Glendalough by Bus & 10 Unforgettable Sights That Make A Hike Here Epic

Take the bus from Dublin to Glendalough. Photos and advice from a Glendalough walk in County Wicklow, Ireland. Take the Glendalough bus to Wicklow.

County Wicklow and some idyllic walks can be found just an hour's ride outside of Dublin. We visited Glendalough on an organized day tour when we first moved to Ireland. 

The tour was great but a bit rushed and we wanted to return to explore the area again on our own terms. The chance presented itself on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in early September when we decided to try out Saint Kevin's Glendalough bus service for our triumphant return to the Wicklow Mountains National Park, one of the most popular places in Ireland's Ancient East. 

While driving certainly offers the most flexibility in exploring the region, we don't have a car so the St. Kevin's bus service was super helpful. For 23 EUR return, the service runs twice a day on the weekends departing Dublin City at around 11:30 am and returning at 4:30 pm. 

The bus drops off and picks up passengers at the Glendalough Visitor Centre. We found this gave us just enough time for a brisk hike up and around Spinc and Glenealo Valley (White Route) taking in sweeping views of the Upper Lake with a few moments to spare to marvel at the scenery and take some pictures before hiking back to the Visitors Centre for the return bus to Dublin. 

The Walks Ireland blog features a helpful map of the trail. Here are ten highlights of our hillwalk centered on Glendalough in County Wicklow.

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1. The 6th Century Glendalough Monastic Site

The 1500 year old monastic city is a highlight of any trip to Glendalough. The walking trails begin and end very close to the ruins and cemetery. 

Glendalough also features prominently on the iconic Wicklow Way hike. We took a little time to steep in the atmosphere outside the round tower and wandered among the Celtic crosses and other gravestones. 

It's tempting to spend quite a bit of time here exploring the fascinating history, but if you do, your hillwalk will end before it even begins and you won't have time to make the full circuit around the upper lake before you'll need to board the Glendalough bus back to Dublin.

2. The Ascent from the Glendalough Monastic Site

The good news about Spinc and Glenealo Valley loop trail is that you get the hard part out of the way early. The bad news is that the trail is quite steep near the start. 

We ascended past Poulanass Waterfall through a beautiful silent forest marching up 600 wooden planks to the top.

3. Rewarding Views of the Upper Lake

We were rewarded in our efforts with sweeping views of the Lower and Upper Lake as well as a brief glimpse of what the trail had in store for us next. We looked forward to seeing the lakes and their surrounds up close.

4. Walking the Line at Glendalough

A very narrow wooden boardwalk runs along the top of the ridge. We looked out over the valley below and at the protected vegetation surrounding the trail. 

We smiled as we attempted almost acrobatic moves to sneak past hikers going in the opposite direction on the narrow trail.

5. The Magnificent Bucks of Glendalough

As we made our way along the boardwalk, I spied a stunning buck grazing in the grass. We stood watching in silence. I love unexpected wildlife sightings on our hikes!

6. Glendalough: The Pinnacle

Slightly beyond the halfway point in the trail, we encountered the most beautiful spot of all. We could see the Glenealo River snaking it's way down the hill into the Upper Lake spilling past rock formations. 

The sun chose this moment to come out making the scene overlooking the Glendalough Valley even more idyllic.

7. Grinning Goats of Glendalough

We thought the hard part of the trail was over at this point and from a cardiovascular perspective it was. However, the descent into the valley to the shore of the Upper Lake runs down a steep rocky path which is admittedly a bit tough on the knees. 

I soon forgot about my aching legs when I spotted magnificent mountain goats dotting the hillside. If we weren't time constrained (i.e., we didn't want to miss the bus from Glendalough back to Dublin), I could have stood there photographing the goats for hours! One of them even seemed to be grinning at me!

8. Rocky Descent Back to Glendalough Visitor Centre

We completed our rocky descent past ruins of an old lead mine with views of the Upper Lake encouraging us onward in our journey.

9. A Walk in the Woods at Glendalough

The trail flattened out again at water's edge. We wandered through a forest of tall trees with golden light reflecting off the amber tannic waters of the Upper Lake. This part of the trail felt quite zen and we had the trail nearly entirely to ourselves.

10. A Glendalough Ice Cream Break!

After nearly four hours on the trail, we were ready for a treat. Fortunately, there is an ice cream kiosk near the car park on the Upper Lake. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo of my delicious soft serve cone. I ate it too fast after all the exertion from the invigorating climb and descent.

While it may feel more convenient to drive from Dublin to Wicklow, if you don't have a car, a day trip to Glendalough on St. Kevin's bus service offers a fantastic way to do an introductory hillwalk and get some exercise in the stunning areas of natural beauty on Dublin's doorstep in County Wicklow.

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