Greystones

Coastal Town

Grey stones

Greystones (Irish: Na Clocha Liatha) is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies on Ireland’s east coast, 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Bray and 27 km (17 mi) south of Dublin (click here for directions), with a population of about 15,000.

The town is bordered by the Irish Sea to the east, Bray Head to the north and the Wicklow Mountains to the west.

The town was named after a one kilometre stretch of grey stones between two beaches on the sea front.

Greystones

Greystones is located south of the site of an ancient castle of the Barony of Rathdown. There was a hamlet which, like the castle, was known as Rathdown, and which appeared on a 1712 map. This site occupied an area now known as the Grove, north of Greystones harbour, but only the ruins of a chapel, St. Crispin’s Cell, survive. Greystones is a much more recent settlement and is first mentioned in Topographia Hibernica, a 1795 publication. Here it is described as a “noted fishing place four miles beyond Bray.”

Greystones Beach

Bray and Greystones are linked by a Cliff Walk, which follows the route of the railway line around Bray Head. The walk is 6 km long and takes approximately two hours.

Greystones South Beach is a broad sandy beach about one kilometre long. It is a Blue Flag beach and receives many visitors and tourists, mainly in the summer.

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Bray Greystones Cliff Walk

Walk with stunning and dramatic views

Cliff Walkers

Distance: 7km; Grade: Moderate; Type: Linear; Time: 2h 30 min. Located in northern County Wicklow, between the towns of Bray and Greystones.

The Cliff Walk is a linear walk between Bray and Greystones, following the train line along the cliffs of Bray Head. This well maintained walk offer stunning and dramatic views along steep cliffs into the Irish Sea.

Irish Sea

Even for a relatively slow walker this walk can be completed in about 2 hours or so though it may take you longer as you stop to enjoy the fresh air and stunning views.

There are very few steep parts so its not overly-challenging but you do feel at the end of the walk that a cup of coffee in Summervilles or one of the other excellent coffee shops in Greystones is completely justified. A wonderful way to spend a couple of hours!

Take one of the many trains to get back to your starting point . Here are DIRECTIONS how to get there.

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Long Winter is Over. Smile :)

Clontibert, County Monaghan

It has been a while since our last post, but now long and tiresome winter is over and our blog will have a  kick start. From now on at least a post a day. Promise 🙂
Remember: This blog is all about Ireland!

If…

County Louth

– you’re a resident of Ireland. Cool. Go and find a name of your home county from sidebar or at the end of this post. Help us with an inside information. What to do, where to go, what is worthwhile to see in your home place. Leave comments, suggestions, write to us. We would love to have a feedback.

Can’t find a name of your county? Don’t panic. Its still there. We just haven’t had time to come and explore it. But we will and it’s coming soon. Your input is highly appreciated, so let us know what  to see  and do in your home county.

– you’re interested about traveling to Ireland. Thumb through our site and you’ll get an idea of places which are worth of exploring.

– you just randomly stumbled on our page. Enjoy! Ireland is Beautiful 🙂

Powerscourt Estate

Powerscourt Gardens

Powerscourt House

Fountain

Are some of the most beautiful gardens where we have been to Ireland. Located in the center of Wicklow Mountains, Powerscourt is surrounded by breathtaking mountain views. If you are interested in nature, sights, and walking in a spetacular garden on the vast territory, then you need to go there at least once. There is admission fee . The ticket costs € 8.50 per person and a family ticket costs 25 EUR. But the attraction is well worth the price. Take into

The Italian Gardens

consideration that the gardens are on a very large area and there is no point in visiting only for a few hours . Reserve the whole day. Almost no matter what season, you’ll find there’s something flourishing . They also have a very good website, where you will find all the information about what to see month to month. You must keep in mind that there are two completely different sights in the region (and both to be paid separately, but it is worth the money) Powerscourt Estate and Powerscourt Waterfall. The latter is the highest waterfall in Ireland, and when not in dry season, it certainly is a magnificent landmark. But will continue to talk about this in another post.

Wikipedia says:

Pond

Located in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, is a large country estate which is noted for its house and landscaped gardens, today occupying 19 hectares (47 acres). The house, originally a 13th century castle, was extensively altered during the 18th century by German architect Richard Cassels, starting in 1731 and finishing in 1741. A fire in 1974 left the house lying as a shell until it was renovated in 1996.

Today the estate is owned and run by the Slazenger family.

The Pepperpot Tower

Mervyn Wingfield, seventh Viscount Powerscourt, inherited the title and the Powerscourt estate, which comprised 200 km² (49,000 acres) of land in Ireland, at the age of 8 in 1844. When he reached the age of 21, he embarked on an extensive renovation of the house and created the new gardens.

Main attractions on the grounds include the Tower Valley (with stone tower), Japanese gardens, winged horse statues, Triton Lake, pet cemetery, Dolphin

The Italian Gardens

Pond, walled gardens, Bamberg Gate and the Italian Garden. The Pepperpot Tower is said to be designed after a favored 3″ pepperpot of Lady Wingfield. Of particular note is the pets cemetery, whose tombstones have been described as “astonishingly personal”.

Here are directions how to get to Powerscourt Estate

Click here to see Powerscourt Estate Photo Gallery