Wicklow Mountains National Park is a huge impressive 205-square-kilometer (51,000-acres) protected area in County Wicklow with lakes, forest, and well-maintained walking trails.

This magnificent Park is the largest of the six national parks in Ireland. It is also the only one located in the east of the country.

6 Amazing National Parks to visit in Ireland are:

Killarney National Park, County Kerry.
Connemara National Park, County Galway.
Burren National Park, County Clare.
Wicklow Mountains National Park, County Wicklow.
Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal.
Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo.

It is also the closest National Park to Carlow town, only 1h and 30 minutes drive.

The Park is situated off the Green Road close to the Upper Lake, and approximately 100m from the Upper Lake Car Park – 2km from Glendalough Visitor Centre. Park includes large areas of mountain blanket bogs, including the Lugnaquilla and Liffey Head Bog complexes and Glendalough Wood Nature Reserve.

It was established in 1991 to conserve the flora, fauna, and scenery of the Wicklow uplands.

The primary purpose of Wicklow Mountains National Park is the conservation of biodiversity, wildlife, habitats, and landscape. The Park is also an invaluable recreational space for locals and visitors alike.

Over one million visits are estimated to be made each year.

The most visited area is the scenic Glendalough Valley where the ancient monastic settlement of St. Kevin is located. Other sites include the Education Centre in Bolger’s Cottage, on the Miners’ Road by the Upper Lake, Glendalough, and remnants of mining villages.

There is St. Kevin’s Way which is a 30 km pilgrim path that goes from Hollywood in west Wicklow, up over the Wicklow Gap, and down to Glendalough.

There is no entry fee to the Park.

For more information visit: wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie

I was delighted to visit some small parts of the Park. It was an absolutely stunning scenery. I enjoyed walking around. The photos can`t show the real beauty of this place. We walked to the place called the Hero Mine and Dressing Floors.

Location:

Below are photos I took in September 2021.