Roundwood - County Wicklow

Roundwood is a pretty village located at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains on the east coast of Ireland. The scenery surrounding Roundwood is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty. A haven for outdoor pursuits, this pretty village is nestled beside the Vartry Reservoirs on the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. There is a wide choice of local walking, running, and biking trails taking you throughout the Wicklow and Dublin Mountains.  

Locally there are a number of tranquil trails around Roundwood Vartry Reservoir, up to 20 km of tracks for you to explore. The area is teeming with wildlife, flora, fauna, and spectacular views around every bend. Buy a day or annual ticket from Dublin Corporation and enjoy a peaceful day of fly fishing in the local upper lake. The local equestrian club, Wicklow Equestrian Centre holds a number of pony camps offering young people the chance to learn how to care for and ride ponies. 

Known as the highest in Ireland, Roundwood is a popular village with an excellent selection of restaurants, shops, and traditional pubs serving delicious food. Enjoy a relaxing evening in the Roundwood Inn Pub & Restaurant, an old hunting lodge, or take in the views from the patio at Byrnes & Woods Pub & Restaurant. Kavanaghs Vartry House, a family-run pub offers traditional set dancing, poker sessions, or live music most weekends. The Coach House serves food from early morning until late every day, plus this well-presented establishment is renowned for its Sunday music sessions. 

From Roundwood you can easily explore many of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. Locally visit Glendalough (11km) one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland or take a day trip to Dublin City to experience this action-packed city. Visit the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Zoo, the Book of Kells, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The National Gallery of Ireland, and the National Museum of Ireland. 

A little closer to home you will find the award-winning Powerscourt Estate (17km). Located in the pretty village of Enniskerry, this large country estate is noted for its magnificent house and award-winning landscaped gardens, occupying 19 hectares. Kids will love a day out at Splash Valley (18km), an aqua-park located in Hidden Valley Holiday Park in Rathdrum, or Clara Lara Fun Park. They will also love Beyond The Trees Avondale – a forest park with its famous Viewing Tower reaching 38 meters into the sky with a giant metal slide back down.

Nestled between the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea, yet only thirty minutes from Dublin, Roundwood is a wonderful base for an active self-catering holiday in Ireland.