The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour incl. Glendalough

Get beyond Dublin in one well-planned day. The Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour combines coastal views, mountain roads, an old monastic settlement, and a traditional pub without asking you to rent a car. I especially like the route through Sally Gap and Glencree, where a smaller coach can use roads that larger buses cannot, and the generous 90 minutes at Glendalough.

The guides are another major strength. Patrick, Ashley, John, Anthony, and Niall have all been praised for their humor, local knowledge, safe driving, and lively stories. My main reservation is the pace: with an 8-hour-30-minute schedule, some stops can feel brief, and you may wish for more time in the Wicklow Mountains.

What makes this tour worth considering

• Killiney Hill begins the day with Dublin Bay views and a short walk before the coach heads inland.
• The smaller coach reaches Glencree and Sally Gap, giving you mountain scenery beyond the standard big-bus route.
• Lough Tay, known as Guinness Lake, is a striking photo stop and a film location connected with Braveheart, PS I Love You, and Vikings.
• Glendalough allows at least 60 minutes of free time, plus a guided look at its Round Tower and monastic remains.
• Lunch is flexible and paid separately, with a pub meal or deli sandwich available at the village stop.
• The $66.51 price includes transport, guiding, and a whiskey tasting, making it a practical choice if you do not have a car.

Why Wicklow Makes a Good Break From Dublin

Dublin is easy to enjoy on foot, but Ireland’s countryside begins quickly once you leave the city. County Wicklow gives you a change of pace without requiring a full overnight trip. In a single day, you move from the coast to open mountain country, then finish among medieval ruins and lakes.

That range is the real strength of this excursion. You are not spending the whole day looking at similar viewpoints. Killiney Hill feels coastal and open, Avoca adds a taste of Irish craft tradition, Sally Gap brings broad mountain views, and Glendalough supplies the history.

The tour also removes the hardest part of a Wicklow day: driving. Mountain roads can be narrow, winding, and unfamiliar. A guide handles the route while you look out the window, listen to local stories, and keep an eye on the weather.

The experience is offered in English and uses a premium, air-conditioned coach with a maximum of 37 people. Several reviews describe groups of about 20, but the official limit is higher, so the exact feel depends on the departure date.

Killiney Hill Starts the Day Above Dublin Bay

The first stop is Killiney Hill, reached after pickup at a central Dublin location. You take a short walk for views across Dublin Bay before leaving the city behind.

This is a smart opening stop. It gives you fresh air and a wide view before the longer mountain section, and it lets you see a part of Dublin that is easy to miss if you stay around the city center. The walk is listed at about 40 minutes, including time for the viewpoint.

You should wear shoes that are comfortable for a short outdoor walk. The tour does not describe this as a long hike, but Wicklow weather can change quickly. Rain has not prevented people from enjoying the views, though it can make the walk colder and less pleasant.

The coastal approach also helps set up the day. You see rocky scenery and the edge of suburban Dublin before the road turns toward the Wicklow Mountains. It feels like a proper transition from city sightseeing to the Irish countryside.

Avoca Handweavers Is More Than a Restroom Stop

At Avoca Handweavers in Kilmacanogue, you have about 25 minutes for coffee, a homemade scone, or shopping. The store is a chance to browse handmade Irish goods, while the café provides a simple morning break.

Keep your expectations realistic. This is not a long cultural visit, and 25 minutes passes quickly. One useful way to think of it is as a comfortable pause between the coastal walk and the mountain roads, with the option to buy a small Irish-made item rather than another generic souvenir.

Food and drinks here cost extra. The same applies to lunch later in the day, so keep some spending money available. If you prefer not to shop, you can use the stop for a drink and a quick reset before reboarding.

Sally Gap Takes You Into Wild Wicklow

After Avoca, the route leaves the main roads and goes through Enniskerry and Glencree toward Sally Gap. This is one of the tour’s best practical features. A smaller coach can use roads that large tour buses cannot, bringing you farther into the Wicklow Mountains.

Sally Gap is not about a single building or attraction. It is about the open setting: upper slopes covered in heather and bog, exposed mountain ground, and long views that change with the weather. The scenery can look soft and moody under clouds, bright under clear skies, or wonderfully dramatic in rain.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes and includes a look toward Lough Tay, often called Guinness Lake because its dark water and pale shore can resemble a pint of stout. It is also linked with filming for Braveheart, PS I Love You, and Vikings.

This is a good place for photographs, but you should listen carefully to safety instructions. One review describes other passengers getting too close to cliff edges and ignoring their children. That is not a complaint about the tour itself, but it is a useful reminder to stay within safe areas and respect the quiet of the mountains.

The main tradeoff is time. You see several fine viewpoints, but you will not have an afternoon to wander through the entire national park. If your goal is serious hiking, a dedicated Wicklow walking trip would suit you better.

Lunch at Lynhams of Laragh Keeps the Day Flexible

The lunch stop is at Lynhams of Laragh, a traditional Irish pub, with about one hour allowed. You pay for lunch yourself and can choose pub food or an alternative such as a deli sandwich.

A pub lunch fits the day well. It gives you a warm indoor break after the mountain stop and a chance to try familiar Irish cooking in a local setting. You can also order a creamy Guinness if that appeals to you, though it is not included in the tour price.

The one-hour window is useful because it gives you time to eat without turning lunch into the whole afternoon. Still, you should not expect a leisurely restaurant experience with lots of extra time. Decide fairly quickly if you want to eat, browse, or simply take a break.

The tour specifically notes that alternatives are available if a pub lunch is not your thing. Ask your guide for the current options. Since lunch is not included, the final cost depends partly on what you order here and at Avoca.

Glendalough Brings Ireland’s Past Into Focus

Glendalough is the day’s main historical stop. Its name means valley of the two lakes, and the setting combines water, wooded paths, mountain slopes, and the remains of a monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century.

The settlement was once more than a church and a tower. It included places for copying manuscripts, an infirmary, guest houses, and a monastery. Today, the surviving stones offer a clear sense of how important this religious center once was.

Your guide leads you around several historic features, including the Round Tower. This guided portion matters because ruins can blur together without context. A good guide helps you understand what the buildings were used for and why the valley drew people for centuries.

You also receive free time to explore independently. At least 60 minutes is included, while the itinerary allows about 90 minutes at the monastic settlement. You can use that time for photographs, a quiet walk, or an optional walk toward the Upper Lake through ancient forest.

This is the stop where comfortable footwear matters most. You do not need to be a serious hiker, but the area involves walking outdoors, and the optional Upper Lake route takes more effort than simply viewing the ruins. If you want to reach both the monastic site and the Upper Lake, manage your time carefully.

Some people may find the Glendalough visit too short. One hour and a half gives you a useful introduction, but not the chance to explore every path or linger at every view. That limitation is common on a one-day coach trip that also includes the coast, Avoca, Sally Gap, and lunch.

The Coach and Guides Make the Difference

The transport is not just a way to get from place to place. It makes this route possible without the stress of driving narrow mountain roads. The coach is air-conditioned, and the smaller format helps it reach the less direct route through Glencree and Sally Gap.

The group limit is 37 people. That is not a tiny private tour, but it is more manageable than a large double-decker-style outing. Several people have described groups around 20, with guides able to interact across the coach.

Guide quality appears to be one of the strongest parts of the experience. Patrick is praised for detailed history, friendly conversation, safe driving, and adapting the timing during difficult mountain rain. Ashley is noted for explaining social, environmental, historical, and political subjects, along with entertaining local stories.

John has been described as friendly and accommodating, while Anthony is praised for Irish history, humor, and charm. Niall also received warm praise for making the trip both informative and enjoyable. Of course, you cannot choose your guide in advance from the information provided, but the repeated pattern is encouraging.

There can be chatter among passengers, and one review found the group less considerate than it should have been. A coach tour depends partly on group behavior. Be ready to return on time, keep conversations at a reasonable level, and avoid blocking other people’s photographs.

The Whiskey Tasting Ends the Ride Nicely

On the return journey, you receive a complimentary taste of Glendalough Irish Whiskey. It is a small gesture, but it gives the day a pleasant Irish finish and creates a natural moment to talk with the guide and fellow passengers.

This is a tasting, not a full whiskey visit or distillery tour. The value is in the closing toast and the chance to try a local product after seeing the place where the name fits into the day.

If you do not drink alcohol, the supplied details do not explain whether a nonalcoholic substitute is offered. You can ask the guide when boarding for the return trip.

Is $66.51 Good Value?

At $66.51 per person, this is a strong value for a full day outside Dublin. The price covers the air-conditioned coach, a professional guide, the coastal and mountain route, the Sally Gap and Lough Tay stops, Glendalough, and the whiskey tasting.

You still need to budget for coffee or a scone at Avoca and lunch at Laragh. Those extras are not hidden charges, but they do raise the day’s total. The tour also does not include a private group or extended time at any one attraction.

I think the price works best for you if you do not have a rental car. Hiring a car may offer more freedom, but it also places the responsibility for unfamiliar roads, parking, navigation, and mountain weather on you. This excursion gives you access to places that are difficult to combine by public transport in one day.

The value is less clear if you already plan to spend several days in Wicklow. In that case, you may prefer to stay locally and explore at your own pace. For a single Dublin-based day, though, the route covers a lot without wasting time on transfers.

Who Should Book the Wild Wicklow Tour?

I would choose this tour if you have one free day in Dublin and want nature, history, and a little local food culture in one package. It suits solo visitors, couples, families, and independent travelers who would rather not drive.

You should also like guided travel. The day includes plenty of coach time, and the guide’s stories are part of the experience. People who enjoy geography, geology, Irish history, and local anecdotes will get more from the route than someone who wants silent sightseeing.

The tour is less suited to serious hikers. You get walking at Killiney Hill and Glendalough, but the schedule is designed for sightseeing rather than long trails. It may also feel rushed if you want to spend an hour at every viewpoint.

The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. In winter, a departure can be canceled if the minimum is not met, with an alternative or full refund offered. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but later cancellations and changes are not accepted.

Final Verdict: A Worthwhile Escape From Dublin

I recommend the Original Award Winning Wild Wicklow Tour for a well-rounded day beyond Dublin. Its best features are the smaller coach route through Glencree and Sally Gap, the strong guiding, the mix of coastal and mountain scenery, and the meaningful time at Glendalough.

Book it if you want to see Wicklow without driving and are happy with a structured day. Skip it only if you need long hikes, private transport, or hours of quiet time at each stop. For most visitors with limited time in Ireland, this is a practical and memorable way to trade city streets for mountains, lakes, old stones, and a modest whiskey toast.

FAQ

Where does the Wild Wicklow Tour depart from?

The tour uses convenient pickup points in the north and south of Dublin city. You meet the guide and coach at one of the central Dublin pickup locations.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is paid for separately. You can choose a pub lunch at Lynhams of Laragh or ask the guide about alternatives, including a deli sandwich.

Is the whiskey tasting included?

Yes. A complimentary taste of Glendalough Irish Whiskey is included on the return journey.

How much time is available at Glendalough?

The itinerary allows about 90 minutes at the Glendalough monastic settlement, with at least 60 minutes of free time to explore the site and lakes.

Can I visit the Upper Lake?

Yes. You have the option to walk toward the Upper Lake through ancient forest during the free time at Glendalough.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 37 travelers.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather or low numbers?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not met, you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.