Things to do
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Glendalough Monastic Site
The round tower and Saint Kevin's Kitchen are the two buildings the valley is known for, and both stand a short walk from the visitor centre where the bus sets you down.
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Spinc Ridge Walk
Which walk, if you only have half a day? This one, for the cliff tops looking straight down on the Upper Lake.
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Upper Lake
Here the valley ends in cliffs above the water, and you can walk the shore right under them.
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Wicklow Mountains National Park
From the Upper Lake, the Miners' Road and the Glenealo valley take you on into open mountain crossed by the long-distance Wicklow Way.
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Glendalough Lower Lake
If the Spinc is too much for the day, the flat lakeside walk still takes you out of the ruins and along the water.
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Glendalough Miners' Village
You get the head of the valley without the cliff climb, on a lakeside track to the old mine ruins.
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Glenmacnass Waterfall
On the Military Road between Laragh and the Sally Gap, this is the stop where you watch the river fall off the high ground beside the road.
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Lough Tay
On the road from the Sally Gap toward Roundwood, a stop at the roadside viewpoints gives you a lake after the open bog.
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Poulanass Waterfall
A short climb from the Upper Lake brings you to a waterfall in the trees, the walk for a wet afternoon or tired legs.
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Powerscourt Waterfall
Heading back toward Dublin, break the drive here for one more waterfall before the city.
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Reefert Church
Ruins and running water in one short stop: the church stands close to Poulanass Waterfall, so you see both in an hour.
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Saint Kevin's Bed
Bring binoculars to pick out the cave from across the Upper Lake.
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Sally Gap
Go on a clear day, because in low cloud there is no view from the pass at all.
