Dublin Tours
Dublin to Kilkenny, Wicklow, Glendalough, Laragh Sheep Dog Trial
5

Dublin to Kilkenny, Wicklow, Glendalough, Laragh Sheep Dog Trial

By Wild Rover Tours
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Learn about Irish folklore and medieval architecture on this hassle-free day trip to Glendalough and Kilkenny from Dublin. Avoid the stress of organizing transport and activities, and let a guide do the hard work for you. Visit Glendalough’s monastic settlement, Wicklow Mountains National Park, Kilkenny Castle grounds, and Kilkenny city. You’ll also enjoy a sheep herding demonstration by border collies, with time to meet the farmer too.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 3-99, max of 63 per group
Duration: 10h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Escape bustling Dublin for a day, with included transportation
  • Travel between Kilkenny, Glendalough, and the Wicklow Mountains with ease 
  • Guide commentary contextualizes each stop
  • Climate-controlled coach offers unlimited 4G Wi-Fi as you travel

  • Complimentary walking tours of of Kilkenny Medieval City & Glendalough Monastic Site
  • Stop at Wicklow Gap glacial valley
  • Free unlimited 4G Wi-Fi available on the coach
  • Irish sheep farm visit with sheep dog demonstration
  • Guided walking tours in Kilkenny City & Glendalough Monastic Site
  • All Fees and Taxes
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel drop off

Begin your tour with convenient pickup from your choice of central Dublin meeting points. Climb aboard a comfortable tour vehicle with onboard Wi-Fi and set out into the Irish countryside. With an expert at the wheel, there’s ample time to enjoy the scenery en route to the medieval riverside city of Kilkenny. Start with an included guided tour to get your bearings. Listen to your guide’s commentary as you explore highlights including Kilkenny Castle grounds and stroll the cobblestone streets. There’s time to explore independently or enjoy a bite in an artisan café before you board the bus. Stop at a local sheep farm to see border collies doing what they do best: herding sheep, a long-standing Irish tradition. There’s time to chat to the farmer and meet the dogs and (in season) the lambs. Back on the bus, head over the picturesque Wicklow Gap with a photo stop to snap pictures of the dreamy scenery. Once you reach the glacial valley of Glendalough, take in the twin lakes. After an orientation from your guide, spend a while exploring the 6th-century monastic site independently. There are food options here should you wish. Finally, your coach drops you off at one of two convenient locations in Dublin city center.

Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin, 23 O'Connell Street Upper, North City, Dublin, D01 C3W7, Ireland
    First pickup location. The guide will have the manifest of passengers names and the coach will be grey in colour with a silver company logo of a dog. Departure time 8.10 AM. (please be there 10 minutes prior)
  • Option 2
    33 College Green, Dublin 2, D02 DD76, Ireland
    Second pickup location: Bus Stop, 33 College Green, Dublin 2, D02 DD76. (next to Hawksmoor Restaurant) The guide will have the manifest of passengers names and the coach will be grey in colour with a silver company logo of a dog. Departure time 8.20 AM. (please be there 10 minutes prior).
  • Option 3
    Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch, Christchurch Pl, Dublin, D08 REK7, Ireland
    Third pickup location. The guide will have the manifest of passengers names and the coach will be grey in colour with a silver company logo of a dog. Departure time 8.30 am. (please be there 10 minutes prior)
End:
  • Westmoreland Street, Westmoreland St, Dublin, Ireland
    In summer (except Sundays): Coach will return to Dublin City at approximately 6.15 PM. Drop off is on Westmoreland Street, 100 metres from O'Connell Bridge and near Trinity College.

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Pushchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5300CASTLES

  • Please be outside one of the 3 available pickup locations listed
  • Most travellers can participate
  • Children 2 years and under are not allowed to travel
  • Please be there 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 63 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5300CASTLES

From
₹4,379.96
per adult
Select date and travellers

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  • Westmoreland St, Dublin, Ireland
    In summer (except Sundays): Coach will return to Dublin City at approximately 6.15 PM. Drop off is on Westmoreland Street, 100 metres from O'Connell Bridge and near Trinity College.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Wild Rover Tours
    29,737
    Ireland
    Joined in April 2011
  • Linda L
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun and educational with beautiful scenery
    Both Marco and Kevin were outstanding during our trip with them. Marco navigated some tight spaces and drove safely and efficiently to each destination. Kevin was knowledgeable, personable and engaging. He was kind and polite with a terrific sense of humor with the passengers. Thank you for an excellent experience! Our group of six from the U.S. (Arizona and Michigan) had a wonderful day!
    Written 15 September 2024
  • AlinaArucsandei
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic tip to Moher Cliffs and Gallway
    The trip was great! Kevin was tireless in explaining Irish history and showing us hidden gems along the way. We will come back but will give ourselves more time to dive into the gorgeous Irish country side. Highly recommend our driver and tour guide, both very professional and fully committed to ensure everyone has a pleasant trip.
    Written 15 September 2024
  • D8408OOjenniferg
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great value
    Cliffs of Moher were lovely, lovely to see the countryside and hear a bit about Ireland while on the way to destinations. Great value for money compared to hiring a car and doing it yourself. Thanks to our driver Stephen and guide Sean!
    Written 15 September 2024
  • PacoRC
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visist to Moher and Galway
    Lovely and fun with Yvonne & Joe. Great explanation of the visited places prior to getting there was of great help to use our time properly
    Written 15 September 2024
  • Odyssey47453152904
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing day
    Sean our guide was very knowledgeable and fun with a great personality, our driver Stephen was fantastic we had no worries with him safely navigating around Ireland, overall it was a good day and very pleasant to attend
    Written 15 September 2024
  • Curiosity40991638345
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing
    Marko and Kevin were kind enough to let us in even we were late in boarding bus😬…… overall trip was really good. It was on schedule and respects everyone time. Marko was a good driver he could drive through needle it seems and Kevin was walking wikipedia
    Written 15 September 2024
  • V5313NMmarianab
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It’s worth it :)
    Our guide Kevin was amazing, he did a really good job explaining everything and letting us know which places where more memorable and important. I went alone and enjoyed it completely.
    Written 15 September 2024
  • Kevin L
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun day trip.
    Informative tour guide Kevin. Great driver Marco. Would recommend. Great tour at both the cliffs and Galway. Good way to spend the day.
    Written 15 September 2024
  • krinor2024
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible Trip Across Ireland
    Incredible time! Kevin and Marco were incredible guides/driver! Would highly recommend for a good tour and explanation of Irish traditions and culture.
    Written 15 September 2024
  • 366naomif
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    The tour guide,Yvonne, was very friendly, hilarious, knowledgeable about the culture, history, and superstitions and such. I would recommend this to all. Joe, the driver was a great driver and was very friendly. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Written 15 September 2024
  • 447zoef
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience with Ina
    The whole experience was amazing! We love the tour guider Ina, she was super nice to everyone, explained everything so clear. She made the trip worth every second. She was so sweet to me and my husband. Also thank you to the driver JP to get us safe, he did a great job driving. We least on time and returned before 8pm in Dublin. We felt really bad for not tipping because we both didn’t bring cash with us. But Ina said don’t worry it was really nothing. I wish we had cash to tip them to show how much we love the trip to Belfast. They offered titanic and black cab. We picked titanic. Im so glad we picked titanic to go with Ina. I booked 4 tours with TripAdvisor for our trip from Edinburgh to Dublin, but I’m only taking my time to leave a review for Ina. She was very friendly and nice. Thank you again!
    Written 15 September 2024
  • paigea832
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful experience!
    Amazing! This was definitely one of the highlights of our vacation in Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher were magnificent and the experience was made all the better by the efficiency and expertise of the tour guide and bus driver. It’s a long haul from Dublin to the west coast of Ireland and back, but our tour guide, Elisa, and driver, Stipe, expertly narrated and navigated the journey, and the miles flew by as we enjoyed the beautiful Irish countryside. Elisa always had the perfect amount of information and filled the tour with interesting facts and tidbits about the different places we passed through. And, Stipe… what a driver! I’ve no idea how he maneuvered that 15-meter bus through all those tight streets and hairpin turns with only a whisker’s distance between the bus and other vehicles and objects, but he did so seemingly effortlessly. All in all, a wonderful experience and one not to miss on a trip to Ireland. If we come back in the future, we’ll definitely take another tour with Wild Rover!
    Written 15 September 2024
  • Sunshine54468153533
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice tour
    Moher is beautiful, Galway full of fun . Tour is on time, our tour lady Eve is great, give out her personal view too, warm heart
    Written 14 September 2024
  • A6282HFromand
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good experience
    Thanks Barbara and Stephen for this nice trip! Driver is very experienced and guide is very knowledgeable and funny. Loved the trip
    Written 14 September 2024
  • W2245SKralphr
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic trip
    I read great reviews about this specific tour and I am now one of them, testifying how amazing this trip is. This tour exceeded my expectations. Both Ciara, our guide, and Joe, our driver, were exemplary! Ciara kept us entertained and I didn’t snooze off the entire trip. Joe, made the drive really smooth and easy, and kept us safe all throughout. I will definitely recommend both Ciara and Joe because, for sure, you will be safe and cared for.
    Written 14 September 2024
See all 29,737 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles3,801 reviews
Excellent
3,513
Very good
230
Average
32
Poor
18
Terrible
8

M.A. D
Saint Louis, MO263 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Family
I love Ireland with all my heart. Kilkenny Castle is completely disarming, especially the great dining hall. Lay back on one of the benches and look up, and you’ll feel like you’re on a Viking longboat. In Glendalough you can easily step back into a time in Ireland before Christianity had established itself. Walking through the Wicklow Mountains is like moving through a dream. And seeing the intensity of the sheep herder and his dogs at work was breathtaking.

So... the tour operator was my only issue. He was a loudmouth who rambled incessantly through the entire trip. I’m glad he was an extra on the Vikings t.v. show, but honestly it had nothing to do with the trip and we didn’t need to hear about it over and over. He told inappropriate bawdy jokes even though there were families with young children on the bus. Seriously... if you have to tell your customers to cover their children’s eyes and ears, just don’t say it. He kept telling everybody to hurry up during each stop. He told us that mentioning the tour company would get us discounts in different attractions, which it did not. No tickets to attractions were included with our tour, as have been with other operators we’ve used. At the end of the trip, he begged everybody for tips and asked us not to let his employer know because it would get him fired. All in all, he played into the worst stereotypes of Irish tour operators and Irish people in general. Offensive, to say the least.
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kimberly m
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Very well organised! Had to change the booking date a couple of times because of other commitments and the organisers were always helpful when emailed. The locations visited were breaktaking and the itenary is perfect as it allows ample of time to visit the areas compared to other tours available. Would recommend for sure. Finally, our guide Kim was really knowledgeable about the areas visited and always managed to give us a detailed summary of the history related to the place whilst being witty and funny at the same time.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ialon
Los Angeles, CA14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
This is a fun day trip that isn't quite as long as the trips to Cliffs of Moher or Giant's Causeway. Our guide, Kim, was very nice and helpful, and the sites were beautiful. Definitely only book this tour, or any bus tour, if you're ok with being punctual in getting back to the bus at the designated time. My husband and I are normally very punctual, but we misunderstood the return time at one of the stops and accidentally held up the group for 10 minutes! Kim wasn't harsh about it, but we could tell it was stressful for her since they keep to a tight schedule, and don't want to inconvenience the other passengers. This day trip was our 3rd of 3 with Wild Rover, and on our other trips several other people were late on numerous occasions, which visibly stressed out the tour guide (though none were unnecessarily mean about it). So if you're someone who likes to set your own schedule, these tours may not be a great fit for you, though they do give you plenty of time at each of the stops (the 10-min bathroom breaks can be a little tight though). It's also nice to nap on the bus and not have to worry about driving (esp in the winter when the sun sets at 4ish and many of these sites are 3+ hours from Dublin).
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LHall
Southampton, UK7 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
Tour itinerary itself was good however the driving was not and the tour guide did waffle on (some of the information he said was inaccurate too!) We fell asleep to avoid listening to the tour guide on the bus and at the locations did our own thing instead of following the group. Glendalough is stunning and an absolute must see, it is a lovely walk from where the coach parks to the lakes. We thoroughly enjoyed the sheep dog trials and found this fascinating. We had plenty of time at each location, the bus does leave on time so don't be late!

Food options on this day trip are more limited than others. Kilkenny is your only place to really have food and we found we wanted most of the time in Kilkenny to explore. Visiting the castle inside is optional when you are there. We did pay the €8 euros each to go inside the castle which we did enjoy - you probably only need 30-45minutes to explore inside the castle.
Written 19 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Charlotte, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, even if the experience with us was not what you had hoped for. I am very sorry to hear that. The guide did mention that he ran in to you in the cafe at the castle basement, I wish you had taken that moment to discuss the issues you were having with him and/or the quality of the tour. We are always looking for ways to improve our tours, and I am sure he would have appreciated your feedback. Also our driver is very expierenced and we never have had any issues with her so I am not sure what you are referring to here. I would like to know more about your experience with us, and was hoping we could discuss this further, so please feel free to reach out to me at inger@wildrovertours.com to share any additional feedback.
Written 20 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Donna M
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Friends
This tour is wonderful and enjoyable and it is a must-do when visiting Ireland. I would like to say a special thank you to Sydney and Liam, who were the driver and tour guide, they made the whole trip very special with very informative and entertaining stories and facts and even songs, and throughout the whole day they were making sure that we get the most out of the trip. We felt very safe with Sydney, behind the driver’s seat and Liam went above and beyond and even sang songs that made our time unforgettable and so much fun! We went on this tour with some family members that were visiting Ireland in March 2022 and we loved it so much that I brought a second set of relatives visiting Ireland in May 2022. The sheep dog demonstration was very impressive and at the end we managed to get beautiful pictures with the baby lambs. We loved Kilkenny city, where we enjoyed visiting the castle and one of the local coffee shops. As part of the trip we also visited Glendalough and went on a beautiful nature walk and got a real feel for the beautiful countryside of Ireland. I highly recommend this tour to anyone as it packs in so many sights and experience in one day, while also being very enjoyable and relaxing! Huge Thank You to Sydney and Liam for the unforgettable tours, from Donna
Written 14 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Calesse S
United States2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Couples
Lovely tour from Dublin. Although the weather wasn’t very conducive to hiking in the Wicklow Mountains, we very much enjoyed the sheep dog demonstration (and getting to hold little lambs since we came in March!).

Kilkenny is a lovely town. Take some time to walk around if you can. We enjoyed some lovely lamb stew at Ketler’s Inn. We did the self guided castle tour, but in hindsight would have preferred to just explore the beautiful grounds around the castle (it’s free, and very large- at least a few km. To walk all the way around).
Written 16 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nicolle Sturdevant
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My Mum and I took this tour as we wanted to see the countryside while we were on a short break to Dublin from Scotland. Nick was a fantastic tour guide, interspersing humour within the factual and folklore of the landscape. Our driver James did a fantastic job not only navigating the winding roads but helping to take pics of all of us so that we could all be part of the scenery.

A special shout out to Michael and Maggie for the fantastic sheepdog show! It was wonderful to find out information concerning this profession while Michael made it interesting and fun to watch.

The best part of the trip was getting enough of a taster of each area that I now know that when I come back for another visit I will want to spend more time in Glendalough and Kilkenny.

Thank you again for a wonderful time!
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Trevor and Sarah
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
My partner and I had an absolutely wonderful time on this bus tour! Our guide Suzanne and driver Owen were both friendly, funny, and extremely knowledgeable about all the stops on the trip.

The sheep farm was fascinating and extremely interesting to learn about. The owner, Richard, put on a great show with his border collies Milo and Rob; getting to hold a lamb and watching the dogs herd the sheep were some of the highlights of the whole day.

The monastic settlement at Glendalough was breathtaking, both for its rich history and rural beauty. Suzanne's guidance as we walked through the settlement and up to the lochs was excellent, and definitely enhanced the experience.

Lastly, the medieval town of Kilkenny was a great final stop on our tour. The castle and other historic buildings were extremely cool, the plethora of cute little shops and cafés were a joy to explore, and just like in Glendalough, Suzanne's stories and fun facts made the stop all the better.

Overall, we found this tour to be a great way to see the countryside around Dublin and learn some of its history, and absolutely worth the cost. As a final note, Suzanne and Owen both went the extra mile by allowing us to come along with them at all. We had mistakenly booked the wrong day for this tour, but because they had extra space they let us come along anyway. Thanks again!

*Note: The order of the tour was reversed due to the season. During the winter months, the bus stops at the sheep farm first, followed by Glendalough and then Kilkenny. We found that this didn't really affect the overall trip all that much, although seeing the dogs and sheep in the morning was a nice way to start the day :)
Written 16 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maria P
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
I think it is the definition of day trip from Dublin. It was so beautiful, relaxing and very well organised, that when I return to Ireland I will definetely book it again. Every part of the trip is like you are in a dream, wonderful sceneries, like time has stopped centuries ago. The lake was worth visiting by circling it and has so many small paths and trails that you need 2-3 days there to explore. The monastic way was so divine and few pilgrims were walking it. Kilkenny was definetely a surprise, such a small city - town and so many monuments and alleys and castles and a river through it. A negative would be that the castle required 8€ new year entrance, which nobody knew. It was advertised as free but 2022 demand changes. Also a great thanks and appreciation to Richard and Paolo. We did totally three day trips, with different guides and drivers. Everybody was friendly, welcoming and well informative. But I think its the character that makes a difference. Richard had a great sense of humour, didnt speak all the time, gave us time to relax, rest and laugh with decent good jokes. Also great Irish tunes to listen all day and great tour in Kilkenny. Paolo besides being an excellent driver, he was very informative and friendly as well. This is a must do tour for everybody coming to Dublin.
Written 7 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

moniquemolina2002
New York City, NY5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I’ve had many tours and many tour guides yet I can say Richard was one of the best, If not the best one I’ve had. Richard genuinely cares about his “charges” and truly makes people feel comfortable. You can tell he really loves his job and Ireland- it almost makes you fall in love with Ireland If you hadn’t already. Steven also gave me the smoothest bus ride I’ve ever had- I get dizzy sometimes and I never did . Richard was a foundation of fun and information - knowledgeable without being overwhelming, entertaining while also education. He really goes the extra mile, from offering to take photos for you instead of making you work up the nerve to ask, to making sure each experience is the best one it can be. I loooooove being with the lambs the best, but as an animal lover that’s to be expected. Amazing how much he and Steven managed to pack in one trip yet you never felt rushed for time. Highly recommend and would do it again just to spend time with Richard and Steven.
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Dublin to Kilkenny, Wicklow, Glendalough, Laragh Sheep Dog Trial provided by Wild Rover Tours

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