With the Celtic Sea to the east, verdant pastures to the west, and rugged mountains in between, Ireland's "Garden County" is perfectly poised for exploring Ireland's great outdoors — with unspoilt landscapes, exceptional food and drink, and luxurious hotels located amid historical estates.

From the majestic palisades of Powerscourt Estate in the village of Enniskerry and the power of its 121-meter-high (397-foot) waterfall to the calming shores of Glendalough and the wild misty mountains of Wicklow National Park, County Wicklow is beyond The Pale (Dublin and its surrounding areas) yet within easy distance of Ireland's bustling capital.

Wicklow's Great Houses

Wicklow's moniker of "The Garden of Ireland" comes from the county's unusual proliferation of grand estates crowned with equally grand houses on acres of landscaped gardens. In 1837, Samuel Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" recorded 27 such estates in Wicklow. Today, most remain in private ownership, but a few are open to the public and make for a fascinating insight into a part of Irish history that is often cloistered from view.

Powerscourt Estate consists of some 851 acres, which includes the house and 47 acres of gardens framing views of Sugarloaf Mountain with terraces, boating lakes, sunken Japanese gardens, native forests, and a folly (an ornamental garden structure). The estate is home to Powerscourt Waterfall and Powerscourt Distillery and Visitors' Centre.

Russborough House in the village of Blessington has a storied past of art heists and celebrities like Fred Astaire, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Coco Chanel. It's a treasure trove of rare art and Ireland's largest private collection of silver and porcelain. A private tour of these riches is essential, as is the National Bird of Prey Centre (also on the estate).

South of the town of Bray, Killruddery House has been the seat of the Brabazon family since 1618. Tours of the house and gardens take place throughout summer, with food a central focus of the experience here. A former stable yard now houses a café and pizza shed, while Killruddery's flagship Grainstore Restaurant offers fine dining featuring beef, lamb, pork, fruit, and vegetables from the estate.

Outdoor Experiences

Mountains

The Wicklow Way is Ireland's longest walking route at 131 kilometers (about 81 miles). Traditionally walked north to south, the route begins in south County Dublin, ending in bordering County Carlow. When walked in total, allow eight to 10 days or enjoy trailheads in snippets. The Wicklow Way passes over the Wicklow Mountains, through Wicklow National Park, and to the calming shores of Glendalough, a monastic city founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin. The Round Tower and 10-kilometer (about 6.2-mile) Spinc Walk along the ridge of the Upper Lake are highlights not to be missed.

Coast

For lovers of sea breezes, Wicklow's eastern edge is lapped by the Celtic Sea and peppered with long strands of sandy beaches. Sea swimming is a popular Irish pastime. Dip like the locals do at the trendy seaside town of Greystones, then warm up with a freshly brewed, locally roasted coffee and an artisan pastry at the multi-award-winning Scéal Bakery. You can also book a spa session with Barrell Sauna at The Boatyard, or take in the sea air on a round of golf at The European Club, a celebrated links course designed by Pat Ruddy overlooking Brittas Bay's 4.5 kilometers (about 2.8 miles) of golden sands.

Woodlands

For families, get up close to Wicklow's native forests from up high at Avondale Estate's Beyond The Trees. This 1.4-kilometer (about 0.9-mile) treetop walkway winds through forests of larch, oak, yew, spruce, and giant redwood and leads to the 38-meter-high (about 125-foot) Viewing Tower with panoramic views of County Wicklow, then descends to the forest floor via a slide.

Gardens

Wicklow is home to the National Botanic Gardens (famous for its annual Rhododendron display spring through early summer) and several so-called Secret Gardens. Festina Lente Gardens is a restored 18th-century Victorian walled garden. Featuring an ornamental rose garden, a sensory garden, and a terrapin sanctuary, it's an oasis of calm to spend time in nature. Children can delight in the Fairy Wishing Tree and leave handwritten messages for "The Little People" (fairies), and the original kitchen garden is home to 89 allotments rented on an annual basis providing a space for growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Run by creative mother-and-daughter duo Sophie and Lucinda Nicol, Windrush Farm combines their passion for nature and craft with small group workshops in natural art and silver jewelery making. Using wild botanical elements as your inspiration, you can learn how to make inks using natural pigments from fruits and leaves, plus make a printed tote bag, charcoal leaf prints, and a sketchbook from natural materials.

The enchanting 19th-century Robinsonian gardens at Mount Usher is spread over 22 acres of lush meadows, fresh water rivers and pools, and an arboretum that includes 32 Champion Trees of Ireland and thousands of varieties of shrubs and plants. The onsite Avoca Café sits nestled among the greenery and serves a delicious array of cakes, coffee, and lunchtime favorites.

Wicklow is also home to the pioneering Hunting Brook Gardens, where leading horticulturalist Jimi Blake has curated Ireland's largest private collection of plants, including five acres of exotics and 15 acres of native woodland.

Where to Eat in County Wicklow

The food story of Wicklow is one that is steeped in landscape and tradition while also embracing innovation and contemporary tastes. Taste Wicklow through sustainable fine dining, traditional farming and food production, artisan bakers, beekeepers, brewers, distillers, and even wine makers.

Dine

Caladh in Greystones serves modern Irish food in a sleek interior with impressive menus that name-check the best of Wicklow's food producers, such as Ridgeway wagyu beef and Cooltin Cheddar, which makes Ireland's most awarded cheese, Mount Leinster.

The fine dining Sika restaurant at five-star Powerscourt Hotel serves an eight-course "Taste the Season" menu with wine pairings designed by Executive Chef Cormac McCreary. Diners can expect lamb grazed on wild grasses on the Wicklow Mountains, heather honey from hives tended to by award-winning apiarist and honey maker, Olly's Honey, and, when in season, the wild Wicklow venison from where the restaurant takes its name.

The Strawberry Tree at Brook Lodge Macreddin was Ireland's first all-organic restaurant and designs its menus around produce grown in its gardens and foraged nearby, such as wild blackberries, elderflower, nettles, mushrooms, woodruff, and dillisk (a type of seaweed).

Snack

Wicklow has an excellent café culture that combines quintessential Irish hospitality with sublime coffees and baked goods. Roundwood Stores offers daily scratch-made breads, cakes, and salads in a gorgeous and uber casual setting. Bread 41 organic bakery specializes in long fermented breads and handcrafted pastries, such as seasonally topped "cruffins," sweet buns, and cookies.

Little Acorn celebrates the best of seasonal and local, such as the pick of Castleruddery organic vegetables for their warm salads and Wicklow's own Roasted Brown coffee. Look out for Little's Acorn's "Coolatin Corner" where it celebrates the cheese made just down the road (see below) with a choice of a classic Irish Cheese Toasties or comforting mac and cheese.

Meet the Makers

Wicklow is home to Ireland's first commercial winery, Wicklow Way Wines, which makes Californian-inspired fruit wines using Irish strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Tours of the winery and wine flight tastings are available by prior appointment. Powerscourt Distillery offers Irish whiskey tours and tastings in their salubriously appointed tasting room, and private bespoke tours can be arranged. For beer lovers, Wicklow Wolf Brewery is open for tours, tastings in their tap room, and walks around their Hop Garden.

Learn how Ireland's most awarded cheese, Mount Leinster, is made at Coolattin Cheddar. Experience Irish farming life with a visit to Daisy Cottage Farm, where pastry chef Lorraine Aspill teaches private classes on how to make Irish Soda Bread and fresh butter from its own milk. Visit the "legend-dairy" Bailey's Farm and find out what it takes to make the world's most popular Irish Cream Liqueur. Kids get to play with their food at The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, which hosts chocolate-making workshops year-round.

For unique immersive food experiences, a visit to award-winning Olly's Honey on the Wicklow/Dublin border is a treat to learn all about Irish wildflower honey, taste seasonal honeys, and spend time among the bees.

The inspirational Wild Acres Nature Reserve is a rewilding success story. Since 2017, co-founders Brian O'Toole and Gilly Taylor have reestablished acres of new woodland, native Irish hedgerows, heritage orchards, meadows, and ponds, and increased native biodiversity. Join a scheduled tour of the nature reserve or arrange for a tailor made experience to suit your schedule.

Hips & Haws offer wildcraft experiences for connecting with the alchemy of wild plants and nature. With a particular expertise in wild mushrooms, Courtney Tyler's workshops share knowledge of mushroom identification, medicinal use including preparation and treatment, and culinary use with courses in mushroom butchery.

Where To Stay in County Wicklow

The five-star Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa is a perfect base for exploring Wicklow. Nestled within the greater Powerscourt Estate, a stay at this Palladian-style resort meets the needs of the discerning visitor. The fine dining Sika Restaurant, Sally Gap Bar and Brasserie, and the Sugar Loaf Lounge for afternoon tea are all situated to make the most of the breathtaking scenery. The onsite ESPA and Swarovski crystal-lit heated pool will help ease away the stresses of your journey to welcome you into the slower pace of life in Ireland's Garden County. Opt for the Powerscourt Suite, a large corner suite with separate living and sleeping areas flooded with natural light. An expansive balcony takes in yet more of those views.

The four-star Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort in west Wicklow prettily sits on the banks of Blessington Lake. A golf course with mature forestry frames views of the Wicklow Mountains and is a haven for wildlife. The main hotel houses The Fairways restaurant where Executive Head Chef James Devers showcases the very best of Wicklow produce. Rooms in the 18th-century Manor House, a short walk from the main hotel, has seven individually styled large and well-appointed private bedrooms, as well as a selection of stylishly characterful shared spaces on the ground floor that have been restored with wall coverings, fabrics, and furnishings inspired by Georgian era fashion. An Elemis Spa completes the offering.

How To Get to County Wicklow

Dublin Airport is just 30 minutes from the Wicklow border. The best way to explore the county is by car or by private driver.

Best Time to Visit County Wicklow

Wicklow is beautiful anytime of year as the landscape changes with the seasons. Spring brings blossoms, the coast calls in summer, in autumn native woodlands shine with seasonal color, and winter snow comes to the mountains.

Peak season is mid-May though August, while low season is late November though February, often with reduced openings. The shoulder seasons are March to mid-May and September to early November. The sweet season for a good combination of pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices is late April or mid-to-late September. Midweek deals are always a better value, while booking in advance (around two months prior) will also open up reduced rates.

Combine With

With Dublin on Wicklow's doorstep, combining a visit to both melds the quieter pace of Wicklow life with the faster pace of Ireland's capital. With a seriously good restaurant scene, a buzzing contemporary arts culture, great shopping, and The Phoenix Park, it's easy to fill a couple of days in Dublin town. Iconic stays in The Shelbourne Hotel or Merrion Hotel come with a suitably iconic price tag, the contemporary but sleek Anantara at The Marker in Dublin's Dockland's offers five-star views over the Grand Canal. Close by, The Gibson is a hopping four-star spot close to Dublin's 3 Arena live music venue. Executive rooms and suites include glass fronted balconies to take in Dublin's burgeoning skyline.

If you've been charmed by Wicklow's slower pace of life, consider spending time in neighbouring counties Carlow and Kildare.

County Carlow is criss-crossed with canals and rivers edged with an ever-changing landscape of forests and pastures. The River Barrow is popular for experiencing river life with multi-day kayak tours run by Go With The Flow, or rent your very own canal barge and cruise the Barrow at a gentle pace with Jenniferz Travels. Learn the traditional Irish craft of Lace Making with Borris Lace Makers, or visit Borris House in June for the internationally renowned Borris House Festival of Writing & Ideas. Stay at the characterful Lord Bagenal Inn situated on the banks of the Barrow River.

County Kildare is famous for three things: horses, shopping, and St Brigid. Indulge in all three by visiting the world-famous Curragh Racecourse, particularly in June for the Kildare Derby Festival. Visit Kildare Village and spend a day wandering the designer boutiques, food shops, and more. Finally, stop at St Brigid's Cathedral, the seat of Ireland's female patron saint. Stay at Burtown House, a historical house with large organic gardens and the Green Barn restaurant on site, or indulge in a touch of luxury by staying at Kildare's iconic K Club where you can request a private tour of the wine cellars.