County Wicklow Tourist Attractions List of sites and attractions in County Wicklow

South of Rathdrum, the Avonmore and Avonbeg Rivers join to form the Avoca River, about 3 miles north of Avoca village; this is the famous Meeting of the Waters. Overlooking the scene is Castle Howard, situated on a cliff by the river's eastern bank. Nearby is Tom Moore's tree, where the poet is said to have spent long hours in contemplation. Now it is a stark skeleton, railed off to save it from souvenir-hunters. The Vale of Avoca is especially lovely in late spring, when drifts of white blossom from the wild cherry trees are in stark contrast to the green foliage. On either side of the valley, the ground rises in little hills, culminating on the western side in a background of mountains. Valuable deposits of pyrites lie in the valley They contain ores of copper, lead, zinc and sulphur (no longer mined). In Avoca village a weaving centre is open to the public; its products are internationally renowned.

Filming of BBC's Ballykissangel takes place in Avoca each summer!

Nestled in "the glen of the two lakes," this important monastic settlement was founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin, who was looking for tranquil seclusion. Its setting is disarmingly scenic, exactly the opposite of the harsh environment you'd expect ascetic medieval monks to have sought out. Although quite remote, Glendalough suffered numerous assaults from the Vikings and the English, and eventually dwindled into insignificance. Today its picturesque ruins collude with the countryside to create one of the loveliest spots in Ireland.

If Ireland is the Emerald Isle, then Wicklow is its greenest county. County Wicklow is known as the "Garden of Ireland" for its magnificent landscape of largely uninhabited country, interrupted only be heather-covered Granite Mountains bordered on the east by sandy beaches.

County Wicklow is one of the most varied counties in Ireland in terms of its landscape, ambiance and social and historical influences and yet it is only 60 km x 40km. The county lies just south of Dublin city thus providing it with a vital role as a recreational amenity for the population of Dublin as well as to the many overseas visitors who have discovered its compact yet diverse beauty and many attractions.

Wicklow is also a land of majestic mountains and spectacular valleys like Glenmalure, Glencree, Glenmacnass and the magnificent Glen of Immal. But famous worldwide is the beautiful Glendalough, the valley of the two lakes, a monastic settlement that was founded in the 6th Century by the hermit St. Kevin. The famous Round Tower is one of the finest examples of early christian vernacular architecture in Ireland. To this day, Glendalough still exuding a sense of peace and tranquillity.

One of the most grandiose of Irish gardens, set amid the natural splendor of the northern Wicklow Hills. Only 12 miles (19km) from Dublin, the gardens and nearby waterfall make a great day's outing, and a welcome respite from the noise and congestion of the city.

Druids Glen lies between the Wicklow Hills and the Irish Sea, 20 miles south of Dublin. Druid's Glen was designed by Tom Craddock and Pat Ruddy and is arguably the finest parkland course in Europe. They have hosted the 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 Irish Open as well as many amateur competitions.

(6,729 Yards / Par 71) The links offers a rare variety of golf challenges and awesome scenery as the holes plunge into deep valleys in the sand dunes, run on a sand spit through age old marshlands and along and up into the rugged cliffs of Mizen Head. The Irish sea can be seen from every hole on the links and the Wicklow Hills complete the view.