Driving through Wicklow National Park, just south of Dublin, felt like a journey through Ireland’s wild heart—towering peaks, emerald valleys, and ancient trails unfolding at every turn. Our route wound along the iconic Sally Gap, a high mountain pass built in the 1790s, where each bend revealed panoramic vistas of blanket bogs and distant hills. We paused at Lough Tay—nicknamed the “Guinness Lake” for its dark, pint-like appearance—perched in a natural mountain bowl, before continuing to Glenmacnass Waterfall, where torrents of water plunge dramatically over rocky steps. We also drove on to Glendalough, home to the ancient monastic settlement and its twin lakes, surrounded by walking trails that beckoned us to explore deeper. Between stops we soaked in the raw beauty of the Wicklow Mountains—its forests, boglands, and rugged beauty stretching endlessly in every direction. We timed our drive to avoid the crowds, giving us space to truly appreciate the solitude and drama of this wild landscape. Wicklow National Park is Ireland’s largest and perhaps its most atmospheric national park, with so much to see and do—from scenic drives to hikes, waterfalls to monastic ruins—that it deserves several hours, if not days, of exploration. It was a day of natural wonder and peaceful discovery, and one we won’t soon forget.
