Wicklow Mountains National Park
National Park Mountainous park south of Dublin with glacial lakes
Rugged uplands south of Dublin attract hikers to Glendalough’s twin lakes, monastic ruins, heather moorland and the Wicklow Gap. Visitors come for hillwalking, mountain biking and simple Irish country pubs.
Wicklow Mountains National Park is a protected upland area in County Wicklow, Leinster, in eastern Ireland, established as a state national park in 1991 and covering roughly 20,000 hectares. It preserves large tracts of blanket bog, heath, upland lakes and glacial valleys.
The park is used for hillwalking, wildlife watching and scenic drives - marked trails and routes lead to corrie lakes, peatlands and mountain summits. Key visitor highlights include the Glendalough valley with its early medieval monastic remains and visitor centre, Lough Tay with its distinctive shoreline, and mountain routes up to Lugnaquilla (925 m).
Glendalough itself dates to an early medieval monastic foundation and remains a focal historic site within the park; the wider area retains long histories of seasonal grazing, peat cutting and small-scale upland farming. The national park was designated to protect the landscape, habitats and historic features and to provide managed public access.
The park lies south of Dublin in County Wicklow and occupies upland terrain of the Wicklow Mountains, featuring steep valleys, upland lakes and open moorland. Access points are dispersed; Glendalough is the best-known entry and contains the main visitor facilities.
- Main access - Glendalough: Glendalough contains the main visitor centre and several waymarked trails, making it the principal access point for many park routes.
- Highest peak: Lugnaquilla reaches 925 metres, the highest point in the Wicklow Mountains and a common objective for hillwalkers.
What to See #
- Glendalough: The monastic valley of Glendalough, the park's best-known entry point, with early medieval monastic remains, visitor facilities and marked trails.
- Lugnaquilla: Lugnaquilla, the highest mountain in the Wicklow range at 925 metres, a focus for ridge walks and upland hiking.
- Lough Tay and Sally Gap: Lough Tay (the 'Guinness Lake') and other corrie lakes and tarns set among upland heath and blanket bog, with short walking circuits and viewpoints such as Sally Gap.
How to Get to Wicklow Mountains National Park #
Wicklow Mountains National Park’s main visitor access is at Glendalough. From Dublin drive south on the M50 and N11 (then R755/R756) - Glendalough is roughly a 45-60 minute drive depending on traffic. Publicly, Bus Éireann route 133 runs from Dublin (Busáras) to Glendalough and stops close to the Visitor Centre; once in Glendalough most popular trails and sights are within a short walk of the bus stop.
Tips for Visiting Wicklow Mountains National Park #
- If you plan to visit Glendalough, arrive at first light or late afternoon to beat the coach tours that dominate mid-day; the visitor centre and main monastic sites get busiest between 10:00-16:00.
- Explore lesser-used valleys and peaks (for example routes off the main lakes circuit) to escape the crowds - sections of the Wicklow Way and remote corrie valleys see far fewer visitors than the Glendalough loop.
- Check weather and visibility forecasts and expect rapidly changing conditions; also confirm any seasonal access or forestry works that can close particular car parks or trails.
Best Time to Visit Wicklow Mountains National Park #
Late spring through early autumn is the best time to visit the Wicklow Mountains for hiking and outdoor scenery.
Weather & Climate near Wicklow Mountains National Park #
Wicklow Mountains National Park's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 16°C. Abundant rainfall (1712 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (193 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (144 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (143 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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May
May is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (121 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (97 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (125 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (146 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (174 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (169 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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December
December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (191 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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