Dublin to Glendalough, Wicklow & Kilkenny: sheepdog demo included

Walk through a monastic valley and watch skilled sheepdogs work a flock in the Irish countryside.

This 10-hour guided tour departs Dublin and travels through the Wicklow Mountains to four distinct stops: the medieval city of Kilkenny, an Irish farm where you watch a shepherd and trained sheepdogs herd sheep, the Wicklow Gap viewpoint, and Glendalough, a historic monastic valley where you explore ruins and walk at your own pace. A professional guide provides live commentary throughout, and the coach returns you to Dublin around 6:00 PM. Lunch is not included; bring your own and wear comfortable walking shoes and a rainproof jacket.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kilkenny and Wicklow Mountains

• Depart from Dublin city
• Drive through Dublin landmarks
• Arrive in Kilkenny for free exploration
• Visit Kilkenny Castle and medieval streets
• Enjoy sheepdog demonstration at Irish farm
• Drive through Wicklow Mountains
• Stop at Wicklow Gap viewpoint
• Explore Glendalough monastic site and valley
• Return to Dublin

The Experience

Your morning starts in Dublin's city centre, where the coach departs and your guide begins pointing out landmarks as you leave the grey streets behind. The drive itself is part of the tour—you'll pass Trinity College and Temple Bar, follow the Liffey past the Guinness Brewery, and climb toward Kilmainham before the landscape shifts from urban Dublin to the green hills of Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland.

Kilkenny is your first real stop, and you get around two hours to wander this medieval city on your own. The narrow, winding streets are lined with centuries-old architecture—Kilkenny Castle, the haunted pub tied to Ireland's first witch trial, breweries older than Guinness, bookshops and antique dealers. You walk on stones worn smooth by centuries of footfall, and the pace is entirely yours.

The sheepdog demonstration happens at an Irish farm and lasts about 45 minutes. A skilled shepherd and his trained dogs work a flock of sheep, showing the precision and dedication the craft demands. You'll learn about Ireland's 5,500-year history of settled farming, the role of wool and sheep in that story, and the realities Irish farmers face today. This is not a performance—it's a working demonstration of a skill that has shaped the Irish countryside.

From there, the coach climbs into the Wicklow Mountains. You stop at Wicklow Gap, one of only two roads over the mountains, where a viewing platform looks down toward Dublin Bay. The stop lasts around 15 minutes, enough to stand in the wildness of heather and rushes with sheep roaming freely beside the winding road. Then comes Glendalough, the Valley of Two Lakes—one of Ireland's most isolated and beautiful valleys, buried in the heart of Wicklow's uplands. Your guide leads a walking tour of the monastic city, pointing out the Round Tower, the Cross of St Kevin, and the finest preserved monastic ruins in Ireland. After the guided portion, you have free time to explore at your own pace, sit by the streams, or walk the lake shores. The return to Dublin takes place around 6:00 PM.

What’s included

• Professional guide providing live commentary throughout the day.
• air-conditioned coach for the full journey.
• guided walking tour of Glendalough's monastic ruins with free time to explore at your own pace.
• live sheepdog demonstration on an Irish farm lasting approximately 45 minutes.
• stop at Wicklow Gap viewpoint in the mountains.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Finn McCools Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if your first day in Dublin is your only chance to see the countryside and medieval towns—the guided itinerary covers Kilkenny, a working farm with sheepdog herding, and Wicklow Mountains in one full day, so you experience three distinct landscapes without piecing together separate visits.

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Top questions

Can I book a seat in the front rows of the coach?

Yes. Front-row seating is available as a separate booking option at checkout, allowing you to reserve one of the three front rows for a better view during the drive through Dublin and the Wicklow Mountains.

What is Glendalough and what will I see there?

Glendalough, the Valley of Two Lakes, is one of Ireland's earliest and most significant monastic sites, located in the heart of Wicklow's uplands. You'll explore the monastic ruins—including the Round Tower and the Cross of St Kevin—on a guided tour, then have free time to walk the grounds at your own pace, sit by the lakes and streams, or explore the surrounding valley.

What happens at the sheepdog demonstration?

A shepherd and his trained sheepdogs demonstrate how they work together to herd a flock of sheep on an Irish farm. The 45-minute demonstration shows the skill and dedication required, and you'll learn about Ireland's farming heritage, the history of wool production, and the challenges modern Irish farmers face.

How much time do I have in Kilkenny?

You have around two hours to explore Kilkenny on your own. The medieval city is one of Ireland's best-preserved, with narrow winding streets, Kilkenny Castle, historic pubs, breweries, bookshops and antique shops to discover at your own pace.

What should I bring and wear?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and a rainproof jacket, as you'll walk through Glendalough and explore Kilkenny. Bring a packed lunch and water, and use the bathroom before arriving at the pick-up point in Dublin's city centre, as there are limited stops during the day.

What is the Wicklow Gap?

Wicklow Gap is one of only two roads crossing the Wicklow Mountains. The stop lasts around 15 minutes at a viewing platform surrounded by heather, rushes and wildflowers, with views down toward Dublin Bay on clear days and the wild mountain landscape on all days.