THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A compact, full-day shore excursion from Dun Laoghaire that reaches deep into the Wicklow Mountains. Explore Glendalough’s monastic ruins, toast at Lough Tay, and cross the Sally Gap with local guides on a smaller luxury coach.
A compact, full-day shore excursion from Dun Laoghaire that reaches deep into the Wicklow Mountains. Explore Glendalough’s monastic ruins, toast at Lough Tay, and cross the Sally Gap with local guides on a smaller luxury coach.
Book with Wild Wicklow Tours
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Wild Wicklow Tours · Dublin, County Dublin
Wild Wicklow Shore Excursion from Dun Laoghaire Dublin offers an eight‑hour sweep through the Garden of Ireland, departing from the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. On this small‑group shore trip you'll move quickly from the coast into the raw, peat-streaked heart of the Wicklow Mountains, visiting Glendalough, Lough Tay (Guinness Lake) and the Sally Gap with an expert local guide.
The itinerary centers on Glendalough, the sixth‑century monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin, where a stone round tower and ruined churches stand between upper and lower lakes. You'll follow sections of the lakeside trail with time to visit the monastic site and walk between the two lakes, absorbing the valley's quiet and the mixed oak and birch woodlands that rim the water. Guides weave in local history and folklore, from medieval pilgrimage to more recent film locations.
After a pub lunch in Laragh you head higher, across heather moor and peat bog to the Sally Gap. The road opens onto broad panoramas of granite ridges and deep corrie lakes; one stop gives a head-on view of Lough Tay, the dark, teacup-shaped lake nicknamed Guinness Lake for its foreshore of pale sand. The route also passes the P.S. I Love You bridge and quieter pullouts that larger coaches can’t reach because this tour uses a smaller luxury coach sized for shore excursions.
A highlight is a complimentary tasting of Glendalough Whiskey, offered lakeside at a scenic stop; non-drinkers are usually offered Irish apple juice as an alternative. Guides are practiced at pacing the day to suit cruise schedules: expect prompt return to Dun Laoghaire so you make your tender back to the ship. Group size is capped to maintain a personal feel and to get into tighter vantage points along the mountain roads.
Practical notes: the trip runs about eight hours depending on docking, departs from the Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire, and accommodates children from five years old. Bring layered weatherproof clothing and sturdy, non‑slip footwear for wet boardwalks and uneven stone paths. Lunch is not included but there are pub and deli options in Laragh.
This is a purpose-driven way to see central Wicklow in a single day: raw high-country scenery, accessible walks, historic stonework at Glendalough, and a whisky toast with views that linger. For visitors with limited time in Dublin, the Wild Wicklow Shore Excursion delivers compact geography, local stories, and the kind of peaks-and-valleys visuals that make Ireland feel immediate and alive.
Expect variable weather and brief uphill stretches; most walks are moderate and suitable for families, but those wanting longer hikes should plan extra time. Book early during cruise season as spots fill fast and the smaller coach sells out frequently regularly.
Yes. Guides can often arrange a meet-up point later in the day if you prefer to remain longer in Glendalough—confirm with your guide on the day.
No. Lunch is not included but there are pub and deli options available in Laragh during the stop.
Non-drinkers are usually offered Irish apple juice as an alternative—ask your guide on the day if this option is available.
The tour departs from the Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire and returns in time for cruise ship tenders back to the vessel.
The tour is approximately eight hours depending on docking times and accepts children from five years old.
The shore excursion times are synchronized with ship tender arrivals and returns to Dun Laoghaire; the original Wild Wicklow Day Tour has a fixed 9:40am departure and different logistics.
Wild Wicklow Tours, based in Bromley in County Wicklow, operates guided day trips and private tours that showcase the scenic Wicklow Mountains and the monastic valley of Glendalough. The operator's flagship experience is the Original Wild Wicklow Day Tour, described in promotional material as award-winning and run on a smaller luxury coach to deliver an off-the-beaten-path itinerary. Expert guides lead guests through dramatic landscapes, historical sites, and curated stops, concluding the day with a complimentary tasting of Glendalough Whiskey. For travelers seeking a bespoke experience, Wild Wicklow Tours runs the Private Wild Wicklow Tour, a nine-hour road trip that covers authentic Irish scenery from Killiney Hill to Glendalough. The private itinerary includes a morning coffee stop at Fitzpatrick Castle, a traditional pub lunch, and a toast with Jameson Whiskey, with time allocated for photography and relaxed exploration. The business emphasizes guest comfort and local knowledge by operating small-group luxury coach transport and employing experienced local guides. Wild Wicklow Tours operates from Bromley, County Wicklow, providing accessible departures for visitors staying in Dublin and nearby areas. Booking details, meeting points, and accessibility information are available through the operator's official channels to help visitors prepare for their day and confirm departure times.
Book with Wild Wicklow Tours