Towns & villages of County Wicklow
Every notable town, village and hamlet in Wicklow — what to do there, where to walk from there, where to eat, and where to stay. Working drafts; local detail being added.
Avoca
Stone-bridge village in the Vale of Avoca — the original Avoca Handweavers shop.
Aughavannagh
Remote former barracks deep in the mountains — an overnight on the longest stage of the Way.
Aughrim
Stone-faced village on the Aughrim River — gateway to Mangans Loop and Macreddin.
Arklow
Coastal town at the southern edge of County Wicklow — beach, harbour, Maritime Museum.
Ashford
Riverside village on the N11 — Mount Usher Gardens, Devil's Glen, Carrick Mountain.
Blessington
Lakeside town beside the Poulaphouca Reservoir — Russborough House, the Greenway.
Bray
Wicklow's largest town — start of the Cliff Walk, Killruddery House, National Sealife.
Brittas Bay
Long stretch of dune-backed Blue Flag sandy beach — popular weekend destination.
Clonegal
Southern terminus of the Wicklow Way — Huntington Castle, Osborne's and Sean O'Duinn's pubs.
Coolafunshoge & Mullinacuff
Two small townlands on the Wicklow Way south of Tinahely — quiet, agricultural, waymarker shrines.
Coolboy & Carnew
South-Wicklow / Wexford border villages — Carnew has a Norman castle, Coolboy is the rural hinterland.
Donard
West Wicklow village under Lugnaquilla — start point for the Glen of Imaal route.
Enniskerry
Powerscourt model estate village — gateway to the waterfall, the Sugar Loaf and the Punchbowl.
Glenealy
Quiet rail-stop village between Wicklow town and Rathdrum — gateway to Carrick Mountain.
Glendalough
Saint Kevin's monastic city — the Spinc, Upper Lake, Round Tower and the Wicklow Way Stage 3 finish.
Greystones
DART seaside town — end of the Cliff Walk, harbour, beach, an excellent food scene.
Hollywood
Tiny west-Wicklow village in the Wicklow Gap — start of the King's River and the Way's western valleys.
Kilcoole
Coastal village south of Greystones — beach walks and a BirdWatch Ireland reserve.
Kilmacanogue
Roadside village under the Great Sugar Loaf — the original Avoca Handweavers shop.
Laragh
Crossroads village at the head of the Glendalough valley — staging post for Spinc and Glenmacnass.
Macreddin
Hamlet that grew around BrookLodge — organic restaurant, hotel, micro-brewery, spa.
Newtownmountkennedy
Mid-Wicklow town beside Vartry Reservoir — designer outlet retail, Druids Glen golf.
Rathdrum
Hilltop town above the Avonmore — Avondale Forest Park, Parnell's estate, on the rail line.
Roundwood
The highest village in Ireland — gateway to Lough Tay, Lough Dan, overnight on the Way.
Shillelagh
Quiet south Wicklow village near Tomnafinogue Woods — Coollattin estate land, on the Way.
Stranakelly
A crossroads on the Wicklow Way — home to Tallon's Pub ("The Dying Cow"), the most famous walker pub.
Tinahely
Stone-square village on the Way — Madeline's Accommodation, the Railway Walk, the Kyle Loop.
Wicklow Town
County town and harbour — Wicklow Gaol, Wicklow Head, the Black Castle, the Murrough.
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