While we were in Dublin, I booked this day tour through GetYourGuide. If you haven’t used it before, think of it as the German equivalent of Klook — an online marketplace where you can book tours, excursions, and travel tickets. I was comparing options across a few platforms and the Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow & Glendalough Tour & Sheepdog Show caught my eye. The itinerary looked solid and at S$67.50 per person for a full-day tour, the price was pretty reasonable. So we went for it.
The activity provider for this tour is Finn McCools Tours. Meeting point was at Hugh Lane Gallery — about a five-minute walk from our hotel, Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre. Very convenient.
On the Coach with Godfrey and Fred
We met our tour guide Godfrey and driver Fred at the meeting point. Everyone gathered on time and we set off just before 8am. No delays at all, which was a great start.
On the coach, Godfrey was seriously entertaining. He sang songs, cracked jokes, shared loads of interesting facts about Ireland, and even circulated photos for everyone to look at.
He also showed us a Glendalough location map so we knew what to expect when we got there. The kind of guide who makes the journey part of the experience.
The Gateway at St. Kevin’s Monastery in Glendalough dates back to the 6th century and is the only surviving monastic stone archway in Ireland.
On the right side of the gateway, you’ll find a large slab with a cross carved into it.
Standing 33 metres high, the Round Tower was built almost 1,000 years ago by the monks of St. Kevin’s Monastery and used as a bell tower to call them to prayer.
St. Kevin’s Church is one of the most iconic landmarks in Glendalough. Commonly known as St. Kevin’s Kitchen, its distinctive belfry resembles the chimney of an old-fashioned stove. It is also one of the few surviving stone-vaulted and roofed churches in Ireland from this period.
Glendalough: A 6th-Century Monastic Settlement
We reached Glendalough around 9.10am. For context, this is a 6th-century Early Medieval monastic settlement nestled in a glacial valley — and it is absolutely stunning. We walked through the ancient ruins of St. Kevin’s Monastery and had free time to explore until 11.30am, which was more than enough.
We hiked from the Lower Lake to the Upper Lake and really took our time enjoying the natural beauty — the lakes, the forested hills, and the incredibly tranquil surroundings. Even spotted a waterfall. Getting close enough for photos required climbing up a slightly sloped area, but nothing too strenuous. The rest of the walk is generally easy and manageable.
A beautiful, tranquil lake with clear reflections of the surrounding hills.
Honestly, the whole place has this peaceful, serene energy that’s hard to describe. You just feel calm being there.
Before returning to the coach, we came across a row of kiosks offering coffee, ice cream, clothing and souvenirs.
Couldn’t resist getting a soft serve with Cadbury Flake 😋
Wicklow Mountains — And Yes, They Filmed Braveheart Here
After Glendalough, we had a scenic drive through the Wicklow Mountains. The coach made a five-minute stop at a vantage point so everyone could get out and take photos. The views were sweeping and dramatic — exactly what you’d imagine when you picture the Irish countryside.
Apparently the Wicklow Mountains was one of the filming locations for Braveheart and P.S. I Love You.
The Sheepdog Show — Smarter Than You’d Expect
Next, we stopped at a working Irish sheep farm for a live sheepdog demonstration. This lasted around 45 minutes and was genuinely impressive. The dogs are expertly trained — they respond to commands and herd sheep across the open field with such precision. Watching them work, you realise just how intelligent they are.
OMG, this baby lamb was just too cute. I couldn’t stop stroking it—my heart just melted 🥹
We also got to play with baby lambs after the demo. Cannot stress how cute they were. This part alone made the tour worth it for me.
Kilkenny: Free and Easy in a Medieval City
The last destination was Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s most charming medieval cities. This portion of the tour was completely free and easy — no guided walk, just explore on your own.
Kilkenny Castle is a majestic, multi-period fortress that has overlooked the River Nore since the 12th century. It evolved from a formidable Norman stronghold into a grand Victorian country house, surrounded by sprawling parklands.
Founded in 1225, the Black Abbey is a serene Dominican priory, renowned for its stunning 14th-century Rosary Window and its resilient history through centuries of suppression and restoration.
St. Canice’s Cathedral is a stunning 13th-century Gothic masterpiece that serves as the ecclesiastical heart of Kilkenny, featuring an iconic 9th-century Round Tower that offers panoramic views of the medieval city.
We checked out Kilkenny Castle and Black Abbey, then walked over to St Canice’s Cathedral. There was some kind of event or service on when we arrived, so we slipped in briefly for a quick look — free entry, no issues.
Food Stop: Nostalgia Cafe, Kilkenny
By this point we were pretty famished, so we randomly picked Nostalgia Cafe for lunch. Here’s the honest breakdown:
Bacon Cheese Quiche — thin, crispy crust. Loved the amount of sides: potato salad, veggie salad, coleslaw, and beetroot salad. Chips were nicely fried too. Good overall.
Irish Breakfast — so-so. Black pudding had that strong blood taste which can be off-putting. White pudding was more starchy than meaty in texture. The sausages weren’t great either — floury rather than meaty.
Iced Tea — we expected freshly brewed tea with ice. They served bottled Lipton instead. A little underwhelming, but fair enough.
Iced Mocha — this one surprised us. The staff came around asking if we’d ordered a milkshake, which we hadn’t. Turns out it was actually the iced mocha — came out looking like a milkshake with whipped cream and Oreo bits on top. Nice and smooth to drink, not too sweet. No complaints.
After lunch, we did a bit of shopping before heading back to the coach.
Overall Verdict — Totally Worth It
We got back to Dublin at 6.10pm. The entire Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow & Glendalough Tour & Sheepdog Show took just over 10 hours and honestly, it was totally worth every penny.
What stood out most was that each stop had ample time for exploring. Nothing felt rushed or hurried. The scenery was genuinely beautiful — walking through nature while taking in views like that is honestly quite therapeutic.
If you’re visiting Dublin and want a well-paced, value-for-money day trip that covers a good mix of history, nature, and local experiences, this is one I’d highly recommend. 😉