Wicklow Mountains National Park
Wicklow Mountains National Park covers much of upland Wicklow and extends to over 20,000 hectares (49,420 acres). The Park includes glacial valleys and large areas of mountain blanket bogs, including the Lugnaquilla and Liffey Head Bog complexes as well as the Glendalough Wood Nature Reserve. The National Park is a protected reserve filled with flora and fauna, from rare orchids to the wild and beautiful Peregrine Falcon. There is an Education Centre for the National Park at Glendalough. The Education Centre provides a range of courses and tours for schoolchildren, students and other groups. These are related to nature conservation and the ecology of the National Park.
Opportunities abound for bird-watching – even rare birds can be spotted locally. There is a National Dawn Chorus Day held in May and more events in June in association with BirdWatch Ireland – Ireland’s East Coast Nature Reserve in Newcastle is only a short drive away.
Local Villages & Towns
Local villages include Roundwood, Laragh, Ashford and Enniskerry. All offer attractions to visit and great places to eat out.