THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A full-day coach tour from Dublin that pairs Glendalough’s ancient monastic ruins and glacial valley with Kilkenny’s medieval streets. Expect short guided walks, lakeside scenery and time to explore at your own pace.
A full-day coach tour from Dublin that pairs Glendalough’s ancient monastic ruins and glacial valley with Kilkenny’s medieval streets. Expect short guided walks, lakeside scenery and time to explore at your own pace.
You step onto a coach at Lower Gardiner Street as Dublin blurs into hedgerows and low stone walls. The bus climbs toward the Wicklow Gap and the air cools; peat-smoke and fresh lake mist seem to press against the windows like a living map. By mid-morning the round tower and ruined churches of Glendalough rise out of the valley, stones warmed by centuries of wind and rain.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Paddywagon Tours · Glendalough, County Wicklow
You step onto a coach at Lower Gardiner Street as Dublin blurs into hedgerows and low stone walls. The bus climbs toward the Wicklow Gap and the air cools; peat-smoke and fresh lake mist seem to press against the windows like a living map. By mid-morning the round tower and ruined churches of Glendalough rise out of the valley, stones warmed by centuries of wind and rain.
Glendalough’s Monastic City dates to St. Kevin in the 6th century, an early Christian refuge that grew into a center of learning. Geologically the valley is a glacial hollow—steep corrie walls, boulder-strewn moraine and peat bogs that record an Ice Age past. The route over the Wicklow Gap reveals moorland and the black ribbon of Turlough Waterfall; these bogs still feed turf fires and shape local life. Kilkenny later offers a contrast: Norman walls, Kilkenny Castle’s riverfront, and pubs where Gaelic and Anglo-Norman stories meet.
Practical guide: this is a full-day, coach-based excursion with two included short guided walks and leisure time for independent exploration. Expect about 10 hours door-to-door, moderate walking (30–90 minute free guided sections plus self-guided lake loops). Bring waterproof layers, sturdy walking shoes, and a small daypack for snacks, water, and camera.
Timing matters—arrive 5–10 minutes early at the meeting point, and plan meals in Kilkenny where a 90-minute window suits a pub lunch or a quick castle stroll. Weather shifts quickly on the mountains; stick to marked trails in Glendalough, respect fragile bogland, and you’ll experience a day where history, geology and live Irish culture push you gently forward.
The meeting point is Bus Stop 1171 on Lower Gardiner Street beside Trinity Church in Dublin; the tour returns to the same location in the early evening.
Yes—there are two short guided walking tours included at Glendalough and Kilkenny, plus additional leisure time for independent exploration.
Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult; the tour is generally suitable for most fitness levels but includes uneven paths that may be challenging for limited mobility—contact the operator for specific access needs.
You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time; check your booking confirmation for details.
Paddywagon Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step onto a coach at Lower Gardiner Street as Dublin blurs into hedgerows and low stone walls. The bus climbs toward the Wicklow Gap and the air cools; peat-smoke and fresh lake mist seem to press against the windows like a living map. By mid-morning the round tower and ruined churches of Glendalough rise out of the valley, stones warmed by centuries of wind and rain.
You step onto a coach at Lower Gardiner Street as Dublin blurs into hedgerows and low stone walls. The bus climbs toward the Wicklow Gap and the air cools; peat-smoke and fresh lake mist seem to press against the windows like a living map. By mid-morning the round tower and ruined churches of Glendalough rise out of the valley, stones warmed by centuries of wind and rain.
Glendalough’s Monastic City dates to St. Kevin in the 6th century, an early Christian refuge that grew into a center of learning. Geologically the valley is a glacial hollow—steep corrie walls, boulder-strewn moraine and peat bogs that record an Ice Age past. The route over the Wicklow Gap reveals moorland and the black ribbon of Turlough Waterfall; these bogs still feed turf fires and shape local life. Kilkenny later offers a contrast: Norman walls, Kilkenny Castle’s riverfront, and pubs where Gaelic and Anglo-Norman stories meet.
Practical guide: this is a full-day, coach-based excursion with two included short guided walks and leisure time for independent exploration. Expect about 10 hours door-to-door, moderate walking (30–90 minute free guided sections plus self-guided lake loops). Bring waterproof layers, sturdy walking shoes, and a small daypack for snacks, water, and camera.
Timing matters—arrive 5–10 minutes early at the meeting point, and plan meals in Kilkenny where a 90-minute window suits a pub lunch or a quick castle stroll. Weather shifts quickly on the mountains; stick to marked trails in Glendalough, respect fragile bogland, and you’ll experience a day where history, geology and live Irish culture push you gently forward.