Blessington will not ally blow you away, so you may fairly soon backtrack on the N81 for a few hundred yards, then take a left onto the R758 towards Valleymount - you are now on the scenic Lake Drive around Pollaphuca Reservoir.
If you have stocked up on tea and sandwiches in Blessington, here are several perfect opportunities to enjoy them on the beach. Several amenity areas are available.
One word of warning though: if you are tempted to take a quick swim, desist. On the one hand it is forbidden anyway, on the other hand you’ll more than likely freeze parts of your anatomy off. Not to mention that it is plain dangerous.
On your drive you’ll come through Ballyknockan, the "Granite Village" - in sunshine you can see the buildings really sparkle.
The whole area is rich in megalithic tombs, cairns, standing stones on other ancient structures - not all of which are easily accessible or signposted. Enthusiasts should get OSi "Discovery" map number 56 to explore the area. Especially as we are coming to end of our trip through the Wicklow Mountains now ....
