Kilkenny, the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough day tour
Medieval streets, a mountain pass and a working sheepdog demonstration.
At a glance
A full day south of Dublin through Ireland's Ancient East. You get two and a half hours in medieval Kilkenny, a drive over the Wicklow Gap, time at the monastic ruins of Glendalough and a sheepdog demonstration on a working farm.
- Duration
- About 10 hours in total
- Leaves Dublin
- 8:10 AM, Outside Hotel Riu Plaza The Greshamor 2 other pick-up points
- Back in Dublin
- 6:15 PM
- Price
- Adult €43
Where you go
Pick your date and go
Choose a date and how many are travelling, then pay securely. Once your booking is confirmed, we'll email your tickets directly to you.
What travellers saidabout this tour
My little group of 4 had a wonderful time exploring the old streets of Kilkenny and the trails of the Wicklow mountains. Seeing the herding dogs do their job was also a sweet treat to end the trip. Special thanks to Paul and Donna for making our day so great! Go raibh maith agat!
What you get
- KilkennyTwo and a half hours in Ireland's medieval capital, with an optional short guided walk and free time after it.
- Wicklow GapThe drive north crosses one of the region's highest passes at 475 metres, with a stop for the views if weather allows.
- GlendaloughTwo hours and fifteen minutes at a 6th century monastic city, with its round tower and two lakes.
- Sheepdog demonstrationA 30-minute stop at a working farm in Laragh to watch shepherds work their dogs.
- Guided walks includedOptional walking tours in Kilkenny and at Glendalough, both led by your guide and included at no extra cost.
- Driver and guideA dedicated driver and a separate guide, helping you get more from the experience.
Your day, stop by stop
- 8:10 AMPick-upDublin city centre pick up
- 10:00 AMStopKilkenny
- 12:30 PMStopWicklow Mountains
- 2:15 PMStopGlendalough
- StopSheep dog trials30 min
- 6:15 PMDrop-offDublin city centre drop off
Read the full itinerary
- 18:10 AM / 8:20 AM / 8:30 AM
Dublin city centre pick up
There are three pick up points in the city centre. 8:10 AM outside Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham, 23 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin, D01 C3W7. 8:20 AM at the bus stop at 33 College Green, Dublin 2, D02 DD76, next to Hawksmoor Restaurant. 8:30 AM outside Leonardo Hotel Dublin, Christchurch Place, D08 REK7, formerly Jurys Inn. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time.
- 2Arriving around 10 AM
Kilkenny
We leave Dublin early and reach Kilkenny around 10 AM. Your guide runs a short walking tour of the medieval city and points out places to eat. After that the time is your own until we leave at 12:30 PM, two and a half hours in the city in total. The city is compact, so the castle gardens, the shops and the cafes are all easy to reach on foot. The castle grounds are free to explore, but entry inside Kilkenny Castle is not included.
- 3Leaving Kilkenny at 12:30 PM
Wicklow Mountains
We leave Kilkenny at 12:30 PM and drive north through the Wicklow Mountains, the county known as the Garden of Ireland. The road climbs to the Wicklow Gap, one of the highest passes in the region at 475 metres. We stop there for the panorama when the weather allows it.
- 4Arriving around 2:15 PM
Glendalough
Glendalough is a monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, set in a glacial valley. You arrive around 2:15 PM and have 2 hours and 15 minutes on site. There is an optional guided walk covering the history and the 30 metre round tower, built as a bell tower and a place of refuge. The rest of the time is free for the two lakes and the ruins.
- 530-minute stop
Sheep dog trials
A 30-minute stop at a traditional sheep farm in Laragh, in the heart of the Wicklow countryside. Shepherds work their dogs in front of you, giving a clear picture of how a Wicklow hill farm runs. When possible, there is also a chance to hold the lambs.
- 66:15 PM
Dublin city centre drop off
From 1 March to 31 October, Monday to Saturday, we drop off on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, D02 H048. From 1 November to 28 February, and on every Sunday, we drop off on D'Olier Street, Dublin 2, D02 K129. Both are within easy walking distance of O'Connell Street and Temple Bar and are well served by public transport. Return times may vary because of weather, traffic or other delays.
On Sundays and during the winter months, November to February, the order reverses: Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains come first, then Kilkenny in the afternoon, arriving around 2:15 PM. All itinerary times are approximate and can move with traffic, weather or road conditions, but the time at Kilkenny and Glendalough is never shortened.
What is included
- Return coach transport from Dublin city centre.
- A dedicated driver and a separate guide on board all day.
- Optional guided walks in Kilkenny and at Glendalough's monastic city, at no extra cost.
- The 30-minute sheepdog demonstration at a working farm in Laragh.
- Everything listed here is covered by the fare. Entry inside Kilkenny Castle is the exception and is not included.
- Unlimited 4G Wi-Fi on board.
Not included
- Meals and drinks. There is time to eat in Kilkenny.
- Entry inside Kilkenny Castle. The grounds and gardens are open to you.
- Hotel pick up. Pick up is from the three Dublin city centre stops only.
Pick-up points and times
- Option A8:10 AMOutside Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham23 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin, D01 C3W7
- Option B8:20 AMBus stop at 33 College GreenDublin 2, D02 DD76, next to Hawksmoor Restaurant
- Option C8:30 AMOutside Leonardo Hotel DublinChristchurch Place, D08 REK7, formerly Jurys Inn
- Back at 6:15 PM
- 1 March to 31 October, Monday to SaturdayWestmoreland Street, Dublin 2, D02 H048
- 1 November to 28 February, and all SundaysD'Olier Street, Dublin 2, D02 K129
- Both locations are within easy walking distance of O'Connell Street and Temple Bar and are well served by public transport. Return times may vary because of weather, traffic or other delays.
Choose your pick-up point when you book. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your departure time. There is no hotel pick-up on this tour.
Good to know
- When it runs
- Runs seven days a week, except on March 17th and December 24th, 25th and 26th.
- The coach
- Air conditioned coaches with unlimited 4G Wi-Fi on board. USB chargers are available on most coaches. There is no toilet on board, so comfort breaks are built into the schedule. Smoking and vaping are not allowed.See our fleet
- Children
- Children under 3 cannot travel on this tour.
- Changing your plans
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour's first departure time. We refund 100% of the amount we received; card or bank processing fees charged by your payment provider are not refundable. Notice must be given by email.
Why people book this one
Questions people ask about this tour
Where does this tour depart from?
The tour has three pickup points, with a later start than Wild Rover's other tours:
- 8:10 AM, outside Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham, 23 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1
- 8:20 AM, bus stop at 33 College Green, Dublin 2, next to Hawksmoor Restaurant
- 8:30 AM, outside Leonardo Hotel Dublin, Christchurch Place, Dublin 8
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your pickup time.
What is the sheepdog demonstration?
You visit a traditional working sheep farm where a local farmer explains how border collies are trained and gives a live herding demonstration with a flock of sheep.
When possible, guests may also have the opportunity to hold lambs.
The visit lasts approximately 30 minutes and is included in the tour price.
How much time is there at Glendalough?
You have approximately 2.5 hours at Glendalough.
An optional guided walking tour of the monastic site, round tower, and twin lakes is included at no extra cost. The remaining time is yours to explore at your own pace.
Is Kilkenny Castle entry included?
You have 2.5 hours of free time in Kilkenny city.
Entry to the castle interior is not included in the tour price, but you can visit the castle grounds and explore the medieval city independently.
An optional guided walking tour of Kilkenny is included at no extra cost.
Does the itinerary change in winter or on Sundays?
Yes. On Sundays and during the winter months (November to February), the order of stops changes.
The tour begins with Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains, then visits Kilkenny in the afternoon, arriving around 2:15 PM.
The time allocated at each stop remains the same.
What films were shot in the Wicklow Mountains?
Parts of Braveheart and P.S. I Love You were filmed on location in the Wicklow Mountains.
Your guide will point out the filming locations during the drive.
Is this tour suitable for families with children?
Children aged 3 and over can join the tour.
This tour is particularly popular with families thanks to the sheepdog demonstration and the chance to hold lambs at the working sheep farm.
Children under 3 are not suitable for this tour.
Can I save money by booking a second Wild Rover tour?
Yes. You get 12.5% off every additional eligible day tour in the same booking, when you add it on the “Buy More, Save More” step that follows your first tour. The two Cliffs of Moher tours are alternatives to each other and do not combine, and the same applies to the two Northern Ireland tours.
At €43, this is already the best-value tour in the range.
You also receive 20% off DoDublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours when booking with Wild Rover.
Where and when does the tour finish?
The tour returns to Dublin at around 6:15 PM. The drop-off point depends on the date:
- 1 March to 31 October, Monday to Saturday: Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, D02 H048
- 1 November to 28 February, and all Sundays: D'Olier Street, Dublin 2, D02 K129
Both locations are within easy walking distance of O'Connell Street and Temple Bar and are well served by public transport. Return times may vary because of weather, traffic or other delays.
Make it more than one day
Most visitors have three or four days in Dublin. Add a day tour somewhere different, or a hop-on hop-off pass for the city, on the “Buy More, Save More” step after your pick-up and the discount is applied there.
Complete your trip
Each of these goes somewhere different. To save 12.5%, choose your first tour, then add one of these on the “Buy More, Save More” step that follows.
