A two hour drive north from New Ross brought us to Glendalough, one of Ireland's most visited destinations. It’s only an hour south of Dublin but it could be centuries away from the metropolis – except during high summer when its as busy as Grafton Street in Dublin.
Glendalough is a glacial valley with steep granite cliffs on one side and it’s a beautiful walk to the upper lake. At the valley head there are the ruins of abandoned miners village where lead was mined from 1850 until about 1957.
Historian a & archeologist George McClafferty, from the visitors centre, explained the history & myths of Glendalough - a beautiful wooded valley in the Wicklow Mountains with the ruins of a sixth century monastic city.
It was built by the followers of the St Kevin and destroyed during the British Reformation. Today the ruins are still impressive and include houses, churches, a graveyard and the 110 foot round tower which is 1,000 years old and one of the best in Ireland.
The Round tower was originally a bell tower with a doorway ten feet above the ground to deter attacks, especially from Viking raiders that plagued the area.
Get there before 10am & you can have the place to yourself.
Regina couldn’t wait to get behind the reins of the traditional travellers horse drawn caravan that Neasa Clissmann (www.clissmann.com/wicklow) brought to our film shoot at Glendalough; “its only tourist that are keeping this tradition alive,” Neasa said.
Glendalough is a glacial valley with steep granite cliffs on one side and it’s a beautiful walk to the upper lake. At the valley head there are the ruins of abandoned miners village where lead was mined from 1850 until about 1957.
Historian a & archeologist George McClafferty, from the visitors centre, explained the history & myths of Glendalough - a beautiful wooded valley in the Wicklow Mountains with the ruins of a sixth century monastic city.
It was built by the followers of the St Kevin and destroyed during the British Reformation. Today the ruins are still impressive and include houses, churches, a graveyard and the 110 foot round tower which is 1,000 years old and one of the best in Ireland.
The Round tower was originally a bell tower with a doorway ten feet above the ground to deter attacks, especially from Viking raiders that plagued the area.
Get there before 10am & you can have the place to yourself.
Regina couldn’t wait to get behind the reins of the traditional travellers horse drawn caravan that Neasa Clissmann (www.clissmann.com/wicklow) brought to our film shoot at Glendalough; “its only tourist that are keeping this tradition alive,” Neasa said.
Some of us thought it might seem a bit cheesy but its a green way to travel and the slow pace is a great way to appreciate the landscape and everyone you meet smiles and wants to chat.
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