Amazing place, beautiful bucolic views and peaceful atmosphere. It is nestled in a quaint Irish…read moretown with 2 pubs, takeaway place, a convenience shop, and Michelin restaurant. Whether you are just visiting the tea room and gardens/castle tour, or staying in the castle Airbnb rooms- it's a wonderful experience. The gardens and grounds are more extensive than you realize, and can find many hidden pathways that lead to somewhere seemingly magical. I have been a guest at Huntington for a collective 3 months now, and would highly recommend. If you come in the Spring, don't miss out on seeing the lambs!

We had a lovely stay in the castle. Claire and Alex are excellent hosts! They made sure we were…read morecomfortable. The castle is beautiful and full of history. We had to miss their award winning breakfast due to an early flight, but we heard it was amazing. I highly recommend staying here!

I've you are willing to do the work you can get pretty close to this lighthouse. By car it's 10…read moreminutes from the Wicklow train station. You could walk the distance since it likely only 5-6 KM total, but aside from the first 500 or so meters it's all uphill. And some of the grades are at 30-40° so not for the faint hearted. My recommendation: take a taxi to the main gate, and then walk to the lighthouse property. You'll see some nice sheep farms and the view is textbook Irish countryside. Once you get to the person gate, there is a little 3uphill to walk (100 Monday at most) and then you start the slow decent down hill. There are plenty of signs about dangerous cliffs but there is usually a wall between you and them, so stumbling over one would have to be intentional. There are some gaps in the walls and fences that toddlers could get through, so better keep a close eye on them. At the bottom of the down hill you'll see the white lighthouse that sits just above the waterline. It looks quite modern, for a lighthouse when considering the residence as well. That makes sense as it is one the venues where you can play lighthouse keeper by staying over for a few days. Could be a good honeymoon idea for a couple, of lighthouse fans. The small village of Wicklow will certainly add to the charm. One hours train ride from Dublin, the little town and it's lighthouse will win a place in you heart. And it should.

My husband and I stopped by here while heading out of Dublin to do a bit of a tour of manor houses…read morebetween Dublin and Wexford. I had heard they had beautiful gardens and a nice place to stop for lunch. I have to say, the gardens were indeed absolutely beautiful. There was a wedding being prepared inside the house, so you weren't allowed to go inside when I was there. However, I'm not sure if you're normally allowed inside or not. After spending about an hour walking around the grounds and snapping photos, we stopped at the little outdoor cafe by the manor house for some coffee and lunch. We each had a sandwich which came with a little side salad. There was also nice classical/light jazz music playing in the background. I have to say, it made for quite the relaxing afternoon. From the area where they serve food, you overlook the gardens as you sit out in the sun. If it does start raining, which, because this is Ireland, invariably it will... they do have some limited seating. Would love to come here next time and sit outside with some wine. :)

Stopped into the Saturday market September 2018, at first glance did not seem to have much but most…read moreof the vedors were inside, we purchased some lovely pies and quiche. A nice coffee bar can make any type of espresso drink. We had a lunch of quiche and flat whites, inside seating is available. There were also several vendors selling locally made gift items, including beautiful wood tables. One of us had a 15 minute massage which was very relaxing. Lots of options for relaxing afternoon.

Its a easy experience to go through, beautiful castle with free lockers to store backpacks.read more

Dublin Castle was originally built in the early 1200s as a medieval fortress under the instruction…read moreof King John of England. For centuries, it was the headquarters of English (and eventually British) rule in Ireland. In 1684, a large fire destroyed a large portion of the castle. Instead of matching the original Gothic style, most of it was rebuilt using a Georgian style, similar to what you'd find in the French Palace of Versailles! It's quite the contrast. When you visit Dublin Castle, you can choose to explore it in two ways: with a self-guided tour to the state apartments or with a scheduled guided tour that visits the Viking Excavation, the Chapel Royal, and the State Apartments. When you first enter the courtyard, you'll immediately see the newer Georgian architecture in the neat red brick buildings surrounding the square. From the 13th century to the early 20th century, the castle was under British control. It served from being a royal palace and parliament to a prison. Dublin Castle was eventually handed over to General Michael Collins on the 16th of January in 1922. Collins was a soldier and a politician who lead the Irish people through their fight for Independence Dublin Castle plays a huge role in Ireland's history and a walk around the grounds is time well spent. Today the castle is a government complex and tourist attraction. Stroll through the famous Chester Beatty Library if time permits

Bray Head and its views are breath-taking. It's so peaceful and calming…read more The coastal views are nothing short of stunning. We decided to do the cliff walk from the promenade up to the head. At the very top is the infamous cross. The last time we were there much of the cliff walk was closed due to mudslides. We decide to soldier on and made it almost to the top. We were ill-prepared for the mud and walk rounds. While we were wearing good walking shoes, we should have been wearing hiking boots. The experience of the climb is one that you won't forget. When all open and no mudslides it's not a very difficult walk at all. Depending on how far you want to go, the walk can last 1-3 hours. A shorter walk around the summit is just about an hour. The loop to Greystones is longer but absolutely worth it.

Good little hike, even if not especially demanding or challenging. Also an ideal way to spend half…read morea day outdoors away from Dublin using only the train and/or bus. We went up from the Bray side - basically, walk the sea promenade, start going up and then keep to the right - and diverged from the main route midway to merge with the Cliff Walk heading to Greystones. The marked path is a loop walk but we wanted to avoid going back towards Bray. I don't think you need to be specially fit to get to the top, there are a couple of short but steep inclines, but I believe most people can do it if they take their time - or stop for a lot of photos. You'll see plenty of families climbing it :) I just wouldn't recommend it on or right after a very rainy day, as parts of the track can get muddy and slippery. The views along the way are very rewarding, and it's good exercise too. The loop walk alone should take you 1.5/2 hours if you are relatively fit and make few stops. You can spend a good 2.5 hours if you continue your hike towards Greystones. And as if the green landscape descending into the sea wasn't enough to sell this hike, there's also some nice places both in Greystones and Bray where you can rest up and treat your tired self to some nice food and drink - for the ultimate feel-good experience, I'd recommend the Happy Pear :)

St Kevin, patron Saint of Dublin and.......blackbirds. Love it! St Kevin had his monastery here in…read morethe 6th century and it's still beautiful today, 15 centuries later. We decided to go here towards the end of our Christmas Dublin trip and I'm so glad we did. My wife and I took a very early chartered tour bus out of Dublin. Glendalough is about 90 minutes away. The scenic drive to this historic site was well worth the 30-40 bucks we spent on the bus ride. I couldn't wait to explore this area. I only wish we had more time. The weather was perfect to tour the ruins. Cold, damp and dreary. The ruins and abbot cemetery were epic. We took a beautiful trail to the upper lake and back. Definitely an incredibly memorable experience. I want to go back and spend more time here for sure.

Inside the Park, is the Glendalough Monastery. Founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, this…read moremonastic settlement flourished for centuries and remains a place of spiritual and historical significance. You can walk amongst the settlement and cemetery. The Upper and Lower Lakes, are here in this glacial valley. The hike around these lakes is an enchanting experience. We hiked both lakes. The water's surface acts like a giant mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains. Awesome. Come get your calmness and peace from nature here. Again, this is very close to Dublin so easy for a 1/2 day or day trip.

The society meets on a monthly basis in the Glenview Hotel, hosting lectures on various topics…read morerelating to Co Wicklow. They usually attract a crowd of about 150 and many stay on for a social drink afterwards. Their stated aim is to promote the collection, preservation and communication of the cultural heritage of the Kilmacanogue area and its environs. Recent talks have included: A Journey Through Wicklow by Old Postcards - James O'Brien A Life In The Wild -- Eamon De Buitlear An Old Dargle Valley Garden Lives Again -- David Koning Ardmore Studios: 50 years of filming - Kevin Moriarty Beekeeping in Ireland - past and present -- Joe Kelly Bray - that favourite resort -- Mary Davies Calary Races -- Moira Byrne Chapman & Cooke - photographs of Dublin and Wicklow a century ago -- Chris Corlett Freshwater Fisheries in Wicklow Through the Ages -- Alan McGurdy History of the Irish Flora --Matthew Jebb History of W. & R. Jacob, Biscuit Makers -- Seamas O'Maitiu Lost Houses of Wicklow and South Dublin -- Peter Pearson Milestones of Wicklow and South Dublin -- Rob Goodbody Mining in the Glendalough Area -- Joan Kavanagh Natural History - unseen companions -- David & Madeline Spears Postal History of Ireland --John Lennon Robert Emmet -- Philip Emmet The Bray to Enniskerry Railway -- Liam Clare The History of Kilmacurragh Arboretum and Estate -- Seamus O'Brien The La Touche Family of Bellevue and Beyond -- Michael McGinley The Murrough - Wicklow's barrier coast -- Richard Nairn The Palatines in Ireland -- Rev. Dudley Levistone Cooney The Wicklow Military Road -- Michael Fewer Tragedy at Tuskar Rock -- Mike Reynolds Wicklow Motoring -- Bob Montgomery Wicklow Woodland Transition -- Michael Carey Wicklow's Old Farmhouses -- Chris Corlett Hidden Secrets of the Dargle Valley -- Brian White The Use of Wild Plants in Ireland Through the Ages -- Peter Wyse Jackson The Life and Times of the River Dodder -- Christopher Moriarty