Wicklow, Ireland - need input
 

I need some help prioritizing.

Situation -
a) Staying in Dublin
b) In October
c) Just one day for Wicklow - :(
d) Glendaloch is a must visit. In fact - we may spend non-trivial time there hiking to the ned of the valley.
e) Powerscourt looks like a must visit as well.

I was toying with the following itinerary -
1) Drive straight to Glendalloch and be there early - like 8:30
2) Leave Glendeloch by 11:00 - head up to Powerscourt
3) Eat luch in Enniskerry
4) Tour Powerscourt
5) Drive to Russborough House (via R115 and R759)
6) Return to Dublin

Question - is the Russborough House a bridge to far?? Do we really have time for all that?

Thanks,

Rick

tt

one last try.

Since no one has replied, here's the info I can give: We visited Ireland in May of 2003. So, I've pulled out my journal. We arrived in Dublin and stayed there a few days. We then took a taxi back to the airport to rent a car then headed south. We did get lost on the way to Powerscourt. Maybe you'll have a car with GPS? Anyways, it took us an hour from Rathfarnam to Powerscourt because of traffic and construction. I believe we left the airport around 9:30 10:00 am. (not exactly sure, sorry) We enjoyed Powerscourt but felt the house was not very impressive inside. Most things have been removed. There was a big fire some time ago. The grounds are impressive but I would skip the house tour if you are pressed for time. We grabbed a quick bite there and the headed to Glendaloch. We took the tour they offer. It was a very nice visit. I had expected the lake would be larger. (don't remember why) (fyi, I live in California) We left Glendaloch at 4pm and headed south to Kilkenny. I looked up the Russborough House website and was confused as to when it is open in October. If it is open till 6 and the last tour is at 5. I think you would have time to do all three, it would just be a long day.
Have an excellent trip.

Good input - especially the note that the interior of Powerscourt is a possible skip. Thanks

I've hesitated to reply since it's been awhile since I've been in the area, but again since you're not getting other responses... :) I visited Glendalough (note the spelling for better Googling) and Powerscourt in one day about ten years ago. I don't remember much at all about Powerscourt, but I remember Glendalough well and would love to go back. My feeling is that you can see a lot of beautiful houses with terrific gardens (and Powerscourt certainly is that), but Glendalough is something you can't see elsewhere. So I would rather skip one of the houses than rush through Glendalough just to do more. I would start your day in Glendalough, spend as much time as you like there, and then see how much time you have and decide on the other two at that point. I haven't been to Russborough House so can't comment there.

rholt - We kind of swung by that area on our way back to Dublin.
Maybe this will help:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...experience.cfm

We were in the area just last month but didn't have time for Powerscourt. (We were there for our daughter's wedding and, due to other obligations, wound up with only a few hours to spend.) We found it took us quite a bit longer to get to Glendalough than we'd expected. Not because of the distance, but because the views in the Wicklow Mountains were so magnificent that we stopped often to take pictures!

One thing that came to my mind when I read your post is the fact that you'll be there in October. Do you know how much will be blooming in Powerscourt Garden at that time of year? I realize it's a formal garden with more to see than the plants themselves. But still wonder whether the time of year will be a factor.

I've just posted a trip review of our visit to Wicklow and Glendalough in April. Perhaps the suggestions there will be helpful to you in deciding how to spend your day there.
Because you mention wanting to hike at Glendalough, I'm not sure you'd have time to do that AND Powerscourt. In my trip report, I describe the main hike we did there (which was great!) and there are lots to choose from. In fact, if you go to the Wicklow Mountains National Park website, you can find good descriptions of all of the walking trails there. http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/

Thanks to all for the great input.

Glendalough has a certain mystique to it and a good place for a hike to the lake, etc. Wicklow Mnts enchanting. As for Russborough House it is optional I suppose, a Palladian mansion with garden and some art work. Didn't get to Powerscourt but here is it is worthwhile. You mention a stay in Dublin...lots to see there. Also north to Newgrange, Trim, etc.

Ozarksbill