The Devils Glen
Less than one hour's drive south of Dublin, deep in the heart
of County Wickow, lies Devil's Glen. Nestled at the edge of the
forest, twenty traditional style cottages of cut stone and timber
beams combine with modern luxury facilities to provide our guests
with an authentic taste of Ireland. For the horse lover, the Devil's
Glen Riding Stables also offer enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity
to ride through some of Ireland's most unspoilt countryside. The
houses are finished and equipped to a very high standard and each
has a wood-burning stove. The rooms are elegant and spacious, and
each cottage has a fully-fitted kitchen. And when you're not out
riding or relaxing in your home-from-home, the surrounding coutryside
provides an abundance of walks with breath taking views of the Garden
of Ireland.
Copyright © Devil's Glen 1999-2000
|
|
Copyright © Harrington Property |
The Wicklow Way
Variety is the great characteristic of this route, which starts
in Dublin suburbs, climbs into the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains,
and swithces from glen to glen through dramatic mountains to Aughavannagh.
Views of Luggala, Glendalough and wild Glenmalure eventually give
way to lower ground, with sheltered snug farms and tillage land.
The stonewalled stronghold of Rathgall, said to be the residence
of the Kings of Leinster, and the Mill of Purgatory - a cupboard
in Aghowle Church - are amongst themany places of historic interest.
Useful reaing material while walking in Ireland is 'Way Marked Trails
of Ireland' by Michael Fewer.
Copyright © Bord Failte
Wicklow Town
Wicklow Town is the administrative centre of County Wicklow, situated
on the east coast of the County at the mouth of the Vartry river.
Wicklow is located 30 miles (50kms) south of Dublin, in the southern
Hinterland of the Greater Dublin Area and one mile off the National
Primary Route N11, on the east coast railway line.
At Census 1996 the town and its environs had a population of 7,290
having experienced 17.3% population growth since the 1991 census.
The population of the Wicklow Primary Development Centre identified
in the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area
was 9,555 at Census '96 (Wicklow Urban and Wicklow Rural DEDs) with
a labour force of 3,846 of whom 578 were unemployed (15%). The phenomenal
rate of population growth since Census '91 is explained by a combination
of 1) high levels of migration from Dublin caused by population
pressures in the Greater Dublin Area and 2) the attractions of the
high quality of life offered in Wicklow.
Wicklow is a County Town and hosts the headquarters of Wicklow
County Council in addition to the offices of Wicklow Urban District
Council. Industrial activity (light, medium and heavy) is accommodated
in an industrial zone discretely located to the north of the town
and adjacent to the Harbour, which accommodates a mix of port-related
and tourism-related activity. There is a thriving mix of comparison
and convenience retail and wholesale shopping as the town is a retail
centre for its rural hinterland. This solid manufacturing and retail
base is complemented by a thriving professional services sector
(legal, accountancy, insurance, banking etc), tourism/recreation
sector (hotels, restaurants, bars, tourism attractions, guesthouses,
clubs etc) and general services sector.
Wicklow is located 1.5 miles off the N11. The N11 is presently
a mix of dual carriageway/motorway and single carriageway. In line
with adopted plans, and a completed EIS, the route will be entirely
upgraded to full dual carriageway status by 2004. This will result
in a 45 minute journey to Dublin City Centre. The County Development
Plan 1999 identifies a route for a Port-Relief Road and an Outer
Relief Road (ring road) for the Town. These roads will ensure that
heavy vehicular traffic destined for the port is taken of the main
street of the town.Wicklow is served by an Iarnrod Eireann mainline
service, which provides a morning and evening commuter service to
the Greater Dublin Area. There is ignificant counter-flow capacity
on the line, which will be utilised by commuter journeys to Wicklow
as the town develops its role as a major Employment Centre in line
with the requirements of the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the
Greater Dublin Area . Bus Eireann provides an hourly service to
Dublin.Wicklow Harbour is a thriving commercial port and leisure
facility The port can accommodate ships of up to 3,500 DWT with
timber, metal, coal and grain amongst the goods handled in the port.
There are four secondary schools in the town serving a post-primary
school population of approximately 1800 pupils. Wicklow Vocational
Education Committee runs the Community Education Centre in the town
which provides a wide range of adult learning programmes and upskilling
courses for employees and owner-managers of small businesses. Wicklow
Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with our partners in providing
an IT Access Centre in the town to enable members of the public
to access the internet and avail of e-commerce opportunities.
Wicklow County Hospital is located in the town while Loughlinstown
General Hospital is within a 30 minute drive and a full range of
professional healthcare services are available in the town. Wicklow
Community Services provides a range of social services in the town
including home-help for elderly people. These services augment the
range of services offered through the Eastern Health Board.
Wicklow Town, although less than one hour from the amenities of
Dublin City centre, is surrounded by some of the most impressive
natural landscapes in the Country. This is evidenced by the high
level of natural attractions within a short drive of the town including
Mount Usher Gardens, The National Garden Exhibition Centre, Powerscourt
Estate, Avondale House and Forest Park, and the Parnell National
Memorial Park in Rathdrum. The mountains, lakes and coastal areas
all offer a vast range of leisure options for residents including
swimming, diving, climbing, walking, riding, fishing, golfing. The
town has a new swimming pool, two football clubs, a GAA Club, a
Rugby Club, a Sailing Club, a cinema, and a wide range of high quality
restaurants, a nationally significant nature-reserve walk, and in
the summer the Harbour is the perfect spot for young families to
swim and sunbath.
|
|
Copyright © interment.net |
The town is well provided for in terms of water supplies and a
new secondary Waste water treatment plant is presently at an advanced
stage of planning (an EIS has been prepared). This treatment plant
will cater for population levels of 37,000 in the area - more than
enough to accommodate the anticipated major population growth and
the accompanying growth in employment activities.
The Draft Town Development Plans for Wicklow, its Environs and
the nearby villages of Ashford and Rathnew have identified sufficient
land to allow Wicklow to grow at the rate identified in the County
Development Plan and in line with the requirement that Wicklow Town
develops as a Primary Development Centre.
Copyright © Wicklow Chamber of Commerce
These privately owned gardens are laid out along the banks of the
Vartry River. They measure 20 acres and contain appox. 5,000 different
species of plants and trees including many rhododendrons, magnolias,
camellias, eucryphia and shrubs. Water forms an essential
part of the scenery with cascades and suspension bridge visible
from many sections. Mount Usher is a wild i.e. Robinsonian garden
dating from approx. 1860. There is a spacious tearoom and a shopping
courtyard.
The Michael Collins Drive
Wicklow The Michael Collins drive covers 45 miles through lush valleys
and picturesque villages. The drive will take you to some of the
locations where the film was shot. You start the drive in Wicklow
town at Fitzwilliam Square, where you will see the Halpin
Memorial. Captain Robert C. Halpin commander of the Great Eastern
from which the first Atlantic and other trans-oceanic cables were
laid. Also in the town you can visit the Wicklow Historic Gaol.
The Gaol was established in 1702 and remained in operation until
its closure in 1924. The Gaol uses a unique combination of graphics,
audio-visual material, interactive displays, reconstruction and
actor interpreters who bring history vividly to life and involve
visitors in the amazing stories of the turbulent times had in the
Gaol. The County town is situated on the lower slopes of Ballyguile
Hill and overlooks a wide bay fringed by a crescent curve of coast.
The Michael Collins drive leaves Wicklow (R750) and brings you
through the small villages of Rathnew (R752) and Glenealy before
arriving into Rathdrum. Rathdrum is situated high on the western
side of the beautiful Avonmore Valley. The Avonmore River flows
through
the Vale of Clara, and the Vale of Avoca is only a few kilometres
to the south. Why not stop off for a tea break or a bite to eat
in one of the Inns situated along the main street or in the town
square. Close to Rathdrum on the R752 is Avondale Houseand Forest
Park . Avondale House is set in a magnificent forest park of over
500 acres and was the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell,
one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, and
is now a museum to his memory. There is a children's play area and
designated picnic areas. Also close to Rathdrum is the Greenan Farm
Museum and Maze. The Farm Museum has exhibits going back over 100
years; there is a bottle museum and an outdoor maze that was planted
in 1988. Next the drive takes us along into the Meetings of the
Waters (R752). This is the meeting point of the rivers Avonmore
and Avonbeg. The famous poet Thomas Moore is said to have immortalised
the spot by writing the words of the Irish melody, The Meeting of
the Waters.
Then the drive takes you into the village of Avoca, which is the
home of the hit television series Ballykissangel. Avoca is also
famous for it's mining history. While in Avoca why not pop into
the Avoca Handweavers for a tour of the mill or a snack in their
restaurant and coffee shop. The old courthouse provides an information
sheet on the mining walks in the area. The drive continues through
Woodenbridge, past the Woodenbridge Hotel, which is said to be one
of the oldest coaching inns in the country, and into Arklow. Arklow
is a lively shipping town in the southeast corner of County Wicklow,
and was once one of the busiest ports in Ireland. Today Arklow is
home to the Maritime Museum and Wicklow Vale Emporium along with
a wide variety of shops and eateries. The Drive leaves Arklow and
heads into the village of Redcross and then back over to the coast
into Brittas Bay. Brittas Bay is a long golden beach between Arklow
and Wicklow. It is a blue flag awarded beach, which ensures cleanliness
and safe water. It is ideal for walking, swimming or sunbathing.
The drive now starts to come to a close by heading north from Brittas
Bay back into Wicklow Town, where you will pass Wicklow Head and
the old Lighthouse that stands on top of the headland.
Copyright © East Coast and Midland Tourism
 |
Copyright © Wicklow Bay Hostel.com |
The Excalibur Drive
Wicklow This drive is based around the north of County Wicklow
and is 42 miles round trip. It passes through various towns and
villages in which the film Excalibur were filmed
This Drive starts and finishes in the town of Roundwood. Roundwood
is reputedly the highest village in Ireland. At 238m above sea level
it is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the
country. At one side of the village you will find the lakes of the
Vartry Reservoir, which supplies Dublin City with its water, and
on the other side the dramatic Wicklow Mountains. From Roundwood
follow the drive north past Victoria's Way, a recreation space for
adults including several hand crved black granite sculptures from
India. The drive veers left onto the R759 and on your left passes
Lough Tay and the dramatic cliffs of Luggala Estate, which is known
locally as the Guinness Estate. At the Sally Gap crossroads the
Excalibur Drive takes a turn right and you follow the military road
past the upper and lower Lough Bray towards the Glencree valley.
Along the Military Road several army barracks were established and
the Glencree Barracks is one of them, the barracks are now the Glencree
Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Before coming to the centre
the drive takes a turn right along the Glencree River and this small
winding road takes you through the valley towards Powerscourt Waterfall.
The Powerscourt Waterfall is the highest in Ireland tumbling from
a height of 120 metres, it is open daily to visitors and is a must
see. Next on the drive is the Powerscourt Estate near the pretty
village of Enniskerry.
Powerscourt Estate is one of the world's greatest gardens. The
18th century Palladian House now houses an exhibition that traces
the evolution of the house and it's owners. There is also a terrace
café that you can sit back and relax in and have a little something
while admiring the beautiful gardens around you. Next the drive
takes you from the leafy setting of Enniskerry into the seaside
resort of Bray. Bray is the longest established seaside town in
Ireland. There is a long sand and shingle beach to walk on which
is fronted by a spacious Esplanade complete with bandstand, a sea
life centre and a fun park. There is also a cliff walk from Bray
Head at the end of the Esplanade, which takes you into the town
of Greystones with some breath taking views along the way. The drive
itself heads south into Greystones and you pass Killruddery House
and Gardens, the most extensive surviving French style garden in
Ireland. The Earls of Meath have been at Killruddery since the early
1600's. Greystones is a charming seaside town, with its untouched
old style seafront of Georgian and Victorian houses. Behind the
seafront runs the attractive Main Street with plenty
of excellent shops, coffee shops and restaurants.
The drive continues south along the coast road into the village
of Kilcoole, which is
famed for its television series 'Glenroe'. Glenroe farm was one
of the locations which the series was filmed, today it is an open
farm popular for family outings and school tours. Next on the Excalibur
drive you will pass the world famous Druids Glen Golf Club which
hosted the Murphy's Irish open four years running and last year
hosted the Seve Trophy. The drive continues to the village of ewtownmountkennedy,
Irelands longest place name, before heading to the finishing point
of Roundwood where you can round of your journey with some barfood
and atmosphere in one of the cosy pubs in the village.
Copyright © East Coast and Midland Tourism
 |
Copyright © Wicklow.com |
Wicklow
The Irish name for Wicklow is Cill Mhantáin. A province of Leinster,
it is situated on the East Coast of Ireland. Occupying an area of
some 782 Square Miles, it is bounded on the east by the Irish Sea
and by counties Wexford (south), Carlow and Kildare (west), and
Dublin (north). The administrative centre of the county is Wicklow
Town which has a population of 10,000 (approx). County Wicklow has
rightly been given the title "Garden of Ireland". It is a paradise
for lovers of the outdoor life with rolling hills, deep valleys,
domed granite mountains, bogland, forest and farmland. The proximity
to Dublin makes it an ideal choice as a base for a vacation with
numerous fine hotels and guest houses located in the most beautiful
locations imaginable. A day trip into the capital city will take
1 to 1.5 hours and then you can escape from it all back to the peace
and tranquility. Golfers will find Wicklow to be the number one
location in Ireland to play with many world class courses such as
Druid's Glen which has hosted the Irish Open on several occassions.
For people with an interest in maritime activities, Wicklow is blessed
with some of the finest beaches in Ireland. Swimmers, fishers and
sailors are all well catered for. There is so much more to tell,
but we don't want to spoil it for you. Part of the fun of a visit
is exploring the sites and sounds. You won't be disappointed.
Name
|
Location
|
|
|
wicklow
|
|
|
delgany
|
|
|
wicklow
|
|
|
wicklow
|
|
|
wicklow
county
|
|
|
wicklow
|
|
|
wicklow
county
|
|
|
wicklow
county
|
|
|
rathdrum
|
|
|
wicklow
county
|
|
|
ashford
|
|
|
wicklow
county
|
|
|
glendalough
|
|
|
glendalough
|
|
|
blessington
|
|
|
glencree
|
|
|
aughrim/co.wicklow
|
|
|
arklow
|
|
|
blessington
|
|
|
glendalough
|
|
