From Dublin: Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, & Kilkenny Tour

Glendalough’s stone churches and round tower sit among lakes and steep Wicklow valleys, while Kilkenny brings medieval streets and a castle into the same day. The route is a fine way to trade Dublin’s city streets for countryside without arranging your own transport.

I like the mix of medieval Kilkenny and early Christian Glendalough, two places with very different stories. I also like that the day includes a working sheep farm, where a collie demonstration gives you a close look at a living Irish farming tradition.

The trade-off is the pace: you’re covering several stops in about 10 hours, and the coach has no bathroom. You’ll get time to explore, but this is an introduction to each place, not a slow visit.

• Kilkenny gets 2.5 hours: A guided walk and free time let you see the old streets, with a chance to visit the 12th-century castle at your own expense.
• Glendalough gets 2 hours: Walk among the remains of a 7th-century monastery, including the round tower and St. Kevin’s Kitchen.
• A working farm adds a hands-on stop: Watch Irish collies work with sheep during a traditional trial.
• Wicklow’s mountain roads are part of the day: The route crosses rugged uplands and glacial valleys, with scenery familiar from films including Braveheart and PS I Love You.
• The day is hosted by two people: A live guide shares stories and leads walks while a separate driver handles the coach.

From Dublin into Kilkenny and the Wicklow Mountains

This full-day trip is built for you if you want to see several sides of Ireland without renting a car. A coach takes you from Dublin to Kilkenny, the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough, with a sheep farm visit along the way. The guide and driver are separate, which lets one focus on the stories and walking tours while the other manages the roads.

The usual order begins in Kilkenny, followed by the mountains and Glendalough. In winter, from November through February, and on Sundays, the order changes: Glendalough and Wicklow come first, with Kilkenny in the afternoon. That switch matters because daylight is shorter in winter. Check the day’s plan when you book, and don’t assume the first stop will always be the city.

The advertised price is $51 per person. For that, you get round-trip coach transport, a live English-speaking guide, guided walks in Kilkenny and Glendalough, and the sheepdog trial. Food, drinks and admission to Kilkenny Castle are extra. The price works well if you value the convenience of reaching countryside and historic sites in one day, though you’ll need to budget separately for lunch and any paid attractions.

Kilkenny: cobbled lanes, craft and a castle

Kilkenny sits on the River Nore and is known as a center for Irish crafts. You have about 2.5 hours here, including an optional guided walking tour. That gives you a useful orientation and time to explore independently, though you’ll need to choose your priorities rather than try to see everything.

The city’s medieval center is well suited to a walk. You can follow the guide through cobbled streets, then use your free time to visit Kilkenny Castle, a 12th-century landmark whose admission is not included. If the castle is high on your list, check opening details and allow time for it before lingering over lunch.

Other stops offer a sense of the city beyond its best-known building. The Kilkenny Art and Design Centre introduces local craft traditions, including goldsmithing, sculpture and painting. Rothe House, a historic merchant’s home, contains Viking artifacts, while its medieval garden grows old varieties of fruit and vegetables, including Gortahok cabbage and Blood of Boyne apples.

You can also pass Saint Frances Brewery, described as Ireland’s oldest, and take a break at one of the city’s artisan cafés. Lunch is at your own expense, so use the stop to eat before the countryside leg. If you prefer a relaxed meal, keep an eye on the clock: the coach continues on schedule.

The farm stop: collies at work

The sheep farm is one of the day’s most distinctive stops. Rather than seeing only a pretty rural view from the coach, you get to watch a working collie guide sheep in a traditional trial. The demonstration shows the partnership between dog and farmer, and helps explain how a trained dog can move a flock across open ground.

The exact length of the farm visit is not specified, so think of it as a memorable part of a packed day rather than a long farm tour. Some departures have also offered the chance to hold young lambs, but that is not something to count on every time. The sheepdog work is the central draw.

For many people, this is the most unusual stop because it brings you close to an active rural tradition. It also adds variety to a day otherwise divided between a historic town, mountain scenery and monastic remains. If you’re traveling with children old enough for the trip, this may be especially engaging, though the tour is not suitable for children under 3.

Wicklow Mountains: open views and film country

After Kilkenny, the road turns toward County Wicklow. The scenery changes from green fields and gentler valleys to rugged mountain terrain, with the Wicklow Gap among the glacial valleys along the route. The coach makes a stop in the mountains, but much of the experience comes through the changing views from the road.

The area’s cinematic quality has made it a location for films such as Braveheart and PS I Love You. That connection adds a bit of movie history, but the scenery is the real reason to look up from the window. Bring a camera, and dress for the weather: mountain views can feel very different on a clear day than in rain or fog.

The route also passes the Sugarloaf Mountains, which the guide may connect to the story that they were higher than the Alps before the Ice Age. Treat that as a bit of local storytelling rather than a reason to expect a separate hiking stop. This is a coach tour with scenic pauses, not a mountain trek.

Conditions can change quickly, so comfortable walking shoes and layers are sensible even if Dublin looks mild when you leave. Some visitors have had cold or wet days and still enjoyed the views, but good weather will naturally make the mountain stops easier to appreciate.

Glendalough: monastery, round tower and two lakes

Glendalough means glen of two lakes, and the setting is part of its appeal: a monastic site among water, wooded slopes and mountain scenery. The settlement dates to the 7th century and is associated with Saint Kevin, its founder. You’ll have about two hours here, including an optional guided walk.

The tour introduces the site’s surviving stone buildings, including St. Kevin’s Kitchen, a church and the round tower. These structures make the history tangible, while the guide provides context about the early Christian community. The walk is a good way to orient yourself, then you can use any remaining time to explore at your own pace.

Two hours is enough for an introduction, but it can feel short if you want a leisurely walk around the lakes as well as time at the monastery. Decide what matters most before you arrive. If you want the full site experience, stay focused during the guided portion and use your free time deliberately.

The walking tour is optional, so you can choose how to spend your time. Still, I’d recommend joining at least the introductory walk if you want the buildings to mean more than a collection of old stones. The guide can connect the site to Saint Kevin and the place’s role in Ireland’s early Christian history.

A long day made easier by the guide and driver

The trip lasts about 10 hours, with an estimated two-hour transfer at the start and a 1.5-hour return journey. Add the stops and walks, and you have a full day out. The coach saves you the effort of planning a route through several locations, while the separate driver and guide divide the work between safe transport and interpretation.

Guide assignments vary. Past tours have featured Ian, Maurice, Murphy, Caroline, Kevin, Liam and others. A strong guide can make a long coach ride feel shorter with Irish stories, local context, humor and, at times, traditional music on the way back to Dublin. The driver matters too, especially on narrow mountain roads. The two-person setup is a practical plus.

There are three listed Dublin pickup points: Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham, College Green near Dame Street, and the Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch, formerly Jurys Inn. The departure times provided are 8:10 a.m. at the Gresham, 8:20 a.m. at College Green and 8:30 a.m. at Christchurch. Arrive at your selected stop at least 10 minutes early and look for a Wild Rover Tours bus.

You finish on Westmoreland Street in Dublin. Bring your ticket or voucher to show before boarding. Since there is no bathroom on board, make use of facilities when you stop, and plan ahead for the long stretches between towns. Food and drinks are not included, but you can buy them during the stops.

Is $51 good value for this day out?

At the quoted $51, the value comes from the range of places covered and the transport between them. You get a historic city, a working farm demonstration, a mountain route and an important monastic site in one booking. If you tried to connect all those stops independently, you’d need to organize transport and timing yourself.

The main costs to add are lunch, drinks and any optional admission, especially Kilkenny Castle. You should also weigh the value of a guided introduction against the limits of a fixed schedule. If you want to spend half a day in Kilkenny or hike at Glendalough, this tour won’t give you that freedom. If you want a broad first look at Ireland beyond Dublin, it makes good use of a day.

The tour is best for first-time visitors, solo travelers and anyone without a car who wants a mix of town, countryside and history. It also suits you if you enjoy a lively guide: past guides such as Liam and Murphy have been praised for humor, while others, including Ian and Caroline, have been singled out for warm, informative hosting. But the guide’s personality is never guaranteed, and the itinerary itself is the safer reason to book.

Should you book this Wicklow and Kilkenny tour?

Book it if you want a practical, varied day out with Kilkenny’s medieval streets, Glendalough’s monastery, Wicklow scenery and a sheepdog trial in one trip. The sheep farm and the guide’s stories give the day more character than a sequence of coach-window views.

Skip it if you want long, unhurried time at each stop, a serious hike, or a full castle visit. For an introduction to Ireland’s countryside and heritage at a quoted $51, though, this is a strong choice. Check which stop comes first on your travel date, pack for changeable weather and save some appetite for lunch in Kilkenny.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 10 hours, including coach transfers and visits to Kilkenny, the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough and a working sheep farm.

What is the price?

The listed price is $51 per person.

Where does the tour depart from in Dublin?

Pickup is available at Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham, College Green near Dame Street, or Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch, formerly Jurys Inn.

What time should I arrive at the pickup point?

Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure. The listed pickup times are 8:10 a.m. at the Gresham, 8:20 a.m. at College Green and 8:30 a.m. at Christchurch.

Is a walking tour included in Kilkenny?

Yes. A guided walking tour is included, and you have about 2.5 hours in Kilkenny. Joining the walk is optional.

Is a walking tour included in Glendalough?

Yes. A guided walking tour is included, and you have about two hours at Glendalough. Joining the walk is optional.

Is admission to Kilkenny Castle included?

No. The castle is not included in the tour price, but you have time to visit if you wish.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you can purchase them during the stops.

Is there a bathroom on the coach?

No. There are no bathrooms on board.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.