Most visitors meet Wicklow through Glendalough or the mountains. Nicola's relationship with the county began further west, through 15 years working in Baltinglass. From there, our Wicklow stretches across Cistercian ruins, Palladian houses, mountain roads, great gardens, Avoca's industrial story and the east coast.
Wicklow was part of Nicola's working life for 15 years. Baltinglass is not simply a pin on our map: it is the town she travelled to, worked in and came to know through ordinary days as well as its history.
Together, we've also visited Wicklow's famous monastic valley, grand estates and gardens, the coast, Avoca, Wicklow Gaol and Russborough House. That gives us a view of the county from west to east — from the River Slaney to the Irish Sea.
A handsome west-Wicklow town on the River Slaney, backed by Baltinglass Hill. Nicola worked here for 15 years, making this the most personal starting point for our county guide.
Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, founded this Cistercian abbey as a daughter house of Mellifont. Its nave, arches and carved stonework still show the scale and ambition of the medieval monastery.
Built for Joseph Leeson, later Earl of Milltown, and designed by Richard Castle, Russborough is one of Ireland's great Palladian houses. Its later history is closely connected with Sir Alfred and Lady Beit and their art collection.
Watch our video ↓The Poulaphouca Reservoir transformed this landscape in the 1940s. Today its long shoreline and mountain backdrop make it one of west Wicklow's defining views.
The monastic settlement associated with St Kevin grew into an important religious centre. Its round tower, churches and graveyard survive in a glacial valley whose landscape is as memorable as its archaeology.
The gaol tells the stories of prisoners held through rebellion, famine and the age of transportation, when men, women and children could be sent from Ireland to penal colonies overseas.
Avoca's valley was shaped by centuries of copper mining, while its handweaving tradition became famous far beyond Wicklow. The village carries both an industrial and a craft story.
Wicklow's coastal story includes Norse settlement, the ruins of the Black Castle and centuries of maritime life — a reminder that the county's history does not stop at the mountains.
Glendalough is the historic anchor, but the wider mountains deserve time too. Mountain roads, lakes, forest walks and high passes make this a county where the journey between stops is often the best part.
Choose anything from an easy walk around the monastic sites and Lower Lake to longer routes overlooking the Upper Lake. Go early when possible.
A dramatic crossroads in the mountains, with open moorland and access towards Lough Tay, Glenmacnass and west Wicklow.
Set below the Wicklow Mountains, the waterfall is a separate visit from Powerscourt House and Gardens and is particularly impressive after rain.
Conditions change quickly. Bring proper layers, allow extra driving time and never let a packed itinerary rush you on narrow roads.
The formal terraces, ornamental lakes and view towards the Sugar Loaf make Powerscourt one of Ireland's best-known designed landscapes.
The Brabazon family has been associated with Kilruddery since the early 17th century. The gardens and later house preserve layers of aristocratic and architectural history.
A relaxed Robinsonian garden in Ashford, shaped around the river and celebrated for mature trees, informal planting and seasonal colour.
Architecture, collections, parkland and an eventful history make Russborough much more than a photograph from the front steps.
A Victorian promenade, Bray Head and an easy rail connection from Dublin make Bray a natural northern gateway to coastal Wicklow.
A lively coastal town with beaches, harbour views and enough cafés and restaurants to turn a walk into a full day out.
Pair Wicklow Gaol with the harbour, coastline and Black Castle ruins for a day built around both history and the sea.
Avoca sits inland from the coast but fits naturally into an east-Wicklow route, particularly if you want history, scenery and craft together.
Our visit to this Palladian landmark near Blessington in west Wicklow.
Browse guided day trips, mountain experiences and bookable activities in County Wicklow.
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Wicklow links Dublin with Kildare, Carlow and the wider south-east — and deserves far more than a hurried drive through the mountains.