- Stunning landscape of the Wicklow Mountains is sure to impress.
- Drives take visitors to several local attractions.
- No identifiable connection with the films apart from the general location.
- Signposted tours through the Wicklow Mountains with a cinematic slant.
- Landscapes can be seen in movies like "Excalibur", "Michael Collins" and "Braveheart".
- Great tours to see the natural beauty of the area, disappointing for cinema buffs.
A few years ago the Irish Tourist Board had an inspired idea - long used as a scenic backdrop for feature films the Wicklow Mountains were to be made easily accessible for fans of blockbusters filmed there. Several cinematic "drives" were identified and signposted. Today three tours are actively promoted - the "Excalibur Drive", the "Michael Collins Drive" and the "Braveheart Drive". You might notice that only "Michael Collins" was actually set in Ireland - huge tax incentives and lush landscapes have made Ireland a favorite stand-in for other areas.
The drives are signposted well enough (unless the signposts have been tempered with, a regular occurrence) and take you through breathtaking landscapes and past a number of attractions. The latter are not connected to the tour's theme as a rule. And the real star is the landscape.But this is also the problem - while the Wicklow Mountains may have been used for filming e.g. the battle scenes in "Braveheart" they are not instantly recognizable. You will not stop and say "This is were William Wallace fought ...!" The landscapes are brilliant but interchangeable. Just like the Wicklows stood in for Scotland.Ultimately the marketing ploy leaves the visitor strangely unsatisfied - yes, nice scenery, but where was the movie connection? Cinema buffs will be a bit disappointed, lovers of unspoilt scenery will be enchanted. The three stars reflect this "middle ground".
