Ireland Redux VIII: Wicklow/Glendalough

The breakfast part of our bed and breakfast required a trip up the road to the Wicklow Heather Restaurant.  I have to say it was the best coffee I had had in a long time (and the next day I ordered a bowl of muesli that was perfect).  The full Irish breakfast was definitely prudent on this day, as we planned a trail walk at the Wicklow National Park in Glendalough and would need our energy.  We returned to the B&B to get appropriately dressed (which really consisted of changing out of my tennis shoes into a good pair of hiking shoes and grabbing a backpack with water and trail mix), then headed back the way we came. 

Our hostess had recommended a part of the National Park that was a little farther away, but once we found the first entrance with the Visitor's Center, we swung in...and spent several minutes circling the lot for a parking space.  The place was packed; this was obviously a major tourist attraction.  And why not?  It's gorgeous.

Ultimately, we parked next door in the parking lot of the Glendalough Hotel, which a lot of other visitors did, as well.

I had thought to go into the Visitor's Center to purchase a map, but something about the building deterred me.  Most of it was blocked off, both staff members were already pretty busy, and I didn't see maps on display to purchase, so we returned outside to checkout the trailhead map.  

We chose the Upper Lake walk, a two-hour "moderate" hike.  Well, it went mostly up, so it didn't really meet our idea of moderate.  And because we didn't dress for the uncommon Irish climate of seventy degrees (I really didn't expect to wear shorts, so they didn't make it into the suitcase), we were huffing and sweaty early on.  But, the views really were worth it, even if we were grumpy at the end.

 Feeling a little grungy and beat, but happy to have seen such beauty, we returned to the B&B to cool off, refresh, and not much later, it was dinner time.

We had made reservations at the Wicklow Heather, because it is known for its good eats.  We dressed a little nicer than our normal attire of t-shirts, tattered jeans, and tennis shoes.  I ordered trout, and got the whole dang fish, sans the head, scales and all.  That was a little disconcerting (I really do not fine dine), but it was tasty just the same.  Not as good as dessert, but really, when ever is the main course as good as the sweets?  

Satisfied and full, we went back to the B&B to rest up for our return to Dublin the next day.