The Wicklow Mountains National Park provides rugged upland and mountain scenery just outside Dublin and is a favourite for weekend outings - come during the week, if at all possible. The landscape has been shaped by both man and nature over thousands of years, yet it parts you will encounter total wilderness.
Size of the Wicklow Mountains National Park
The Wicklow Mountains National Park covers over 20,000 hectares south of Dublin, boundaries to privately owned lands might not be immediately visible at times.
Location of the Wicklow Mountains National Park
Lying just south-west of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains National Park is easily accessed through the Vale of Avoca or by crossing Sally Gap ... or heading eastward from Blessington via Hollywood.
Getting to the Wicklow Mountains National Park
From Dublin you may take the N11 south to Kilmacanogue village, from here following the R755 to Laragh and finally the R756 to Glendalough.
Coming from the south you leave the N11 at Arklow, following the R747 to Woodenbridge, then turning right onto the R752 through Avoca village, turning left onto the R755 to Rathdrum and finally Laragh and then the R756 to Glendalough.
Coming from the west the main route to Glendalough from the N81 south of Blessington takes you through Hollywood (obligatory photo stop at the village sign) on the R756, which will lead you over the Wicklow Gap stright to Glendalough.
But be careful in winter and adverse weather - during the cold season road closures due to snow and ice are not infrequent, at other times difficulties with flooded roads or fallen trees nay occur. If in doubt, do not proceed. The two Mountain Rescue Teams are busy enough as it is! Roads often closed in winter are the Sally Gap from Ballyboden to Laragh, the R759 from Blessington to Roundwood, the Wicklow Gap (R756) from Hollywood to Glendalough and the R755 from Aghavannagh to Glenmalure and Laragh.
Wicklow Mountains National Park Visitor Centre
The Information Office of the National Park is located beside the Upper Lake car park in Glendalough - this is not the visitor centre for the Glendalough monastic site. This beautiful, quaint cottage used to be the home of the local forester. It now contains a small but interesting exhibit on the Wicklow Mountains National Park and its wildlife. Staff are on duty to help with details of local walks. Postcards, maps, information leaflets and guidebooks are also on sale. From May to September (included) the office is open daily, at other times on weekends only.
Some maps and guidebooks may also be on sale in local shops in the area and in the Glendalough Monastic Site visitor centre.
Main Attractions in the Wicklow Mountains National Park
One of the most important early Christian sites can be found in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, the old monastery - a relaxing walk along the lake from the Wicklow Mountains National Park Information Office and well worth a visit. Even along the lakes of Glendalough you can take in nthe natural beauty of the area, though this can at times be crowded. A network of nine way-marked walking trails are found in the valley of Glendalough, walking them would take from thirty minutes to around four hours per trail. Maps detailing the walks are found both at the Glendalough Visitor Centre and at the Upper Lake car park.
Longer walks, up to the multi-day Wicklow Way, a way-marked through the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
Rock climbing is popular as well, for instance on the crags along the Miners' Road at Glendalough and in Glenmalure. The Mountaineering Council of Ireland has published a climbing guide for the Wicklow Mountains National Park, this can be consulted in the Information Office near the Upper Lake car park.
The primary purpose of the Park is to conserve the natural flora and fauna of the Wicklow Mountains. The Park consists primarily of heath and bog cloaked uplands along with woodland in the river valleys. The rounded granite mountains forged some 500 million years ago now support a wide diversity of wildlife, some common, some threatened.
Wildlife can be found in abundance, varying throughout the Wicklow Mountains National Park and sometimes only visible to the dedicated spotter off the beaten tracks. The website of the Wicklow Mountains National Park (see below) has details on mammals, birds, the common lizard (representing reptiles), amphibians, invertebrates and the fauna. As there is a number of threatened species found in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, visitors are asked to not interfere with animals and plants at all.
Habitats in the Wicklow Mountains National Park range from both deciduous and coniferous woodland to blanket bogs, from heath to corrie lakes, from rivers (with some waterfalls) to bare rocky areas and fields of scree.
Amenities
The Wicklow Mountains National Park has no amenities of its own, but cafés, restaurants and other opportunities for refreshment can be found in the villages, along the main roads and first and foremost in the Glendalough area. Up in the mountains no such amenities exist, so visitors should bring some food and drink if they plan longer walks.
By the way - though most of Dublin's drinking water comes from the Wicklow Mountains and the streams in the Wicklow Mountains National Park appear to be crystal-clear at times, the refreshing drink of water may churn in your stomach once you discover the dead sheep upstream ...
Further Information on the Wicklow Mountains National Park
The comprehensive website of the Wicklow Mountains National Park at http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/ should provide all information you need.
