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Town in County Wicklow, Ireland
Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Wicklow is the county town of County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland; in 2022 it had a population of about 13,000. It forms a semicircle around Wicklow harbour, while just north lies The Murrough, a grassy walking area beside the sea, and the eastern coastal strip. The main reason to visits are its historic jail, its nearby gardens and parks, and upscale accommodation that makes a great base for exploring the county.
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Notoriously harsh 18th-century jail, which often held convicts awaiting transportation to the colonies. It was extended from 1822 and remained in use until 1924. As well as the standard tour, there's also an immersive virtual reality tour, plus the inevitable ghost tour.
Grand gardens laid out in 1868 along both banks of the river. Open all year, no dogs or picnics.
Gardens and arboretum laid out by the Acton family from 1712. They're now a branch of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, open all year. The Wicklow soil is acidic and suits species that don't thrive at Glasnevin, such as rhododendron and the monkey puzzle tree. Kilmacurragh House was the Acton's Queen Anne-style mansion, but it's derelict and fenced off.
Beyond the Trees
The mansion was the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the 1880s campaign for Irish Home Rule until mired by scandal. The House is open for tours, but most visitors are here for the treetop walkway (fully accessible), spiral viewing tower and parkland.
Mostly traditional fare, gets good reviews for quality and service.
Pub restaurant with decent rooms. Meals served M-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su noon-8PM.
Upscale hotel in Italianate country villa, with rooms decked out in period style, and extensive gardens. Excellent restaurant is open daily to 9PM.
Charming tasteful hotel in old coaching inn with gardens.
Coaching inn since 1854, now a classy restaurant with rooms. It's named for Sir Alfred Chester Beatty the mining tycoon, who had a country retreat nearby: his fabulous art collection is in Dublin Castle.
Bus Éireann 133 runs hourly from Dublin Busáras via the city south side, Kilmacanogue, Newtown Mount Kennedy and Rathnew, taking 90 min to Wicklow.
Read in the guideBus 133 runs past Mount Usher Gardens. You need your own wheels to reach Kilmacurragh Gardens.
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