July 25, 2014

Dublin, Ireland: Wild Wicklow Tours; things to do

Wild Wicklow Tours  

+ 353 1 2801899.  E25-28. 

This family-run company is known for its excellent guides, most especially Denis O’Reilly, who becomes your local Irish friend for the day and entertains non-stop with interesting and often funny stories.





The tour of County Wicklow--known as “The Garden of Ireland”--begins with a trip down the coast and a stop at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in Sandycove, where our guide lives, to view the thick-walled former British army tower that James Joyce lived in here in 1904.  We also observed a “polar bear” bathers club doing their daily swim in the chilly waters.  These spots are located near The Forty Foot beach on Dublin Bay.

tea time at Avoca Handweavers in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland
tea time at Avoca Handweavers in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland


Then it was on through Killiney and Dalkey--home to celebrity rock singer Bono—and then a stop at Avoca Handweavers to relax over tea and a delicious baked item in a cafe overlooking a garden holding


world's largest cypress tree in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland
world's largest cypress tree in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland


what is claimed to be the world’s largest cypress tree (standing beneath its branches feels like being under a natural umbrella).  I wish we’d had more time to browse this extraordinary shop’s selection of woolens, crafts, and more.





Then we were off to Sally Gap in west Wicklow, where we saw scenic heather, bog lands, and--if it isn’t a rainy, foggy day—a lake that looks like an overturned pint of Guinness.  This area is where Excalibur, Braveheart, and P.S. I Love You were filmed, and where Meryl Streep danced in Dancing at Lughnasa.


Jakes Bar in Laragh in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland
Jakes Bar in Laragh in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland


After enjoying all the scenic back roads, we passed the village where actor Daniel Day Lewis lives and stopped nearby in Laragh, another small village, for lunch at Jakes Bar, a traditional Irish pub.


Glendalough in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland
Glendalough in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland


The tour concludes in Glendalough with a visit to a rustic 6th-century monastic settlement, where we walked to a scenic lake and toasted our day with a complimentary tasting of Jameson Whiskey.  What a wild, fun adventure!


Glendalough lake with Jameson Whiskey in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland
Glendalough lake with Jameson Whiskey in Wicklow area near Dublin, Ireland


Meals and tips are not included.



More things to do in Ireland.

More information about Ireland.

More ideas for exploring Europe.


images and videos ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

10 comments:

  1. Love, love, love Ireland. We'll get to know County Wicklow better on our next visit. Missed Glendalough on our last trip, and we'd love to get to know Dublin better, too.

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  2. That cypress tree is amazing and I love your video. I wouldn't mind some of that dessert!

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  3. You had a wonderful tour and I would love to see the area where they filmed Braveheart. Your video was so enjoyable of this very lush green landscape.

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  4. Sounds like a great adventure with a lot of star-gazing:-)

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  5. Ireland is so beautiful! You have certainly given me ideas for the next time I visit!!

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  6. Ireland is way high on my list of places I really want to see/visit - thanks for offering a glimpse in to what I have to look forward to!

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  7. We missed Glendalough on our trip to Ireland. We won't miss it next time thanks to your post.

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  8. Looks like a great tour. Love the cypress tree and your video.

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  9. I can hardly wait to visit Ireland, will be bookmarking this post!

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  10. Wow, looks great! We have Irish roots so we really want to go sometime.

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