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.
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.
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
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.
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| 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
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| 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.
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.
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!
Meals and tips are not included.
More things to do in Ireland.
More information about Ireland.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
images and videos ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
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.
ReplyDeleteThat cypress tree is amazing and I love your video. I wouldn't mind some of that dessert!
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great adventure with a lot of star-gazing:-)
ReplyDeleteIreland is so beautiful! You have certainly given me ideas for the next time I visit!!
ReplyDeleteIreland 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!
ReplyDeleteWe missed Glendalough on our trip to Ireland. We won't miss it next time thanks to your post.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great tour. Love the cypress tree and your video.
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait to visit Ireland, will be bookmarking this post!
ReplyDeleteWow, looks great! We have Irish roots so we really want to go sometime.
ReplyDelete