social mix. Past departures have brought together people from different countries and age groups, and the atmosphere can be friendly and lively. That can add warmth to a long day, though a noisy group may make the coach less restful.

What the guide adds to the experience

The guide is not just a driver. The best part of the day comes through the running commentary between stops. Patrick has been praised for his humor, clear organization, safe driving, and care with the group. Ashley has made an impression with broad knowledge and a talent for turning the road into a lesson. John and Anthony have also been noted for friendly, informative guiding, while Niall has been praised for making the day memorable.

You should treat the names as examples rather than a guarantee of who will lead your departure. The useful point is that the guide can shape the whole day. A good guide explains why the bog looks as it does, tells the story behind Glendalough, handles timing, and helps the group make sensible choices at each stop.

Basic group manners matter too. Stay within the marked or sensible viewing areas, keep an eye on children, and do not block other people’s photographs or throw anything into the lakes. Mountain scenery is best enjoyed without turning every viewpoint into a scramble.

Who should book, and who should choose another plan?

This tour suits you if you want to see Wicklow without driving, prefer a guided day, and like a mix of short walks, viewpoints, local food, and history. It is especially useful if you have only one free day outside Dublin and want more than a single attraction.

It also suits solo visitors and couples who do not want the work of renting a car. The small coach can reach roads and viewpoints that are less practical for larger buses, while air conditioning makes the long transport sections comfortable.

You may want another option if you hope to hike for several hours, photograph each location at your own pace, or spend a full day around Glendalough alone. The schedule is well planned, but it is still a schedule. One person described the day as slightly rushed because Wicklow offers too much to fit into one outing, and that is a fair warning.

At 4.8 out of 5 from 3,443 ratings, with 96 percent recommending it, the tour has a strong record. The price of about $66.51 is good for the coach, guide, mountain route, Glendalough visit, and whiskey taste, though you should add lunch and optional refreshments.

Should you book the Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour?

Book it if you want an easy, well-priced escape from Dublin with a strong mix of scenery and culture. The best features are the smaller coach route, the views around Lough Tay, the guided Glendalough visit, and the chance to let someone else handle the roads.

Skip it if your ideal Wicklow day means long, silent walks and complete control of the clock. For most first visits, though, this is a sensible way to get beyond Dublin, see the mountains, and return with more than another city-center afternoon.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. A minimum number applies in winter, and poor weather or insufficient numbers can lead to a new date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long does the Wild Wicklow tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes, including the journey from Dublin, the stops in Wicklow, and the return trip.

Where does the tour start?

You meet the guide and coach at one of the central Dublin pickup locations. Convenient pickup points are available in the north and south of Dublin city.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense at the village stop. You can choose a pub meal, a deli sandwich, or ask the guide about alternative options.

Is the whiskey tasting included?

Yes. The tour includes a complimentary taste of Glendalough Irish whiskey on the coach before the return journey to Dublin.

How much walking is involved?

The tour includes a short walk at Killiney Hill and time to explore Glendalough. At Glendalough, you can choose to walk toward the Upper Lake through ancient woodland.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 37 people. Some departures may be smaller, and the experience is operated by smaller coach.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.