Dublin

Kilkenny, Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, Sheep Dog Trials, Day Trip from Dublin

Name: Kilkenny, Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, Sheep Dog Trials, Day Trip from Dublin
Brand: Wild Rover Tours
SKU: 5300CASTLES
Price: 49.95 USD
Rating: 5.0 (4315 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceDublin, Ireland

Kilkenny City and Glendalough Day Trip from Dublin

10 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Break from Dublin for a tour of medieval Irish architecture and folklore in Kilkenny and Glendalough. Aboard a luxury coach, take a day trip to the top sights in south-east Ireland from Kilkenny Castle to the Wicklow Mountain National Park and Glendalough’s medieval monastic settlement. This tour also includes a stop at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, where you'll be able to see border collies corral sheep across the fields, chat with the Shepherd and his family and mingle with the lambs.

Visit south-east Ireland's top attractions, including Kilkenny Castle
Take the scenic route through Wicklow Mountains National Park en route to Glendalough
See border collie sheepdogs in action at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains
Explore the monastic settlement at Glendalough, and see medieval archeology alongside abundant wildlife
Round-trip transport by luxury, air-conditioned coach from Dublin

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

See the best of Kilkenny and Glendalough in just one day in the comfort of a luxury coach.

What's Included

Complimentary walking tours of of Kilkenny Medieval City & Glendalough Monastic Site
Stop at Wicklow Gap glacial valley
Free unlimited 4G Wi-Fi available on the coach
Irish sheep farm visit with sheep dog demonstration
Guided walking tours in Kilkenny City & Glendalough Monastic Site
All Fees and Taxes

Food and drinks
Hotel drop off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

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Start time

08:00 AM

End points

This activity ends in a different location. See details below:

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What To Expect

Depart Dublin early to get maximum time at your first stop of the day – Kilkenny Castle. Built in the 12th century, this Anglo-Norman castle stands dramatically along the River Nore, dominating the backdrop of Kilkenny city. Tour the castle at your own pace, exploring the renovated chambers and corridors, and then meander through the enchanting rose garden before heading into town. At your leisure, explore the charming village of Kilkenny. A true mecca of medieval architecture, Kilkenny offers many splendid sights for the cultured explorer. Explore the Black Abbey, built in 1225, and the Hole in the Wall Elizabethan Tavern, both recently restored to their original design. And don’t miss St Francis Abbey Brewery, brewing Irish ales for more than eight centuries.

Following your Kilkenny tour, stop at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, where you'll be able to see border collies corral sheep across the fields.

Afterward, head over the wild and rugged Wicklow Gap glacial valley for some spectacular views of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Enjoy a unique photo opportunity with a scheduled stop at the top of the mountain. Gaze down through the centuries old passage way linking east and west Wicklow. Retrace the footsteps which the Celtic clans and St Kevin travelled when traveling through the forested countryside and view the park’s upper slopes, blanketed in heath and bog, before dipping down into the glacial valley of Glendalough.

Throughout history, visitors have come to ‘the valley of the two lakes’ for its mystical history, archaeology and unique wildlife. The monastic city of Glendalough, found in the 6th century by St. Kevin, was once an active locale featuring areas for manuscript writing and copying, an infirmary, guest houses, and a monastery. Now it offers guests a peek into Ireland’s rich cultural history. You’ll have approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to journey through the monastic city before heading back to Dublin.

Dublin (Pass By)

The Curragh Racecourse (Pass By)

Kilkenny

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Laragh

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Wicklow Gap

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wicklow Mountains National Park

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Please be outside one of the 3 available pickup locations listed
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate
Children 2 years and under are not allowed to travel
Please be there 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Emily_K

Our guide Yvonne was so amazing! So knowledgeable and hilarious!! I did 3 tours with Wild River and this one was such a pleasant surprise. Truly enjoyed all of the stops, but the highlight was definitely the sheep farm visit and holding the lambs! The sheepdog demo was also so much fun. HIGHLY recommend this tour! Shoutout to our driver Brian too!!

Reviews

5.0

4,315 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 4,315 reviews

Great day with Yvonne and Peter

Jeff_C, Apr 2024

The castle and cathedrals in Kilkenny are beautiful, old buildings that reveal how people lived and worshipped in the austere Irish countryside. Glendalough combines monastic ruins and an ancient cemetery with the opportunity to stroll through the Irish countryside while listening to water flowing down the mountains, birds singing and even seeing a few deer lying in the fields next to the mountain lakes. The shepherd working with his dog and sheep while explaining the annual activities was fascinating And enlightening to all of us who spend most of our lives in an urban environment. One of our greatest joys, however, were our guides. Yvonne and Peter were tremendous. They kept us laughing and educated us throughout the day with facts about the history of Ireland, the various regions, agriculture and farming, as well as the specific sites we visited. Yvonne and Peter deserve the highest praise!

Lovely Irish experience

Kirsty_M, Apr 2024

The sheep farm and sheepdog demo were amazing and the farmer was very informative. Great guide David who even treated us to a song or two ! Peter the driver was great too . Well worth the money .

No refund even when sick

Dominic_C, Apr 2024

Wife got sick and we contacted Viator within the 24 hour period and would not refund our money so no review because they kept our money and we never went on tour. So review is we were ripped off. We were trying to be responsible and not infect others on bus for 9 hour trip on closed bus but were given no concession. Doctors note won’t even work I guess 😂

Great tour of the countryside

Ron_J, Apr 2024

This was a very good tour. It brings you to many of the key countryside stops mixing with some historic castles and buildings. Holding a baby sheep and see the collies herd the sheep is a highlight. There is enough time at each spot to get the overview and then tour on your own. Our guide, Caroline C was very good. Informative with a mixture of history, legends, and key site stories.

One of the Best Tours

Maria_D, Apr 2024

We enjoyed this one immensely! Our guide was Liam, and man, he made me want to move to Kilkenny. So passionate about what he does! Very engaging, very informative, and very funny. It was like spending a day with a friend. The walk in Glendalough was stunning, and I loved it. The sheep farm was great. Sending my hugs to Rob! Really enjoyed our day. A big thanks to our driver, Krishna, for driving carefully but at a good speed. He made sure we didn't wonder around for too long and kept the schedule.

Excellent guide

Socorro_M, Apr 2024

Yvonne was the best guide, great story teller, awesome experience! The sites we visited and time spent in each site was perfect.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hi, Thank you for your lovely review, Yvonne will be thrilled to read this. Kind Regards, Jacqueline

Great trip! Yvonne and Sergio were outstanding!

Pascale_T, Apr 2024

the trip was great! Yvonne and Sergio were fantastic and and the trip would not have been as memorable without them! Yvonne is really knowledgeable and funny!

Kilkenny was a nice...

Cindy_D, Apr 2024

Kilkenny was a nice little town to walk around, lots of cafes. The castle has amazing architecture. Wiklow mts were beautiful, sheep dog demonstration was interesting. Glendalough was beautiful. Our tour guide, Liam, was fun, personable and informative. Great day trip all around.

Don’t Miss This Tour!

Marissa_S, Apr 2024

This trip was fantastic! Liam is the best tour guide and all the places we visited were amazing. Kilkenny is a great town and the Wicklow mountains are incredible. Glendalough is a dream come true. The best part was cuddling two lambs! Highly recommend.

Beautiful scenery

Lynette_B, Apr 2024

Fantastic scenery and a great mix of activities - sheep dog show, walking tour, easy hike to lake, exploring the castle and shops at your own pace. Elisa and Peter were professional, knowledgeable and really took an interest in the well-being of each person, all of which made the day memorable.

Great tour guide

Stephanie_F, Apr 2024

So far this is the best tour I have taken in Ireland. Neil was a wonderful guide. The Glendalough area was simply beautiful. I hadn't gone here last time I can and it's a bit of a hidden gem. Of course, holding a baby lamb was a once in a lifetime experience for me, I loved it.

Things to know

Laura_H, Apr 2024

The itinerary was wonderful, each stop was a great length of time, and the guide was knowledgeable about the history our destinations. The unpleasant part was that the only seats available were in the last row that would perhaps be comfortable for a child. The air flow at the back of the bus was horrible and once you get a seat it is your seat for the remainder of the day.

Baby Lamb Experience!

Kristin_S, Apr 2024

Holding Baby Lambs. Need I say more. I literally booked this trip a day out after hearing another couple tell me they had done this trip. The sheepdog herding experience and holding a baby lamb was the highlight of my trip to Ireland. While it is a lot on the coach for the day, Ian and our Driver Pete made the time on the bus enjoyable and informative. And Ian’s guided walks in Kilkenny and at the Lake were great and informative but also fun! This was an experience I will never forget and I’d recommend Wild Rover tours to anyone looking for tours out of Dublin!

Great time

thomas_K, Apr 2024

The tour was fun. Ian our guide was very nice,knowledgeable and helpful. The views on the drive are pretty and the dog demonstration was neat to watch. Very good trip.

It was a Wonderful Tour!

Carolyn_H, Apr 2024

Kilkenny was charming and people are very friendly. At Glendalough you have time to see the monastic site and walk to the lakes. We loved the sheep dog demonstration!

Amazing day in Irish countryside!

Raven_S, Apr 2024

Fantastic day with Kevin & Peter! Learned so much and had a great time each stop we made (plenty of time to see the best parts and time at the farm!)

Baby Lambs in the Spring and Gorgeous Scenery and Cathedral

DeLaina_T, Apr 2024

We had such a great time with our tour guide, Kevin, the previous day, that we were thrilled to tour with him again the next day. The highlight of this tour is definitely the sheep dog trials. You get to go to a sheep farm and the farmer does a sheep dog demo, shares what it's like to be a sheep farmer, explains why they are painted different colors and have numbers painted on their sides, and answers all the questions. Then, you get to hold baby lambs, if they have them. Highly recommend going in the spring! We also loved the Wicklow Mountains NP and Glendalough. There was sufficient time at each stop and excellent narration and explanation along the way. 10/10 recommend Wild Rover above other tour companies for several reasons: 1. They have a guide AND a separate driver, 2. The stops are well-placed and paced, meaningful, and you have multiple options for food (with a different tour company it felt like we were moving from tourist trap to tourist trap in areas where the driver rec was the only option) 3. The bus etiquette is superior; the guide uses a headset/mic instead of a crackly bus radio; the guide presents multiple sides of political issues rather than railing on the "other side, etc"

Great Family Excursion

Joshua_G, Apr 2024

We found this trip well worth the price to experience and see some of “real” Ireland. Kilkenny was a great little city with plenty of shops, restaurants, and history to explore. Glendalough was such a fantastic time. From the history, to exploring the grounds, to the picturesque walk to the upper lake, it was perfect! The sheep farm was a great experience as well, the whole family enjoyed it! We were three adults, a 13 year old, a 5 year old, and a 2 year old. All enjoyed it and had fun! Tour operators Elisa and Peter were great!

10/10 recommend

Emily_K, Apr 2024

Worth the Money

Diana_W, Apr 2024

We had a great time with Neil and Peter. They're very knowledgeable and helpful. We requested accommodation and it was granted without issues. All the locations we visited were lovely and we had ample time in each place to enjoy and explore the area. I really like Wild Rover tours and would definitely use them again for any future trips in Ireland.

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