Powerscourt to Kilkenny via Glencree, the Military Road and Glendalough
The Military Road was built by the British between 1800 and 1809 to try to hunt out Irish rebels after the 1798 uprising. The road, now the R115, crosses through the centre of the Wicklow mountains. But first we have to get to Glencree where we will start our journey on the Military Road. Glencree is the former British military headquarters and barracks for the soldiers. We follow the signs from Powerscourt but get hopelessly lost. We follow several roads, only to find a 'Road Closed' sign and then a Detour sign which leads nowhere. Even my phone can't find where we are! We eventually see a couple of cars in the distance and decide to follow them. This time we find Glencree. It's 2:15 qnd we're starving so the sign pointing to the Armoury Cafe is just what we need! Spinach and feta quiche with salad and a good cup of coffee is perfect. Absolutely delicious!
Glenmacnass Waterfall
Leaving Glencree, we are on the Military Road itself - very little traffic and not a house in sight. The beautiful canopies of lush bright green foliage and trees soon turns to vast expanses of bog - puddles, ponds and streams are dotted across the landscape. It is bleak and rugged yet has its own particular beauty. In every direction is bog. Sally Gap is a remote pass at the intersection of the R115 and the R759. Driving down into the glen from here we pass the Glenmacnass waterfall. It doesn't look like a waterfall - just water cascading down over the rocky hillside.
Glendalough
Just off the Military Road and not far from waterfall is Glendalough. Glendalough means 'the valley of two lakes' and is the site of an ancient monastery founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. Over the centuries it withstood brutal attacks by Vikings until the Normans conquered it in 1398. Even then, it continued to function until the Dissolution of Monasteries in 1539. The monastery is spread over the two lakes. From the visitor Centre, the path leads over a bridge to the monastery.
Glendalough's Round Tower
In one corner of the graveyard is a 30m high round tower. It is still in near perfect condition although it is almost 1000 years old. It did have one near disaster though!! In 1876 the conical cap was hit by lightning. It was actually repaired with the original stones which were collected from where they fell inside the tower. Inside the tower there are 6 levels with timber floors connected to each other with ladders. We continue our walk through the graveyard and along the path to the Lower Lake. It is so quiet and still standing on the edge of the lake. It is late in the afternoon so we decide not to walk the extra mile to the Upper Lake but we will definitely return.
What about a gallery?
Coming Soon!