Wicklow

The micro village of Glencree is the home of the Glencree Reconcillation Centre and the German War Time graveyard.

On the drive from the village of Laragh to the Sally Gap, the road winds by the waterfall in Glenmacnass.

The River Dargle rises on the slopes of Djouce Mountain and flows through the upper Dargle Valley bounded by Djouce and Maulin Mountains util it drops over the falls into Powerscourt Estate.

Blessington lakes are less than an hour from Dublin by Bus. Enjoy sitting by the lakeshore or walking the heather clad mountains.

Along the road from Lough Tay to the Sally Gap

Take awalk along the shores of Lower Lough Bray. It is accessible from the Military road from Glencree. The land is private, so take care to respect the lwanowners wishes.

From the military road, approx. half way between Glencree and the Sally Gap, you can take a track which half circles Upper Lough Bray and gives great panoramic views of Wicklow.

The Powerscourt Waterfall lies in the Dargle Valley and falls approx. 120 m into the Powerscourt Estate.

The Wicklow Gap lies between Tonelagee Mountain and Camaderry Mountain. The gap separates the northern watershed where the rivers flow into Blessington lake and the southern watershed where the rivers flow into Glendalough.

While looking similar to a volcanic mountain, the Sugar Loaf is a raised mountain subsequently eroded over time. The mountain unlike the more westerly Wicklow mountains is made from Cambrian quartzite. The mountain rises to about 500m and makes for a good steep hike.

The Sally Gap is the crossing point of the North East South West road R115 and the North West - South East R759. The roads pass though some of the most scenic areas in Wicklow.

While the winters in Wicklow can bring occasional snow storms particularly on the higher peaks, some years can cause wide spread havoc for both farmers and motorists when snow fall can e way above average.

Bray Head lies south of the town of Bray and provides great views of the town and Wicklow Countryside. Paths run from the sea side right to the top of the hill. There is a coastal path passing along the coast below the head connecting Bray with Greystones.

Take the Dart to Bray and stroll about the seaside town or walk the 6 km along the coast to Greystones

Enniskerry is situated in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains approix 25km South of Dublin.

Take the dart to Greystones - its the last stop on the sount line. Greystones is currently being developed and a multimillion ( or is it billion ) marina is under construction

The Powerscourt Estate situated in the Wicklow mountains is one of the most beautiful in Ireland.

Powerscourt House, with its 68 rooms, was built in 1741. The baroque dome-roofed towers on both the left and right sides, give the house a medieval look and a house fit for the nobility of the time.

The south face with its tearooms and coffee deck, overlooks sweeping views of the Wicklow Mountains and the Sugar Loaf.

The gardens are open to visitors, though there is a charge both for the waterfall and gardens.

The Powerscourt Gardens are open all year year round though best viewed in the summer months they can look quite dramatic in other seasons.

The gardens were designed by Daniel Robertson, a leading admirer of Italian gardens. This influence can still be seen in the terraces and formal features dating to the Italian Renaissance.

It is said that Robertson suffered from gout and while supervising the work he was moved around in a wheel barrow drinking from a bottle of sherry. Perhaps the sherry effect help add to his creative gardening skills. Either way the gardens are stunning and interesting in all seasons.

The valley was formed in the last ice by glacial ice slowly moving east. As the ice aged ended and the snow melted a moraine was left at the valley mouth - this moraine - of rock, boulder and silt blocked the river forming a lake. The river flowing from the south slopes eventually deposited silt and cause the upper lake to dam, thus forming the two lakes.

The miners' road leads from the car park along the north shore of the lake to a small now deserted village at the western head of the lake. The mines date back to 1809 when the owner of Avoca mines Thomas Weaver discovered a vein of lead. He maintained his interest in the mines till he sold his shares to the Mining Company of Ireland. The mines thrived between 1850 and 1870 as the price of lead soared on the world markets. Some of the old machinery left in situ dates back to his period. The price of ore fell in the 1880s and the mining company have a number of years sold out. Efforts were made to revive mining during the first WW but it wasn't until after the end of the second WW that the mine had another brief period of commercial activity.

The river rises just west of Turlough Hill and flows through the Glenealo Valley till it reaches the head of Glendalough where it falls steadily through a series of small rapids and falls into the Glendalough Valley.

The Glendalough Valley with it's two lakes is the most well known and most visited of all the Wicklow Valleys. The valley has a long monastic association and is the seat of St. Kevin's church. In the graveyard beside the Lower Lake there is a fine example of a round tower dating back to monastic times.

Spend some time exploring the monastic settlement or walk the board walk between the two lakes or take one of the many walking routes.

In his early years as a monk, St. Kevin lived in closeness to nature, the animals and wildlife being his companions.

As more and more of his followers were attracted to his lifestyle, a community of monks developed in present day Glendalough.

Over time Glendalough grew into a renowned seminary of saints and scholars and the parent of several other monasteries.

Today Glendalough with its natural beauty and historic past is high on he tourist circuit.

This pretty waterfall in Glendalough cuts through a gorge in the mica-schist. The waterfall formed in a hanging valley - a glacial feature from the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.

Source Wicklow Mountains National Park http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/

The paths and forest walkways leading from the Glendalough Valley, which pass the waterfall are marked on the wooden sign posts.

The Spinc Ridge walk , no matter which route you take - clockwise or counter clockwise is spectacular.

The clockwise route starts in the left hand side of Gendalough Valley. Following signs which pass by Poulanass Waterfall, you will come to a whole series of steps , about 600 of which have to be climbed before you reach the ridge over looking the valley and upper lake.

The view from the ridge and all the way to the top of the Spinc and then on towards the river valley which descends into Glendalough is spectacular.

The route passes down along side the river and mini waterfalls into the upper end of the valley near the old mining works. The path then continues along the side of the lake and back into the car park. This path along the lake is the starting point for the walk in the anti-clock wise direction. Its also interesting but you come to the better views much later in the walk.

The mining heritage of the Wicklow Mountains has left its mark both inside and outside the Park. The remains of several mining villages are easily accessed including the mines of Glendalough and Glendasan Valleys. Sandy spoil heaps streak the slopes surrounding the ruined villages.

The geological divide between the granite core of the mountains and the surrounding rock types were rich with minerals such as lead, zinc and silver. These minerals were mined for over 150 years. The last mine only ceased operating in 1965.

Source Wicklow Mountain National Park - see more on the website

http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/Mining.html

The Glenealo River is a short river that flows through the hills above Glendalough and descends quite rapidly over a series of small waterfalls into the the Glendalough Valley.

It then meanders pass the mining village till it reaches the upper lake a short distance away.

Small and all as the river is, during periods of flooding, it erodes many tons of rock,stone and sand from the mountains and deposits it as it enters the lake.

This fine silty sand can be seen below the water level at the lake edge. The silt has reduced the lake size by many meters of the centuries.