We are driving from Dublin, leaving around 8:30 and want to stop at Glendalough. We have one other stop about 30 minutes on from Glendalough which will be an hour to an hour to 90 minutes, before making the drive to Cashel. I am wondering how long we should expect to stay at Glendalough and see the essential parts of Glendalough. I realize that with the hiking paths and all, you could spend all day. But to see the essence and spend a little peaceful time, how long should we expect to stay?
Thank you.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2547 posts
I enjoyed seeing Glendalough but I don’t think you need more than an hour there. The site isn’t large.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4602 posts
The great thing about Glendalough is that its outside, so the kids can run around, as long as they are careful not to disturb other visitors.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
I agreed with Mary. It is lovely but we didn’t feel as if we needed to spend more than an hour or two there.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
The visitor center (and the bathrooms) opens at 9:30 which happens to be when the tour buses start to roll in. If you can leave Dublin a little earlier so as to arrive before then you'll have the place pretty much all to yourselves. After that you'll be fighting the crowds for the rest of the day.
Depending on your time and interests, driving the Old Military Road is a particularly scenic way to get there.
As others have said, you can satisfy your curiosity about the place and see what there is to see in an hour ... unless you want to linger and enjoy some of the terrific hiking trails that circle the site thru the Wicklow mountains.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7146 posts
We spent about an hour visiting the Monastic City, then another hour or so walking to and from a nearby waterfall that was very much worth walking to. If you like woolen mills, there’s a small one in Avoca south of Glendalough. Avoca is also where the UK tv series Ballykissangel was filmed if you’ve heard of it.