Dublin: Glendalough, Wicklow, Kilkenny and Sheepdog demonstration
Recommended by 98% of travelers
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Dublin, Ireland
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Don't come to Ireland and just spend all your time in Dublin. You won't be seeing the real Ireland. This tour transports you there, spending a day cruising around the Irish countryside engulfing yourself in bright green fields, castles, abbeys, and rustic villages. Stop in majestic and secluded Glendalough, explore the Wicklow Mountains, and enjoy the ancient wonders of Kilkenny, where you can walk around a 12th-century Norman Castle, a medieval cathedral, or stroll the cobbled streets before heading back to Dublin.
- Guided day trip from Dublin to Glendalough and Kilkenny in the Irish countryside
- Take in the countryside's panoramic views from your vehicle while you drive
- Visit a Norman castle, a medieval abbey, and verdant gardens in Kilkenny
- Avoid the hassle of driving or renting a car
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Live commentary on board
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Hugh Lane GalleryCharlemont House, Parnell Square N, Rotunda, Dublin 1, D01 F2X9, Ireland
Please be at the departure point 5 - 10 mins before our tour leaves. Meeting point: Outside Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Parnell Square N, Dublin 1, at 8 am Return point: Outside Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Parnell Square N, Dublin 1, Ireland between 6:30pm and 7:30pm.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Get out of the chaos of the city during this fun Kilkenny, Wicklow, and Glendalough tour that easily meets in Dublin for those travelers who’re staying there but want to see the Irish countryside, too.
After meeting at the designated location, head out with your group and guide to your first stop at Kilkenny Castle Park. Here, you have some options—you can either tour the gardens and watch a film about the history for free or pay (own expense) to take a guided tour of Kilkenny Castle.
Back on the road, your guide provides commentary during the drive to Wicklow Mountains National Park. Spend time taking in the views at the national park before moving on to Glendalough Monastic Settlement to explore the ruined monastic city on your own.
Your last stop is at Glendalough Woollen Mills to learn about sheepdog herding and to see a live demonstration at the farm.
Enjoy a relaxing drop-off after this full-day tour in Dublin.
After meeting at the designated location, head out with your group and guide to your first stop at Kilkenny Castle Park. Here, you have some options—you can either tour the gardens and watch a film about the history for free or pay (own expense) to take a guided tour of Kilkenny Castle.
Back on the road, your guide provides commentary during the drive to Wicklow Mountains National Park. Spend time taking in the views at the national park before moving on to Glendalough Monastic Settlement to explore the ruined monastic city on your own.
Your last stop is at Glendalough Woollen Mills to learn about sheepdog herding and to see a live demonstration at the farm.
Enjoy a relaxing drop-off after this full-day tour in Dublin.
Temple Bar (Pass By)
1
Glendalough Monastic Settlement
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Wicklow Mountains National Park
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Ballybought
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Kilkenny
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Dublin (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for small children. If they are very used to travelling on a bus tour and very used to walking, please book 1 seat per child and bring your own child seat.
- Not recommended to those with walking disabilities (a fair amount of walking involved)
- Not recommended for participants with back problems, with heart complaints, pregnant women or other serious medical conditions
- If passengers are late to the pick up the bus will not wait for them even if they call the office before hand. Must make sure they are on time. If passengers are intoxicated at any stage of the tour they will not be allowed on/back on the bus.
- The pick up point is in the City Centre so there is no parking available for passengers to leave their cars for the entire day.
- Use the bathroom prior to coming to the pick up point. Bring a packed lunch and also wear comfortable clothing, comfortable shoes as well as a rainproof jacket.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 53 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Elaine_O
An informative and entertaining day trip. Our guide, Oli, and driver, Nosha, were great! Oli shared some Irish history as well as songs and stories that kept our attention throughout. The day was a good mix of seeing the beautiful countryside, a sheepherding demonstration, and a visit to the lively city of Kilkenny. Mosha navigated some very narrow and winding roads very proficiently. I highly recommend this trip with Oli and Nosha!
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,306 reviews
Krista_G, Apr 2026
Our tour was wonderful! Oli was extremely knowledgeable and fun. He and Majeeb, our driver, were professional, organized and kept us moving on time.
RIchardCorrea, Apr 2026
Great tour. Beautiful scenery and great instruction. Staff very knowledgeable and friendly. Would highly recommend. Great price.
Maureen_K, Apr 2026
This was an awesome excursion from Dublin with the sheepdog demonstration being a highlight. Awesome views of the countryside on our drive. Kilkenny was such a charming town. Would definitely recommend and our tour guide had a very nice bedside manner, and so patient despite all the fuel protests going on that day that slowed down the traffic. 5 stars!
Austin_M, Mar 2026
Dylan and B did a great job! The trip was definitely worth it. Highly recommend taking this tour. Great day!
Elexciss_T, Mar 2026
Had such an amazing time on this tour. We left promptly (don't be late!) and had a really lovely morning at Glendalough. Luke was our guide, really funny & charming. Was quick to offer recommendations of things to see & do no matter where you were headed. He provided back story on the places we visited and fun facts such as filming locations of iconic shows. Also loved that he repeated questions he got asked by others after each stop.
Anyway back to trip, we lucked out with it being a beautiful sunny morning at Glendalough. It's so peaceful. Definitely take time to sit and absorb your surroundings.
At the top of Wicklow, a lovely older man named Jim was there who shared a little bit about working on the power station there. Luke also volunteered to take photos (thanks!) and let everyone have their time.
The sheepdog demonstration was so much fun. And vying with Glendalough for my favourite part of the experience. Seeing how the dogs work and how much control the Sheppard has over them was so cool to see. The gent also shared some of the difficulties of Irish farming which I also appreciated and deserves to be acknowledged. I did get to hold a bottle feed a baby lamb so.. best day ever??
Next was Kilkenny, it was a little rainy by then but a cute small town to explore. Didn't do much here since I popped into a restaurant to eat - Aroi - food was really delicious.
Eli was our driver and he was great as well. I was able to completely knock out on the way back with no interruptions 😅 that's smooth driving.
Dreily_F, Mar 2026
Oli made it an amazing experience with the history story telling and jokes! Overall, a great experience for a day trip out of Dublin. Highly recommend!
Ian_M, Feb 2026
A fantastic experience! The tour guide Oli and the driver Brian were amazing, informative, and funny. The views were astounding and the sheep herding experience was one of the major highlights of our trip!
Jorge_C, Feb 2026
This tour was so good. If you are wondering, "Should I or shouldn't I?", do it! You can see why they call Ireland the "Emerald Isle." The visit to the sheep ranch was amazing, and you will also see why Ireland is famous for its sheep. The final stop in Kilkenny was the icing on the cake—a true medieval jewel of a town. Our tour guide, Oli, was funny and a walking encyclopedia of local history. Our driver, Brian, managed those narrow country roads as if he were driving a tiny car and not a motor coach. Highly recommended!
Nina_R, Jan 2026
We had a great time during this excursion! Everything was well organized and very enjoyable. Our guide, Dylan, was fantastic, friendly, knowledgeable, and full of funny anecdotes that made the experience even more memorable. We learned a lot while having a good laugh along the way.
The sheepdog demonstration was absolutely amazing. It was impressive to watch, truly different from anything we had experienced before, and the farmer was adorable and passionate, which made the moment even more special. It’s a unique experience that really stands out and adds so much value to the tour.
We really loved the excursion and would highly recommend it!
Sara_D, Jan 2026
Oli and Mujeeb were absolutely perfect. A very good driver and a fantastic guide. Oli really know how to engage people
KATHERINE_D, Nov 2025
Fantastic experience! Would go again! I especially loved that there was fun history to listen to on the way out of Dublin as well!
Timothy_M, Nov 2025
It's a well-executed just-what's-on-the-tin experience. You get to all the places, the tour guide (Ollie in this case, Anil driving) give you historical information + jokes. They don't have to sell much; the locations are incredible and speak for themselves.
Hayley_D, Nov 2025
The whole trip is great but really the sheep dog demonstration cannot be missed. Such a unique and fun experience! The driver and guide were both kind and willing to answer questions and give recommendations
Noah_V, Nov 2025
I have been around thr world and Carol was one of the best tour guides I've ever had.
Our first stop was Glendalough, where Carol gave us a quick rundown of the history before letting us roam to go see what we each individually wanted to see for 2 hours. 2 hours proved to be the perfect amount of time here. We hiked to upper lake, explored the monastic site, and got lunch at the food truck before returning to the bus with 10 minutes to left before departure.
Then we drove through the scenic Wicklow Mountains National Park and made a quick 20-minute stop at the Wicklow Gap. A high-elevation mountain pass with panoramic views.
Next was the sheepdog demonstration at "working sheep dogs" in Ballybought. The demonstrator, Mike, showed up right on time and promptly taught us about the history of Irish sheep farming and the use of sheepdogs before doing a thorough herding demonstration with his border collies, Maggie and JoJo.
After that, we continued to the last stop of the day: Kilkenny. Similarly to Glendalough, Carol gave us a quick and informative lesson on Kilkenny's history before letting us off the bus right in the heart of the medieval town. I had time to do a self guided tour of Kilkenny Castle, walk some of the ancient city streets, check out shops, see the River Nore, and visit the Cathedral.
As stated earlier, Carol was a fantastic tour guide. She was friendly, knowledgeable, had a sense of humor, and would frequently check in on us throughout the drive or as she saw us at each stop. She also made it very easy to remember which bus to get on by leaving a pink hat on the dashboard. Next time I'm in Ireland, I will definitely try to book tours with this company again.
Teresa_B, Oct 2025
Quiggs and Dan were great! Knowledgeable and friendly with plenty of time at each stop. Lots of fun facts, making for a great time!
Laura_B, Oct 2025
Our guide was Deianey and our driver Jidheesh, they were fantastic!! Deianey’s explanations were clear and really interesting and Jidheesh’s a really skilled driver!! The experience was amazing, everything was beautiful, I went with my mom and we really enjoyed. Also they really respected times and everyone was punctual, something that we appreciated. Totally recommend!
Charles_B, Oct 2025
Bus trip to 3 spots plus fun sheepdog demonstration. The ride is long but bus comfortable. Noel was personable and gave helpful tips. Jose drives aggressively just like me!
Sharon_T, Oct 2025
Noel and Mustafa made our trip very enjoyable! We loved the breathtaking beauty of the Wicklow mountains, the amazing brilliance of the sheepdog experience, and finally walking the ancient city of Kilkenny! Now I want to return and spend more time in Kilkenny, amazing to feel like you travel back in time there. As was all of Ireland, the people we encountered were charming and very welcoming!
Renee_R, Oct 2025
This was a very nice trip with a good hiking experience. The drive was educational and fun and the sheep dog demonstration was very interesting.
Patricia_S, Oct 2025
Beautifull and good amount of time in each location. Entertaining commentary and very informative. Highly recommend
Amy_H, Sep 2025
Absolutely fantastic way to see green Ireland from a histrionical standpoint and modern day working standpoint. The monument and ruins were fascinating. A two mile hike around trip to the upper lake and waterfall was so beautiful. Kilkenny was charming as well. The sheepdog demonstration was fantastic! Our tour guide, Carol, was so knowledgeable and friendly. The bus driver, Tomas, was so skilled!
Elaine_O, Sep 2025
An informative and entertaining day trip. Our guide, Oli, and driver, Nosha, were great! Oli shared some Irish history as well as songs and stories that kept our attention throughout. The day was a good mix of seeing the beautiful countryside, a sheepherding demonstration, and a visit to the lively city of Kilkenny. Mosha navigated some very narrow and winding roads very proficiently. I highly recommend this trip with Oli and Nosha!
Samantha_Z, Sep 2025
Oli and Eli were fab! We had such a great time and Oli was an exceptional guide who taught us a lot about Irish history and had a great sense of humour. Eli was a wonderful and safe driver. Highly recommend!
Diane_C, Sep 2025
Excellent Great driver Bea, and great tour guide Richard! Loved Michael the sheep dog demonstrator!😁
Rhonda_G, Sep 2025
Loved this trip the countryside is very picturesque and I loved the Sheep Dog presentation and the trainer was very informative and had a great dry sense of humour
Alana_C, Sep 2025
Great trip, got to see the beautiful country side and enjoyed several sites along the way. Tour guide was awesome and the bus driver handled that bus with ease.
Yelena_S, Sep 2025
Absolutely amazing! Beautiful scenery at the mountains, fun learning about and watching the sheep dog demo, and lovely town to end the day. I would highly recommend this tour!
RajatKumar_P, Sep 2025
Awesome!! The tour was well organized and guide was excellent, interactive and energetic.Highly recommend this trip from Dublin
Samantha_F, Sep 2025
Absolutely loved this trip, you get to see a lot and learn about Ireland’s history. Quiggs and Dan were our guide and driver and they both were great. Quiggs is full of information and shared a lot of history about each of our stops as well as things to do in Dublin. Although I got to see some lovely sights, the sheep dog demonstration was my favorite!
Zuzana_P, Sep 2025
Absolutely wonderful tour. If you are in Dublin and fancy one day get away out of the city centre then this tour is great. Comfortable bus, had a lovely driver Nishad but absolutely 10/10 tour guide Gina that just made this trip one I will remember. She was so knowledgeable, kind, funny and always willing to help or give advice and tips. I travel a lot and Gina was definitely one of the best tour guides I met so if she is on your next trip you know you will have a blast!
Well organised trip, we had enough time in each stop to explore all we wanted.
From $59.74
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