TLDR – Drove through Sally Gap to Glendalough for a walk about the town and lake.
Loading up kids, dog and food
Out the door around 0830 for a day in Glendalough. Chief does not get to go on many trips with us. When I told him to get into the van, he got so excited. His whole body shook, jumping up and down, he hopped into the van and dug a hole in his blanket, ready to go. Knowing there is Not much in the way of shops or dog-friendly restaurants near the lake first stop Dunnes to collect some lunch supplies. Being in sure mode to anything the kids asked for we managed to spend about 70 euros; impressive.
Hell Fire Club
A bit into the drive up the hill to Sally Gap, I noticed a sign for the Hell Fire Club – I have always wanted to check out, but we’re not in a rush. Looked at Michelle she nodded and we turned into the park for the Hell Fire club. The walk is a nice uphill climb over some gravel switchbacks to the open field around the hellfire club ruins. Kids all ran into the building to explore. Chief and I walked around the outside, taking some pictures of the city – what a view. It’s worth the walk. We’ll need to come back again.
Glendalough
A rainy, cloudy, windy, slow drive over Sally’s gap to the lake – reminding me of the first time over the mountain with Wes and Collin before moving to Ireland many years ago. We drove straight to the lake paying 4 euro to park at the car park with rubbish, food trucks, and toilets. The Lough is a gorgeous lake. Today, it’s covered in a low fog surrounded by green – giving it an Irish feel. Roxi went right into the water with her shoes on, the chief went for a swim as a well, The kids tried to skip some rocks, and the light rain did not let up.
The plan was hike around the lake for a few hours. The weather did not care about our plan. Annoying misty rain was not about to let up. Back to the car to eat our snacks under cover while the rain starts and stops a few times. Before setting off for the tower and church ruins we used the toilets and car park bins to clean out the car of lunch rubbish.
Tower and tombstones
I thought we lucked out finding a street parking outside the Glendalough hotel – When we walked in from the road, we found the visitors center car park nearly empty with free parking. Oh well, we’re parked. Right next to the visitor center is an outdoor restaurant of sorts. On the walk there, we saw a deer. Khaleesi has been into deer lately; they are her number two animals behind pigs. The deer nearly let the kids pet it. A bit further down the walk, another few deer were a short way away in a field.- kids were so excited for the deer.
At the entrance to the cemetery, the kids noticed Saint Kevin’s ice cream, foreshadowing. We walked about the tombstones and church ruins while we took in the tower. Sadly it rained nearly the entire time we were explored. I bought the kids ice cream before we walked back to the car. The weather did not want us outdoors today time for a drive home.
The drive here over Sally Gap was slow and windy—not the most comfortable driving conditions. We took the more direct, straighter route home via Roundwood, which took about half the time.
Picture Drop
