The Old Military Road

The Old Military Road is a tourist route that runs right through the Wicklow Mountains National Park. An integral part of the R115, it offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the national park, and is well worth a visit, whether you’re travelling by rental car or bus!

Old Military Road

A road renowned for its breathtaking mountain views!

For the record, Old Military was built by the British around 1800 in response to the conflict between them and the rebellious Irish clans. This road would have enabled them to build military barracks all along the way, responsible for tracking down these enemy clans, who often took refuge in inaccessible parts of the park…

The advantage of the Old Military Road is that it runs right through the middle of the Wicklow Mountains Park, and then descends to the mythical archaeological site of Glendalough. Accessible by bus or car, the route can also be explored by bike, provided you have stamina and are well equipped (although it’s impossible to cycle through the park in a day).

Starting from the north of the park, you should encounter magnificent valleys and mountains, punctuated by forests and impressive lakes. These include the glacial lakes of Kippure Mountain: Lower Lough Bray and Upper Lough Bray.

The next most important tourist attractions are :

Sally Gap, a 498-metre-high mountain pass offering exceptional views of the park
the Glenmacnass valley: lush and green, punctuated by silent moors, the valley is magnificent, and also boasts a lovely waterfall
the village of Laragh: surely the most touristic village in County Wicklow! We appreciate its charm, its houses with colorful facades, and its many cultural and tourist attractions.
Lugnaquilla: the highest mountain in the Wicklow Mountains! At 925 metres, the mountain can be reached via the village of Aughavannagh. It takes no less than 8 hours to reach the summit on foot: a difficult mountain to climb, and one to be avoided by amateur hikers!
Glendalough monastic site: at the end of the R115, take the R756 and you should come to one of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites! The area is beautiful, with its ruined churches, round tower and cemetery. A place lost in exceptional wilderness!