Wicklow Mountains National Park

The park comprises some of the remotest terrain in Wicklow with contrasts between deep glacier lakes, breathtaking mountains, and both natural and planted forests. Included in its boundaries is the 6th Century monastic "city" of Glendalough which is a historic site of international importance and is set in majestic surroundings.

Walking in the National Park

The park is also home to an amazing amount of animal including a large heard of deer, badgers, otters, and Peregrine falcon and ravens.

In recent times an additional amount of land has been acquired in the upland area of the park including the Liffey Head Bog, bringing the total area of the park to 15,700ha with all recent land acquisitions included. The Wicklow Mountains themselves are based on bedrock of granite with the domed highlands covered in a thick smothering of bog. In centuries past the natural coverage for these mountains would have been oak.

For the convenience of the visitor to the park there is a Park Information Officer situated near the upper lake about 100m from the Upper Lake car park and 2km from the Glendalough visitor's center. As opposed to just driving around the various small roads that are in proximity to the park, you can walk the excellent lowland roads to a convenient or obvious meeting point like Glendalough itself and chose to walk from there into the foothills if desired.

The visitors office is open daily from May until April and in April until September only at weekends. Intending visitors can telephone 353(0)404-45425. Happy walking.