{"id":3853,"date":"2022-12-16T14:55:20","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T14:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/?p=3853"},"modified":"2022-12-16T14:55:20","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T14:55:20","slug":"co-wicklow-a-cycling-guide-to-irelands-garden-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/12\/16\/co-wicklow-a-cycling-guide-to-irelands-garden-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Co. Wicklow \u2013 A cycling guide to Ireland\u2019s Garden County"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Whether it\u2019s cyclists escaping the hustle and bustle of the nearby capital city, visitors hunting some stunning scenery, or locals enjoying the delights on their doorstep, Wicklow has long been regarded as one of Ireland\u2019s finest cycling spots. Aptly nicknamed the Garden County, its rolling mountains, pristine beaches, and unique attractions such as the country&#8217;s highest waterfall make it a must-visit destination for those seeking an impressive and enriching experience.<\/p>\n<p>We discover the county\u2019s best cycling hotspots, facilities and things to do across the hills and valleys of this glorious corner of Leinster, perfect for some new year cycling inspiration!<\/p>\n<p><strong>In the saddle<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Occupying the largest area of continuous high ground in the whole of Ireland, the Wicklow Mountains covers a 3000m<sup>2<\/sup> area, offering a wealth of opportunities for adventure and discovery across the county:<\/p>\n<p><u>Glendalough<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For those seeking a challenging cycle, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.komoot.com\/smarttour\/990488\">a loop around the Glendalough Round Tower from Laragh<\/a> is sure to excite any avid pedaller.<\/li>\n<li>This route starts off at the Glendalough visitor car park, before heading north towards Blessington, which promises breath-taking views across Poulaphouca Reservoir.<\/li>\n<li>The loop then brings you back south via Ballyknockan, where you\u2019ll finish at the starting point.<\/li>\n<li>History buffs will find plenty to pique their interest, too; Glendalough Valley is home to a Monastic Site which dates to the 10<sup>th<\/sup> and 11<sup>th<\/sup> centuries amongst this rugged landscape. With a visitor centre, amazing walks and cycle routes aplenty, it\u2019s a popular destination for fitness fanatics and those who simply love the great outdoors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><u>Belmont Demense<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you\u2019re looking for a more leisurely jaunt, then <a href=\"https:\/\/belmontdemesne.ie\/\">Belmont Demesne<\/a> offers several off-road trails which are widely suitable for all the family.<\/li>\n<li>Expect gentle forest loops around this working farm, nestled between Bray and Greystones.<\/li>\n<li>Movie fanatics may also recognise Arthur\u2019s Barn from the hit 2004 movie King Arthur!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><u>Sally Gap<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>As a challenging 42km route, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikemap.net\/en\/r\/6019899\/#9.55\/53.0922\/-6.4515\">The Sally Gap<\/a> is a great option for testing your endurance.<\/li>\n<li>Promising stunning views of Lough Tay, this route starts off in Blessington and heads south towards Hollywood and Laragh, before looping back to meet your starting point.<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t miss the Glenmacnass waterfall and the charming village of Laragh en route!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><u>Tinahely<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you\u2019re dreaming of a leisurely ride paired with jaw-dropping views, this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/ireland\/county-wicklow\/tinahely-loop\">34km loop<\/a> is sure to get your heart racing.<\/li>\n<li>Head through quiet roads at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, following the route of the annual Tour of the Falling Leaves.<\/li>\n<li>Be sure to stop off for a delicious coffee and cake at the Tinahely Farm Shop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><u>Ballinastoe Mountain Bike Park<\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A <a href=\"http:\/\/biking.ie\/index.php\/mountain-bike-trails-ticknock-and-ballinastoe\/mountain-biking-ballinastoe\">14km mountain biking trail<\/a>, this route takes you through a nice mix of open moorland and dense forest.<\/li>\n<li>As a fully sign posted route, this was one of the first trail centres built in the country, and also boasts a repair shop and caf\u00e9 on site.<\/li>\n<li>Starting at \u20ac30 per day, the park is perfect for both experienced mountain bikers and those looking to try out MTB.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eat, sleep, repeat<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Home to Ireland\u2019s largest national park, highest waterfall and biggest forest cover, Wicklow is the perfect base for any trip, with the county offering a wide range of things to do across the board.<\/p>\n<p>Bray is the county\u2019s most populous town, sitting on the border between Dublin and Wicklow. With its fair share of hotels, bars and restaurants, it makes for an ideal base for your Wicklow adventures.<\/p>\n<p>Only a ten-minute drive away, the world-renowned Powerscourt Estate is a must-visit, with its surrounding garden and parkland being regarded as the 3<sup>rd<\/sup> best garden in the world according to National Geographic.<\/p>\n<p>Well connected, you can reach Dublin city centre via DART in as little as 40 minutes. There are also a number of regular bus services with other parts of Wicklow.<\/p>\n<p>Other towns in the county well worth a visit include Greystones, with its impressive beaches and sea-view cafes, and Wicklow Town, known for the town\u2019s famed Gaol, a former prison turned museum and reportedly one of the most haunted buildings in the world!<\/p>\n<p><em>If you\u2019re looking for more staycation inspiration, take a look at how you can have a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/05\/12\/the-irish-sustainable-cycling-staycation-a-trip-to-connemara\/\"><em>sustainable staycation in beautiful Connemara<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether it\u2019s cyclists escaping the hustle and bustle of the nearby capital city, visitors hunting some stunning scenery, or locals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":3799,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"global-categories":[73],"class_list":["post-3853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycling-in-ireland","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.3 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Co. Wicklow \u2013 A cycling guide to Ireland\u2019s Garden County - \u0160koda We Love Cycling - Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/12\/16\/co-wicklow-a-cycling-guide-to-irelands-garden-county\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Co. 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