Explore the highs of Wicklow, a refreshing break from the norm

From hikes short and long to peaks low and high, as well as music festivals and destination cafes, Wicklow is called the Garden County for a reason, writes Eoghan O'Sullivan

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026 - 10:13

Eoghan O’Sullivan

For visitors to Dublin — as well as city dwellers themselves — Wicklow offers the promise of beaches and easy getaways, with direct access from the city centre via the DART. Bonus points for the stunning views, rolling through Monkstown and Dún Laoghaire before reaching Bray and then tunnelling through the mountain to Greystones at the end of the line.

That's as good a place as any to start. Many Irish people know the town as home to the Happy Pear. What began in 2004 as a vegetarian restaurant run by twins David and Stephen Flynn survived the financial crash and has grown into a wider business of podcasts and cookbooks. They even won the 2021 celebrity edition of Ireland’s Fittest Family. Treat yourself to a delish bake and coffee and let's get ready to set off.