Glendalough & The Wicklow Mountains Coach Tour from Dublin
A day in the Wicklow Mountains, about an hour south of Dublin. Your group sees Powerscourt Waterfall, a mountain pass, the monastic city and lakes at Glendalough, and Avoca village. The day lasts 8 to 9 hours, with short drives and long stops.
What the day covers
- Glendalough monastic city and upper lake
- Sally Gap and the Wicklow Gap
- Powerscourt Waterfall
- Avoca village
When it runs
- Year-round; heather peaks in August
The shape of the day
The coach leaves by the M50 and M11, turning off for Enniskerry and Powerscourt Waterfall. The waterfall takes payment on arrival, with no advance booking, and opens later in the morning outside the summer months. From there a minibus or midi coach climbs to the Sally Gap, where the R759 meets the R115 Military Road, and drops to Laragh. Glendalough takes the middle of the day, with lunch and two to three hours on site. The return goes south to Avoca, then back to the M11.
Matching the vehicle to the mountain roads
The roads narrow sharply past the Sally Gap, and a 16 to 19-seat minibus can pull in at viewpoints that a full coach has to pass. A 49-seater is better kept to the wider roads through Roundwood to Laragh. If your group wants a pass, the operator picks the Sally Gap or the Wicklow Gap on the R756 to suit the vehicle. In snow or ice the high roads may be unsafe, and the driver keeps to the valleys.
At Glendalough
The OPW visitor centre stands beside the monastic city, with the round tower and churches a short walk away. It opens at 9.30am all year. Last admission is 5.15pm from mid-March to mid-October and 4.15pm in winter. Guided tours for groups are booked through the OPW. The Upper Lake is about 20 minutes on foot along the Green Road or the Lower Lake boardwalk. Its car park fills early and queues back up the narrow road, so groups start at the visitor centre end and walk up. The driver confirms where the coach waits.
Who goes and what to wear
The day suits walking clubs, school groups studying early Christian Ireland and visitors who want hills rather than another city. Bring boots or trail shoes for the lakeside paths, and a waterproof, because the weather on the passes changes quickly. The heather on the high bog is at its best in August. In winter the visitor centre closes earlier, so the stops run in a tighter order.
How much walking is involved?
As much or as little as the group likes. The monastic city is a few minutes from the visitor centre. The Upper Lake is a 20-minute walk each way, and longer trails start from there for fitter walkers.
Can a full-size coach do this tour?
Yes, on the wider roads. A 49-seater reaches Glendalough, Powerscourt and Avoca without difficulty, but it misses some of the high viewpoints that a minibus or midi coach can stop at.
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