If your trip to Ireland takes you only to Dublin I highly suggest getting out of the city for a day. Just half an hour south of Dublin (unless you get lost as we did!) lies Glendalough, in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. Glendalough was founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin, a hermit priest, but soon others... more

Glendalough is one of those "must see" sites in Ireland, and it lived up to every one of my expectations. There’s a dramatic effect when you can see glimpses of the monastic settlement through the trees as you walk the path toward it. And then, crossing a wooden bridge over the proverbial babbling brook, there it is. The round tower,... more

This is a wonderful spiritual place to visit. We were recommended the snack van at the entrance to the monastery for tea and we certainly found it delicious and very reasonably priced too. Prepare in advance and you can book accommodation on or near the site which must be great. Allow yourself plenty of time to take the nature walks... more

Glendalough is an absolutely magical place to visit. It's an early christian monastic site located in a breathtakingly beautiful valley with steep wooded hills and a dark brooding lake. Oodles of atmosphere. It has a visitor centre and several waymarked walking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, from a flat shore walk by the lake to steep climbs to vantage... more

The most impressive thing about the monastic site is it's state of preservation given its age. A guided tour (which we did not take) would probably be necessary to get the full effect of the place. The setting is also beautiful. If the weather is nice (it wasn't for us) take the time to walk from the main car park... more