Wicklow County is located south of the Irish capital, Dublin, and is a popular weekend getaway destination for its residents. The interior of the region is covered by the picturesque Wicklow Mountains, and the most famous place at their foot is the beautiful Glendalough Valley.
The coast of the region begins in Bray and stretches all the way to Arklow. Along it rise the small seaside resorts, of which Bray, Greystones and the capital of the county of Wicklow are the most famous. Bray and Greystone share a popular walking trail leading through cliffs and coastal hills, and one of Ireland's most scenic rail routes.
The interior of the land is covered with the Wicklow Mountains, whose highest peak, Lugnaquilla reaches 925 m above sea level. It is the largest, dense mountain area in Ireland, full of glacial valleys, lakes and heaths. The Wicklow Mountains have bare, grassy and shrub peaks, while in the valleys and lower parts of the slopes there are still many deciduous forests. The whole area is cut by numerous walking trails.
Within the Wicklow Mountains is the beautiful Glendalough Valley, known not only for its landscapes, but also for the ruins of the abbey founded in the 7th century by St. Kewin. A cylindrical stone tower is one of the island's landmarks, an early Christian cathedral and a small stone church.
The proximity of Dublin meant that Wicklow chose many powerful families in the past. The most famous of the local estates is the Powerscourt House surrounded by gardens and the Georgian Avondale House, which houses the Parnell Museum.
