Glendalough is a glaciated valley in the Wicklow Mountains where a 6th-century monastery founded by St Kevin sits between two lakes, ringed by woodland and mountain trails.
An easy 3 km loop passes through Glendalough's oak woodlands and along a boardwalk at the Lower Lake wetland edge, with fine views up the valley. Look for lizards and dragonflies sunning themselves on the timber trackway.
This easy 5 km walk skirts one side of the Upper Lake through Scots pine woodland to the ruined Miners' Village, with a view of St Kevin's Bed cave across the water. Feral goats are common along the way.
A short, steep 1.6 km loop gains 100m to the waterfall and plunge pools before dropping through mixed woodland back to the valley floor. Listen for noisy jays in the trees.
Walk through the ancient Gateway into the ruins of St Kevin's monastery, including the 30m round tower, the Cathedral, St Kevin's Church and St Kevin's Cross. The ruins are open all year and free to enter; guided tours run from the OPW Visitor Centre.
Strenuous hill walks of 5.5–11.5 km climb past Poulanass Waterfall onto the Spinc cliff path, with the best views over the Upper Lake. Allow 2–4 hours and bring hiking boots and rain gear; 2026 upgrade works affect the White Trail's zig-zags.
An interpretive exhibition and audio-visual show explain Glendalough's monastic golden age, and guided tours of the Monastic City depart from here. There is a bookshop and picnic tables outside.
The valley's most photographed view, where the sandy eastern end of the Upper Lake is used for summer paddling and swimming (no lifeguard). Picnic tables, toilets and seasonal chip and ice-cream stalls are nearby.
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