tour to Glendalough and Kilkenny from Dublin- A collage of five scenes: a calm lakeside with stones along the shore, a shepherd guiding a flock of sheep across a green field, the ruins of a historic graveyard with a tall round tower, a riverside view of colourful buildings including Matt the Millers pub, and a tranquil river surrounded by leafy trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Glendalough, Sheepdogs & Kilkenny: A Perfect Day Trip from Dublin

Having already seen most of what we wanted to see in our first couple of days in Dublin, we decided to head out of town to the beautiful Irish countryside, so we joined a coach tour to Glendalough and Kilkenny.

I was a bit wary at first as I’ve seen coach tours in other countries where it seems to be lots of driving and just jumping on and off to take photos but I read through the reviews and we had two hours at each of the main locations, so I decided it was worth giving it a go.

I’m so glad I did as it turned out to be one of the highlights of our stay with a mix of mountain scenery, medieval ruins, a scenic walk, sheepdog demonstrations and a gentle boat ride in a tranquil riverside town. And my daughter enjoyed it every bit as much as I did.

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⌛ Short on time? These are the tours we took (and one we’d like to!):
🚐 Coach tour to Glendalough with sheepdog demonstrations and stop in Kilkenny
🚤 Kilkenny City Boat Tour
🚐 Kilkenny: Historical and Hysterical Guided City Walking Tour

A scenic view of a lush valley with thick green ferns in the foreground, a calm lake partially visible through the trees, and rolling hills rising under a partly cloudy blue sky.

I chose this tour over the other options partly because of the reviews but also because the sheepdog element sounded fun plus it was slightly longer and even a bit cheaper.

The tour left at around 8.30 in the morning. The coach was comfortable, and our driver was excellent – which was just as well because later in the day he had to navigate some very narrow one-track country roads.

I’m used to driving on these roads in Scotland but this was next level as at one point we were up against the hedges while squeezing past a trailer, but our driver did an amazing job. It’s all part of the rural experience!

Our guide, Richard, was great too and shared lots of very interesting information about the sites we visited and other snippets about life in Ireland.

Glendalough

Our first stop was Glendalough, the Valley of the Two Lakes, a beautiful national park in County Wicklow known for its early medieval monastic settlement founded by St Kevin.

A person stands beneath an archway made of woven branches and climbing greenery, on a gravel path through a sunlit garden.

Glendalough Monastic Site

We had about a quarter of an hour to wander around before deciding whether to explore on our own or meet our tour guide in front of the monastery ruins.

The main site includes the ruins of a cathedral, churches, a round tower and the graveyard. It was surrounded by a wall, much of which is still standing and the double arched gateway remains strong.

A historic stone graveyard features weathered headstones and the ruins of an old church, with a tall round tower rising in the background. Lush green trees and hills surround the site under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Cemetery, Priest’s House and Round Tower

We chose the guided option, and it was well worth it as we wouldn’t have learned all the history if we’d gone off by ourselves and we didn’t really have time to visit the Visitor Centre as well as go for a walk.

The tower is about 30 m high, with its doorway raised several metres above the ground. It was common for monasteries to be entrusted with people’s treasures as well as safeguarding their own and the tower was the safe place.

A ladder was needed to get to the high entrance, keeping valuables safe from raids. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to keep all raiders at bay, especially the Vikings.

The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul was built in different stages from the 10th to the 13th centuries. The roof has long gone but the walls are still standing and you can go inside.

The weathered stone ruins of a medieval church wall feature a tall arched window opening with no glass, framed by rough masonry. Gravestones and stone slabs rest at the base, with cloudy skies adding to the solemn atmosphere.

St Kevin’s Church, aka St. Kevin’s Kitchen, is still complete but closed off so you can just see it from the outside. It’s one of several small churches in the area. Blackberries were growing among some of them, so we picked a few while wandering around.

A stone medieval church with steeply pitched triangular gables stands against a partly cloudy sky. The weathered structure has narrow slit windows, a gated entrance, and is surrounded by gravel paths and low stone walls.

The cemetery had a mix of very old gravestones and more recent ones. One of the most prominent features was the Cross of St Kevin. Legend has it that if you can put your arms around it and your hands meet, you’ll be blessed with good luck. One of our group managed to do it and I hope it’s reaping the benefits!

  • A narrow gravel path winds through an old graveyard with leaning headstones, surrounded by tall pine trees under a partly cloudy sky.
  • Weathered stone gravestones stand among thick grass beneath large, ancient trees in a historic cemetery with hills visible in the distance.
  • tall stone Celtic cross rises prominently in a graveyard, surrounded by smaller headstones and shaded by dense green trees.

Along the way, we saw ruins of the Priest’s House and more churches but not much was left of them.

Glendalough Walks and Lakes

After the tour, we had free time, and decided to walk to the lakes. You can either join a slower-paced walk to the Lower Lake with the tour guide or head off by yourselves.

We set off by ourselves first to the Lower Lake and then continued to the Upper Lake before looping back. If you’re not on an organised tour, there are lots of other walks you can go on and there are information boards outside and no doubt there is more information in the visitor centre too.

The Lower Lake was the smaller of the two but very picturesque.

  • A winding paved path lined with ferns and trees leads toward a glimpse of a lake, with forested hills rising in the background.
  • A calm lake curves along a stony shore with tufts of grass and scattered rocks, surrounded by tree-covered hills and open green fields under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Just before getting to the upper lake, we stopped off at the small lodge there, which is the Wicklow Mountain Information Office and although that was interesting in itself, the hidden gem was the garden to the side of it!

A quaint white stone cottage with a slate roof and ivy climbing its walls sits in a mountain valley, with a lake and rolling green hills in the background.

Filled with beautiful flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees in different colours, it was alive with butterflies of different shades and patterns, buzzing among the flowers.

  • A lush garden scene with tall grasses, flowering shrubs, and water plants surrounds a small pond, with trees and hills in the background.
  • A red peacock butterfly with striking eye-like patterns on its wings rests on green foliage above clusters of small white flowers with yellow centres.

We stopped off at the lake but didn’t have time to complete the walk right along it. That was fine as we were happy with what we were able to do. Instead of going back the way we came, we did a loop by walking up towards the road and turning onto the boardwalk.

A serene lake sits between steep, tree-covered mountains, with ducks wading near the rocky shoreline. The water ripples gently under a partly cloudy blue sky, stretching into a distant valley.

This trail eventually reconnected with the main path. It was a very enjoyable walk and we got an insight into the natural beauty of Glendalough. I’d love to be able to go back and explore the longer trails one day.

  • A scenic view of a shimmering lake bordered by grassy wetlands and rolling forested hills, with dramatic clouds casting shadows across the landscape.
  • A wooden boardwalk with railings stretches through a forest, surrounded by tall slender trees and green undergrowth in dappled sunlight.

Hospitality at Glendalough

There are a few places for food. There is an outdoor kiosk and terrace next to the Glendalough Hotel and a few small food trucks next to the gateway to the monastic site. And of course, there’s a restaurant/cafe in the Visitor Centre.

If you decide you’d like to stay there for a night or two to enjoy it more, you can book Glendalough Hotel. It certainly has gorgeous views and the rooms look nice. It was just before the monastic site and minutes from all the trails.

A modern white hotel with dormer windows and a sloping dark roof stands behind landscaped gardens filled with palms, tall shrubs, and ornamental greenery under a partly cloudy blue sky.

The nearby Heather Lodge would be my pick though. For something more budget-friendly, take a look at Glendalough Hostel.

Sheepdog Demonstration

Our next stop was a working sheep farm. The farmer first gave a short talk about his work, then took us outside for a demonstration.

A farmer sits under a tin-roofed shed giving a demonstration with sheep’s wool on a table beside him, surrounded by old tools, farm equipment, and a world map pinned to the wall.

Watching the sheepdog respond to whistles and commands, rounding up the flock with precision, was really interesting.

  • A farmer stands inside a metal pen with a group of sheep clustered together, while a black and white sheepdog crouches outside the gate, ready to assist in herding.
  • A farmer walks across a grassy field guiding a small flock of sheep, with rolling hills and trees in the distance under a cloudy sky.

There was also a small stall selling wool products from the farm’s sheep. They were a bit pricey but very cute. Even without buying anything, it was a fun experience and a nice glimpse of rural life in Ireland and we learned a lot too.

Exploring Kilkenny

Finally, we arrived in Kilkenny, a picturesque medieval city. The guide explained that he wasn’t allowed to give tours here, so we had around two hours of free time to explore.

A riverside view shows colourful buildings including the bright red “Matt the Millers” pub and the pale blue River Court Hotel, with their reflections shimmering on the water beneath a cloudy sky.

I’d spotted an option for a boat trip in Kilkenny while on the bus and quickly booked it through Get Your Guide. It turned out to be an excellent choice as it was not only relaxing but we had yet more lovely scenery.

The small, open boat went slowly along the River Nore, with a local guide pointing out landmarks along the way and sharing quite a bit of history too.

A wide, peaceful river bordered by leafy trees, their reflections mirrored on the still water under a partly cloudy sky.

We saw lots of birds along the way and as we got close to the weir, we saw a family of swans climbing up it and then swimming off in a row. You also get a good view of the Kilkenny Castle from behind.

  • A stone arched bridge spanning a calm river, with greenery growing along its sides and cloudy blue sky above.
  • Two adult swans glide on calm water with several cygnets following behind, near overhanging green trees.

My daughter loves boat trips which is one of the reasons I chose it but what made it more special was that she got a chance to steer the boat too!

It was only a few minutes’ walk from where the bus stopped to the jetty and we had time to grab a quick whippy ice-cream at a shop opposite.

Afterwards we wandered through the town, looked in a couple of shops and picked up lunch from one of the small supermarkets. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to eat at and terraces to sit on if you prefer that to doing the boat. The main streets had a nice lively vibe to them.

  • A bright blue pub with gold signage, flower baskets, and a “Live Music” sign on the pavement, with other colourful shopfronts along the street.
  • A narrow street decorated with rows of colourful umbrellas hanging overhead, casting shade on the shops and pedestrians below.

On the way back to the bus, we walked through the grounds of Kilkenny Castle (you can enter the gardens for free, even if you don’t go inside the castle itself). There’s a nice big lawn there where we could sit and eat our sandwiches before heading back.

Of course, visiting Kilkenny Castle would also be a great way to spend your time in the town. You can do a self-guided tour for €8 for an adult and €12 for a guided tour. It’s on our list of things to do on our next trip.

The stone walls and towers of Kilkenny Castle rise against a partly cloudy sky, with visitors walking in the courtyard below.

Other options of things to do in Kilkenny include the Smithwick’s Brewery Experience, a tour at St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower or taking a walking tour.

I only saw this one later – Historical and Hysterical Guided City Walking Tour in Kilkenny – but it looks lots of fun and I’ve bookmarked it for next time. (Yes, I’m already planning our next trip!)

There are also a couple of tourist trains that takes you on a tour around the city. They stop in front of the castle, right next to where our bus stopped, and the tour lasts 25-30 minutes.

A black and yellow road train for Kilkenny City Tours is parked on a street, with a driver preparing the carriages for passengers.

After our time in Kilkenny, the coach drove directly back to Dublin, arriving soon after 6 – just in time for dinner in the city.

Practical Info about the Tour & Booking

  • Tour length: Full-day trip (roughly 8.30am–6pm).
  • Operator: Finn McCools Tours booked through Get Your Guide – book here.
  • Pick-up/drop-off point: Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square, close to O’Connell St.
  • Stops included: Glendalough National Park (2 hrs), Sheepdog Farm (45 mins), Mountain photo stop (10 mins), Kilkenny (2 hrs).
  • Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to see a glimpse of Ireland’s countryside without driving yourself. Perfect mix of history, nature, heritage and small-town charm.

Wrap-up on Day Trip from Dublin to Glendalough, Sheepdogs & Kilkenny

This day trip combined so many things I love about travel – history, nature, quirky local experiences and a chance to discover somewhere new. Glendalough’s ruins and lakes were atmospheric, the sheepdog demonstration was fun and memorable and Kilkenny had a variety of activities to choose from, plus views and relaxation.

It was a day well spent and a tour I’d definitely recommend if you’re staying in Dublin for a short break and looking for a glimpse of Ireland beyond the capital. The great thing about these tours is they can offer you a quick look at what the country has to offer if it’s just a one-off trip, or they can give you a taster that helps you plan the next bigger trip. Either way, you’ll come back with lasting memories and a better sense of Ireland’s character outside the city.

What next? Book your bus tour to Glendalough and a boat trip in Kilkenny. Then read about our day trip to Malahide here.

A woman dressed in jeans and long black t shirt stands beneath an archway made of woven branches and climbing greenery, on a gravel path through a sunlit garden.
Me in the garden next to the information centre at the Upper Lake, Glendalough

These are the tours we took and one we’d like to do if we go back:
🚐 Coach tour to Glendalough with sheepdog demonstrations and stop in Kilkenny
🚤 Kilkenny City Boat Tour
🚐 Kilkenny: Historical and Hysterical Guided City Walking Tour

See also this alternative coach trip with Glendalough and stop at Wicklow Mountains.

PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH MY FAVOURITE RESOURCES

– Best accommodation site – Booking.com
– Book day tours at Viator.com
– Buy e-sim at Airalo

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