GREAT DRIVES GLENCREE, CO WICKLOW:The Glencree valley gave BOB MONTGOMERYlots to be impressed with on his drive through the Dublin and north Wicklow mountains
SOMETIMES THE things we seek are to be found under our noses, and for that reason the subject of this week’s article is right on the very doorstep of Dublin.
The Dublin and north Wicklow mountains supply seemingly endless roads that provide an interesting day’s driving.
That these roads are adjacent to the largest population concentration on this island is remarkably fortuitous for Dublin’s residents.
Enniskerry, on the Cookstown river, is a village well known to most Dubliners and it is situated in one of the most beautiful districts in Co Wicklow.
The vast 34,000-acre Powerscourt demesne with its spectacular waterfall is just south of the village.
Our route is around the Glencree valley. From the centre of Enniskerry, one should take the road west out of the village signposted for Glencree.
This road winds its way around the twin peaks of first Prince William’s Seat (555m/1,820ft) and Knocknagun (an identical 555m) before passing through the tiny village of Curtlestown with its fine church.
Shortly after Curtlestown is a road to the left which, although narrow, is an interesting diversion and well worth exploring if you have the time. The road forms a loop around Knockree (343m/1,135ft) and passes through Lackan wood before returning to our original road just to the east of Curtlestown.
As we continue towards Glencree, at the head of the valley, there are constant views across the valley through which runs the Glencree river that continues on to meet the Dargle river before in turn being joined by the Cookstown river.
At Glencree itself is the evocative German War Cemetery and here are buried the German airmen who crashed and died on Irish soil as well as the German sailors whose bodies were washed ashore during the second World War. Just up from the cemetery is the Glencree centre, originally built as a military barracks for the troops engaged in putting down the 1798 insurrection. In more recent times it has been used as a centre for sectarian reconciliation and today is a popular stop for bus tours of Wicklow.
From the centre, it’s a very short distance to where our road joins the R115, and then an equally short distance to where our route leaves the R115 and continues along the southern side of the Glencree valley. Without doubt, this is the side which offers the most attractive views, in particular to the east where rises the distinctive Great Sugar Loaf mountain (503m/1,630ft).
As our road heads southeast along the valley to its right rise the impressive heights of Tonduff (652m/1,821ft), War Hill (689m/2,260ft) and, finally, Djouce (733m/2,405ft).
Much of the landscape along this section of the road is so typical of Wicklow – mountain covered in gorse and ferns with little stone bridges over fast-flowing mountain streams. The road itself is flanked to the south by, first, Ballyreagh and, then, Crone woods. Bearing left at the first junction brings one back onto the R760 leading back to Enniskerry and passing gates to Powerscourt waterfall, itself in Djouce woods.
This is an easy drive with several opportunities to add short diversions, all of which serve to underline not only what an incredibly versatile touring county Wicklow is, but above all how accessible it is to so many people.