Bray to Glendalough by Coach or Minibus
From Bray, Glendalough is the nearest of the big Wicklow sites, about 45 minutes by coach. That makes a half-day visit realistic for a school, a walking club or a group staying on the coast. The road climbs straight from the sea into the hills, so the drive is part of the outing.
Journey
- Bray to Glendalough
- Approximately 45 mins
- Serving Bray
About Glendalough
- A serene glacial valley cradling an early-Christian monastic city of a round tower, churches and two dark lakes deep in the Wicklow Mountains.
- Nearest base: Bray
The R755 over Calary
The coach heads south on the N11 to Kilmacanogue and turns on to the R755. That road crosses the open bog at Calary below the Sugar Loaf, then drops through Roundwood and Annamoe to Laragh, where Glendalough is a short turn to the west. Expect bends, and tighter stretches where the road passes through the villages. In summer, cyclists and farm traffic set the pace more than the vehicle does, so allow the full 45 minutes.
Arriving at the visitor centre
Coaches use the car park at the OPW visitor centre, which charges at busy times. The monastic city, with its round tower and churches, is a short walk from there. The centre is open daily for most of the year with shorter hours in winter, and closes for several days over Christmas, so check the current times before you fix the departure. Guided tours can be arranged for groups through the OPW booking office; book the tour first and set the coach time to match it.
Upper Lake and walking groups
The Upper Lake is about a 20-minute walk along the Green Road from the visitor centre car park. The valley road beyond is narrow, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service asks visitors not to park along it, so plan for the group to walk rather than for the coach to follow. A walking group can instead be set down at Laragh, where the Green Road starts, and collected at the visitor centre. The driver confirms the stopping point in Laragh.
Can we do Glendalough as a half day from Bray?
Yes. With about 45 minutes each way, a morning departure leaves two to three hours at Glendalough, enough for the round tower, the churches and the Lower Lake, with the group back in Bray by early afternoon.
When is it busiest?
Summer weekends and school holidays, from late morning. An early start puts the group at the round tower before most cars arrive and makes parking simpler for the coach.
Popular Transfers from Bray
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