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The Excalibur Drive - Wicklow - Self Drive
Oct 10 2011 10:06 AM | Bhushan in Self Drive Tours
The Excalibur Drive - Wicklow
+353 (0)404 69117
wicklow@failteireland.ie
This drive is based around the north of County Wicklow and is 42 miles round trip. It passes through various towns and villages in which the film Excalibur was filmed. This Drive starts and finishes in the town of Roundwood.
Roundwood is reputedly the highest village in Ireland. At 238m above sea level it is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. At one side of the village you will find the lakes of the Vartry Reservoir, which supplies Dublin City with its water, and on the other side the dramatic Wicklow Mountains.
From Roundwood follow the drive north past Victoria’s Way, a recreation space for adults including several hand carved black granite sculptures from India. The drive veers left onto the R759 and on your left passes Lough Tay and the dramatic cliffs of Luggala Estate, which is known locally as the Guinness Estate. At the Sally Gap crossroads the Excalibur Drive takes a turn right and you follow the military road past the upper and lower Lough Bray towards the Glencree valley. Along the Military Road several army barracks were established and the Glencree Barracks is one of them, the barracks are now the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Before coming to the centre the drive takes a turn right along the Glencree River and this small winding road takes you through the valley towards Powerscourt Waterfall. The Powerscourt Waterfall is the highest in Ireland tumbling from a height of 120 metres, it is open daily to visitors and is a must see.
Next on the drive is the Powerscourt Estate near the pretty village of Enniskerry. Powerscourt Estate is one of the world’s greatest gardens. The 18th century Palladian House now houses an exhibition that traces the evolution of the house and its owners. There is also a terrace café that you can sit back and relax in and have a little something while admiring the beautiful gardens around you.
Next the drive takes you from the leafy setting of Enniskerry into the seaside resort of Bray. Bray is the longest established seaside town in Ireland. There is a long sand and shingle beach to walk on which is fronted by a spacious Esplanade complete with bandstand, a sea life centre and a fun park. There is also a cliff walk from Bray Head at the end of the Esplanade, which takes you into the town of Greystones with some breath taking views along the way.
The drive itself heads south into Greystones and you pass Killruddery House and Gardens, the most extensive surviving French style garden in Ireland. The Earls of Meath have been at Killruddery since the early 1600’s. Greystones is a charming seaside town, with its untouched old style seafront of Georgian and Victorian houses. Behind the seafront runs the attractive Main Street with plenty of excellent shops, coffee shops and restaurants. The drive continues south along the coast road into the village of Kilcoole, which is famed for its television series ‘Glenroe’.
Glenroe farm was one of the locations which the series was filmed; today it is an open farm popular for family outings and school tours. Next on the Excalibur drive you will pass the world famous Druids Glen Golf Club which hosted the Murphy’s Irish open four years running and last year hosted the Seve Trophy. The drive continues to the village of Newtownmountkennedy, Irelands longest place name, before heading to the finishing point of Roundwood where you can round of your journey with some bar food and atmosphere in one of the cosy pubs in the village.
+353 (0)404 69117
wicklow@failteireland.ie
This drive is based around the north of County Wicklow and is 42 miles round trip. It passes through various towns and villages in which the film Excalibur was filmed. This Drive starts and finishes in the town of Roundwood.
Roundwood is reputedly the highest village in Ireland. At 238m above sea level it is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. At one side of the village you will find the lakes of the Vartry Reservoir, which supplies Dublin City with its water, and on the other side the dramatic Wicklow Mountains.
From Roundwood follow the drive north past Victoria’s Way, a recreation space for adults including several hand carved black granite sculptures from India. The drive veers left onto the R759 and on your left passes Lough Tay and the dramatic cliffs of Luggala Estate, which is known locally as the Guinness Estate. At the Sally Gap crossroads the Excalibur Drive takes a turn right and you follow the military road past the upper and lower Lough Bray towards the Glencree valley. Along the Military Road several army barracks were established and the Glencree Barracks is one of them, the barracks are now the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Before coming to the centre the drive takes a turn right along the Glencree River and this small winding road takes you through the valley towards Powerscourt Waterfall. The Powerscourt Waterfall is the highest in Ireland tumbling from a height of 120 metres, it is open daily to visitors and is a must see.
Next on the drive is the Powerscourt Estate near the pretty village of Enniskerry. Powerscourt Estate is one of the world’s greatest gardens. The 18th century Palladian House now houses an exhibition that traces the evolution of the house and its owners. There is also a terrace café that you can sit back and relax in and have a little something while admiring the beautiful gardens around you.
Next the drive takes you from the leafy setting of Enniskerry into the seaside resort of Bray. Bray is the longest established seaside town in Ireland. There is a long sand and shingle beach to walk on which is fronted by a spacious Esplanade complete with bandstand, a sea life centre and a fun park. There is also a cliff walk from Bray Head at the end of the Esplanade, which takes you into the town of Greystones with some breath taking views along the way.
The drive itself heads south into Greystones and you pass Killruddery House and Gardens, the most extensive surviving French style garden in Ireland. The Earls of Meath have been at Killruddery since the early 1600’s. Greystones is a charming seaside town, with its untouched old style seafront of Georgian and Victorian houses. Behind the seafront runs the attractive Main Street with plenty of excellent shops, coffee shops and restaurants. The drive continues south along the coast road into the village of Kilcoole, which is famed for its television series ‘Glenroe’.
Glenroe farm was one of the locations which the series was filmed; today it is an open farm popular for family outings and school tours. Next on the Excalibur drive you will pass the world famous Druids Glen Golf Club which hosted the Murphy’s Irish open four years running and last year hosted the Seve Trophy. The drive continues to the village of Newtownmountkennedy, Irelands longest place name, before heading to the finishing point of Roundwood where you can round of your journey with some bar food and atmosphere in one of the cosy pubs in the village.
