Day 6 (Wicklow Mtns to Tramore)

We started the day with a homemade breakfast prepared by Austin—fresh and satisfying, and a perfect sendoff for our journey south (Slide 1). After goodbyes, we drove into the Wicklow Mountains, following narrow country roads framed by hedgerows (Slide 2), gaining confidence navigating Ireland’s winding paths and the left-hand side of the road.

Our first stop was Glencullen Adventure Park, a mountain biking destination tucked into the hills. We hiked next to thick bracken to reach a megalithic tomb dating to around 2500 BC (Slides 3–13). The ancient burial site was surprisingly close to a shuttle road for the park’s downhill bike runs (Slide 5), but the area had a peaceful, reflective feel, enhanced by reforestation efforts that are replacing softwoods with native Irish trees. We paused to admire the sweeping views of the Wicklow Mountains (Slide 10), and Rebecca spent time in quiet contemplation among the mossy stones (Slide 14). After the hike, we grabbed coffee at the Glencullen café before continuing the drive.

Next came a quick stop at Powerscourt Distillery for a look around (Slide 16), followed by our arrival at Glendalough, the ancient monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. We explored St. Kevin’s Church (Slides 18–22), the cathedral ruins and round tower (Slides 23–25), and St. Kevin’s grave (Slide 26). The whole valley is steeped in both natural beauty and spiritual calm.

Farther along the path, we spotted hikers in the distance and locals swimming at the Upper Lake (Slides 28–31). We treated ourselves to ice cream by the water, a well-earned refreshment after walking the trails. On our way back to the car, we paused to admire a wooded stream and waterfall (Slide 32), a picture-perfect end to our Glendalough visit.

We then made our way southeast toward the seaside town of Tramore, where we first checked in at our Airbnb cottage (Slide 40). The house was small but comfortable, tucked into a lush garden that made for a peaceful home base (Slides 41–44). After settling in, we drove down to the nearby Guillamene Swimming Cove, a local favorite for braving the Atlantic (Slides 33–36). There was no sunbathing, but lots of locals were swimming. The water was cold, and I stayed on dry land—but the southern coastline views were stunning (Slide 37).

Back at the Airbnb, we caught the smell of smoke. Our host, Jane, came by to tell us that someone had set fires along the cliffs. We rushed out and found one of the brushfires still smoldering. We threw water on the flames (Slide 38) just before the fire brigade arrived. Thankfully, there was no damage to the nearby homes.

Later, we went down to ALDI by the harbor (Slide 39) and picked up food to make for supper. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing in the cottage, recovering from the hiking, long drive and a full day. With temps in the low 70s and the light slowly fading, we were grateful for the quiet surroundings and looked forward to what Ireland had in store next.