Glendalough

Glendalough is a destination in Leinster, Ireland. Glendalough (Irish: Gleann Dá Loch, 'Valley of the Two Lakes') is a glaciated valley in County Wicklow, famous for its early medieval monastic settlement founded by St Kevin in the 6th century. The site includes a well-preserved round tower, several churches, and a stunning natural setting between two lakes. Glendalough is one of Ireland's most visited attractions, offering excellent walking trails of varying difficulty and a visitor centre with exhibits on the monastic tradition.

By Car

The most practical way to reach Glendalough is by car. Leinster has Ireland's best road network, with motorways connecting all major towns to Dublin. The M50 ring road encircles Dublin, while the M1 serves the northeast (Dundalk, Drogheda), the M4/M6 serves the midlands (Mullingar, Athlone), the M7/M8 serves the south and southwest (Kilkenny, Carlow, Portlaoise), and the M11/N11 serves the east coast (Bray, Wicklow, Wexford).

By Train

Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) operates frequent services from Dublin Connolly and Dublin Heuston stations to all major Leinster towns. The DART commuter line serves coastal suburbs from Howth to Greystones, and commuter rail extends to towns like Dundalk, Drogheda, Mullingar, Athlone, Portlaoise, Carlow, Kilkenny, and Gorey.

By Bus

Bus Éireann and private operators like Dublin Express, Aircoach, and Citylink provide extensive intercity and regional bus services. Bus connections are often more frequent and cheaper than rail, though journey times can be longer.

By Air

Dublin Airport (DUB) is Ireland's largest and busiest airport, with flights to over 200 destinations worldwide. It is located about 10 km north of Dublin city centre and is accessible by bus, taxi, and the Dublin Bus Airlink service.

Glendalough is compact enough to explore on foot. For exploring the surrounding countryside and nearby attractions, a car or bicycle is recommended. Leinster has a well-developed network of regional roads, and the flat terrain of much of the province makes it ideal for cycling. Local bus services operate in most towns, though schedules can be limited on Sundays.

The monastic sites are accessible free, 24 hours. You pay for parking, the car parks are closed overnight.

Lower Lake

Glendalough Visitor Centre ,

Glendalough A98 HC80 ,

☏

+353 404 45325 .

Daily Apr-Oct 9:30AM-5PM .

Start here for orientation and background on the ruins. There's an interesting exhibition and an audio-visual show. Guided tours of the Monastic City are available in multiple languages all year round by advance booking. The Centre also holds free summer lectures on Irish heritage and history.

Parking €4 per car, admission to visitors centre €5 per person (no fee to wander the churches) .   ( updated Oct 2024 )

Trinity Church is the shell of a simple 11th- or 12th-century church 200 m east of the Visitor Centre. It's outside the main complex, and most visitors run out of time seeing the main sites and don't bother coming here.

The Gateway just west of the centre is a double doorway, was built as a two-storey gatehouse. The cross inscribed on the west wall between the doorways marks the boundary of the sanctuary; if you made it over the line, you were home safe, in theory. Alas many attackers decided otherwise. The graveyard just beyond is still in u

The Sea Stallion from Glendalough

In 1962, remains of five 11th century ships were found at Skuldelev 20 km north of Roskilde in Denmark. They appeared to be block ships, scuttled to block the fjord and thwart Viking raids. They were of different types and gave much insight into early ship-building techniques. One was a longship of 30 m, fast and predatory by oar and sail. Its timber ring patterns revealed that it was built near Dublin in 1042 from trees grown at Glendalough. All five ships were reconstructed, and for the longship

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Local restaurants and trattorias serve regional cuisine featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients. Traditional dishes reflect the local culinary heritage.

Cafes and bars in the town centre serve coffee, wine, and local beverages. Regional wines and spirits are worth sampling.

Hotels, guesthouses, and bed-and-breakfast establishments offer accommodation. Advance booking is recommended during peak season.

Local shops offer regional products, handicrafts, and everyday necessities. Markets may be held weekly in the town square.

Nearby towns and natural attractions are within easy reach by car. Public transport connections are available to major cities in the region.