Wicklow Mountains

The Wicklow Mountain range or "Munros" are situated in the southeast of Ireland. The range runs in a north-south direction along the centre of County Wicklow into the counties of Dublin, Wexford and Carlow. The mountains are the largest continuous upland area in Ireland covering over 500 sq. kms with the highest peak known as Lugnaquilla standing at 925 metres or 3,035 feet. 

Wicklow National Park is part of the mountain range and was established in 1991 to conserve the local bio-diversity and landscape of the area. Today the entire upland area is designated as a Special Area of Conservation and as a Special Protection Area under European Union law. At almost 23,000 hectares, Wicklow National Park is the largest of Ireland's national parks.

The Wicklow Mountains are abundant with beautiful scenery, activities and visitor attractions ranging from fishing, rafting, hill and trek walking paths, rivers, waterfalls, forests, glens and lakes. The mountains have monastic settlements, pre-history monuments, beautiful gardens, large estate houses, and ancient Irish history making the area one of the most popular visited areas in Ireland. 

One of the most popular destinations in the Wicklow Mountains is Glendalough, meaning Valley of the two Lakes. Glendalough is famous for its beautiful valley, two lakes and the ruins of a great Irish monastic site. The monastery was founded at the start of the 7th century by St Kevin. The site became a monastic city and from the 6th to the 11th century, a place of great learning with its scholars' producing manuscripts in Irish and Latin, including medieval astronomical and mathematical texts and chronicles. Glendalough's monks were also sent out across Europe as missionaries and were an integral part of re-christening of Europe in the dark ages. It is said that when St Kevin died, he was buried in Glendalough and the area has always been a popular destination for pilgrims.

The site for hundreds of years was a target for attack. At first it was local tribes then Norse raiders. In 1398 the site was burned by the English and then by the mid-16th century the monastic site was finished when Henry 8th dissolved the monastic sites in Ireland.

Today the site has the ruins of seven old churches, a Round Tower, graveyard and what was once a magnificent cathedral. The site is also on the Wicklow Way trail and with breath-taking views, it attracts over 1 million visitors a year making it one of the most popular places in Wicklow and Ireland.