Powerscourt Estate & Waterfall

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Your tour begins as you board your motorcoach for a narrated drive north through the main sights of Dublin City before turning south to Powerscourt in the Wicklow Mountains.

Following a brief introduction to Dublin City you will travel to County Wicklow, famed as the 'Garden of Ireland.' Arriving at the seaside town of Bray you will stop for some brief free time to stroll the pretty promenade before continuing your drive to Powerscourt.

Leaving Bray you will drive through the County Wicklow countryside and encounter the wild heather-covered glens and tranquil landscapes for which the Irish countryside is famous. Soon you will be traveling into the green and uncrowded Wicklow Mountains with their rounded summits and lush valleys.

Upon arriving at Powerscourt, you will be awestruck by the serene Powerscourt Waterfall formed over 10,000 years ago. At 398 feet, the waterfall is Ireland's highest. Visitors have been coming to Powerscourt Waterfall for over 200 years, attracted by the beautiful cascade flowing down into the Dargle River and the surrounding woods and specimen trees.

Next, you will embark on a nature trail walk that begins at the waterfall. The trail descends along a ridge carved by glaciations. You will follow the fern-covered banks of the Dargle through native birch groves and stop and admire the local flora.

As sightseeing can work up an appetite, your next stop is the Powerscourt Arms Hotel, an intimate country house in the picturesque village of Enniskerry, nestled under the imposing Sugarloaf Mountain. A traditional Irish lunch is served, complete with Irish stew, a tart, and a half-pint of beer.

Your excursion continues with a visit to Powerscourt Estate and Gardens. The estate was originally an important strategic site for the Anglo-Normans who came to Ireland in the 12th century. By the year 1300, a castle was built and in the possession of the le Poer (Power) family from which it takes its name. Today, the estate is home to the Slazenger family.

You will marvel at the superbly landscaped formal Italian and Japanese gardens. The gardens, originally begun by Richard Wingfield, the Viscount Powerscourt, in the 1740s, are set against the background of the Wicklow Hills, a truly breathtaking venue. You will enter the estate along an avenue lined with 200-year-old beech trees. You're free to explore the gardens, and view a video on the history of the estate. Shopping is also on the itinerary, as several small gift shops at Powerscourt offer high-quality linens, woolens, crafts and local foodstuffs and souvenirs.

After a delightful day in Powerscourt, you will enjoy a relaxing drive back to the pier.

Special Notes:

THIS TOUR IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PASSENGERS EMBARKING OR DISEMBARKING IN DUBLIN.

Child Price:

12 years & under only