Glendalough

Glendalough is located in the Wicklow Mountains a short drive from Dublin. It is one of the first places we visited after moving to Dublin and have been there numerous times since taking family that have come to visit. It is a beautiful monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. It has a wonderful example of a round tower that stands 110 ft. in height. Also on the site are a number of buildings that date from the 12th century such as the Priest House and St. Kevin's Kitchen (named for its unusual belfry that resembles a chimney). The scenery at Glendalough is remarkable. You have the wild Wicklow mountains and the calm nearby lake. All of this can be accessed by walking trails. It ranks in my book as a top spot to bring children of all ages. We have also taken my parents as well and it was one of their favorite places. There is a very nice visitors center which houses some displays and shows a short movie about the site. You can also bring a picnic to enjoy in one of the nearby greens. The kids can get a good blend of education plus the chance to run and release some energy. My teenage sons also really enjoyed this spot and have gone back to camp nearby with friends. Also located in the Wicklow mountain area is Powerscourt Gardens and waterfall. I will post some pictures of these in a future post.

* Helpful Hint- if you and your family are going to be visiting a number of Heritage sites run by the Office of Public Works OPW it will save you a good bit of money to buy a family Heritage card instead of paying for each site individually. The family pass is appox. 50 Euro. It pays for itself very quickly. I have posted a link for the OPW.