20 Attractions to Explore Near Wicklow Head Lighthouse

Wicklow Head Lighthouse has safeguarded the scenic Wicklow coastline since 1781. It is a peace seeker's haven with inspiring and refreshing views of the Irish Sea. The landscape and scenery surrounding the lighthouse provide a perfect backdrop for a unique and memorable break. Today, it is a self-catering holiday home. It can be booked through the Irish Landmark Trust.

On the eastern outskirts of Wicklow Town on a rock above the sea lies the ruin of Black Castle. Only a few fragments of the wall remain of the castle built by the Normans at the end of the 12th century. It stands on a rocky promontory over the sea, at the eastern side of the town. Following the arrival of the Norman’s in 1169 Earl Strongbow was granted the lands along the East Coast. He in turn granted those lands to Baron Maurice Fitzgerald on condition that he build castles for protection.

A former prison located in the town of Wicklow, County Wicklow, Ireland. The prison was closed down by 1900 but reopened to hold republican prisoners during the Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War; the last prisoners left in 1924. It was now a museum claiming to be one of the world's most haunted buildings, due to the long history of suffering associated with it. The prison was featured on a 2009 episode of Ghost Hunters International.

Mount Usher is recognised at home and abroad as one of the earliest and finest examples of a ‘Robinsonian’ garden. Extending to 22 acres, it combines a champion collection of trees and shrubs with inspirational floral planting schemes along both sides of the River Vartry. It feature water as an essential part of the scenery, with cascades and suspension bridge visible from many sections. Winding paths lead visitors on a journey through groves and glades and on to the river banks.

This is a botanic garden outside Wicklow Town, County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a satellite of the main National Botanic Gardens located in Glasnevin, County Dublin. The 52 acre gardens are situated 5km from exit 18 on the M11 motorway. It is now part of the National Botanic Gardens, providing a complementary collection of plants to its parent garden at Glasnevin. Arrive in spring to witness the transformation of the walks, as fallen rhododendron blossoms form a stunning magenta carpet.

The Devil’s Glen boasts a dramatic landscape that was fashioned at the end of the Ice Age when the melt waters of the ice sheet created the valley. The resultant gorge affords a swift decent for the Vartry River as it makes its way from the Vartry Reservoir to nearby Ashford village. The site hosts a mixture of broad leaf and conifer forest with fine stands of beech, Spanish chestnut and ash.

Devil’s Glen waterfall is located in wicklow, Ireland. Usually an hour or less driving from Dublin. This place is an ideal one to have a day trip. The Devil’s Glen boasts a dramatic landscape that was fashioned at the end of the Ice Age when the melt waters of the ice sheet created the valley. The site hosts a mixture of broad leaf and conifer forest with fine stands of beech, Spanish chestnut and ash.

Avondale House,is the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell. It is set in the Avondale Forest Park, approximately 1.5 km from the nearby town of Rathdrum. The House is now a museum open to visitors, who are introduced to the house by an audio visual presentation. Other facilities include a restaurant, book shop, picnic areas, children's play area, two orienteering courses. In the surrounding parkland are tree trails and walks ranging in duration from one to five hours.

Avondale House, birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell , is set in a magnificent 500 acre forest park near Rathdrum in County Wicklow. The river Avonmore flows through the park on its way towards the Irish Sea. The House is now a museum. This interesting Georgian house was built in 1777, and contains fine original plasterwork and the Parnell family furniture.

Avondale Forest is a wooded estate in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the west bank of the River Avonmore. It contains the home of Charles Stewart Parnell which was built in 1777 by Samuel Hayes and is now the Parnell Museum. The park is rich in wildlife and notable features include the exotic tree trail and a well-developed arboretum. It lies mainly on the west bank of the Avonmore River covering 214 hectares of land. The ruins of Parnell's old sawmill and Parnell's well are located in the park.

Old Kilcoole Church is believed to have been constructed in the 12th century and was dedicated to St Mary. The Church consisted of a Nave and a Chancel and although in a ruinous state there is still quite an extensive amount of it remaining. The chancel probably once had a step-pitched stone roof, with a small attic roof over the chancel. The nave has a square baptismal font, a cross slab and a small round-headed window in the south wall

Trooperstown Hill is a summit in County Wicklow and has an elevation of 432 metres. Trooperstown Hill is situated east of Ballard, southeast of Paddock Hill. Its trail features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking.

Greystones is a beautiful sandy beach located in the centre of the town and right beside the DART train service. The South Beach in Greystones is about half a mile long. It is a mix of pebble and sand and easily accessible from the railway station and car park. The beach is lifeguarded during the bathing season and more information can be found on the notice board located at the beach.

Victor's Way, located near Roundwood, County Wicklow, Ireland, is a privately owned meditation garden notable for its black granite sculptures. Covering 22 acres, the park includes a series of dancing figures of Ganesh, Shiva, and other Hindu deities. Most of the park's statues are made of black granite, with some in bronze and range in height from 1.5m to 4.9m.

Camaderry is the 90th-highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale,[3] and the 112th-highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. is situated in the southern sector of the Wicklow Mountains range, and forms a broad horseshoe around the valley of Glendalough with the hydroelectric station at Turlough Hill.

A beautiful darkly wooded valley that begins where the Rivers Avonbeg and Avonmore come together to form the River Avoca. The Avoca area has been associated with its copper mines for many years and the valley has been celebrated by Thomas Moore in the song "The Meeting of the Waters". Avoca has been used as a filming location for several films and television series.

The Arklow Maritime Museum opened in 1976 in the old technical school on Saint Marys Road in Arklow, County Wicklow. Its original purpose was to celebrate the town's rich seafaring heritage, described by the late maritime historian John de Courcy Ireland in a letter to the museum as "Ireland's Most Maritime Town". In 2009, the museum moved to its current location at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre.

Shekina is situated in the centre of Co. Wicklow, in the townland of Kirikee which is locally considered as the gateway to the wild Glenmalure Valley. It is set within a one acre garden, which includes an undulating stream running through it feeding two ponds. There is a gazebo and various seating areas for visitors to sit back and relax in this peaceful area.

Glenart Castle was the residence of the late Lord and Lady Carysfort. The Castle is half in ruins but the other part is good and is kept by cartetakers. There were about eighty rooms in the Castle when it was built, but nine of the rooms were burnt and a lot of most valuable furniture was destroyed, the value of which amounted to forty-five thousand pounds.

Glendalough Cathedral is one of Ireland’s earliest Christian monasteries. Its seven church ruins are found in the stunning Glendalough Valley, part of Wicklow Mountains National Park. Exploring the monastery and any of the Glendalough Walks is a great day trip from Dublin.