On day 10 we drive from Kilkenny back to Dublin.

A ride over beautiful roads with regular stops along the way to visit sights.

We travel via the R703 and R705 to Leighlinbridge on the River Barrow, where we stop to photograph Leighlinbridge Castle, also known as the Black Castle. The early castle was built for the Normans around 1181. In the 1540s a Carmelite monastery was converted into a new fortress by Edward Bellingham. The remains of the castle are now in ruins, with only a 15 metre high broken castle tower and parts of one side of a rampart wall remaining.

We continue our journey to Altamont, where you can visit The Altamont Gardens on a large and beautiful estate of 16 hectares in total, admission is free. It is laid out in the style of William Robinson, who strives for 'honest simplicity'. The design places an excellent collection of plants perfectly in the natural landscape.
There are lawns and sculptured yews, for example, that lead down to a lake surrounded by rare trees and rhododendrons. A fascinating walk through the Arboretum, the Bog Garden and the Ice Age Glen, sheltered by ancient oaks and flanked by huge boulders, leads to the banks of the River Slaney. Visit the Arboretum in summer to feel the delicious scent of roses and herbaceous plants in the air. With its delicate balance between formal and informal, nature and artistry, Altamont Gardens has a unique and altogether enchanting character.

Also on the route is a Falconry, well worth a visit if you are a bird of prey enthusiast. Here you can get hands-on with the oldest field sport in the beautiful surroundings of Woodenbridge. The falconry is situated in the rolling countryside on the banks of the historic Goldmines River, less than 2 hours from Dublin city centre. It is home to a variety of birds of prey used for falconry.
In addition to the active practice of falconry, they also offer an important educational and photographic facility here, where you can experience these beautiful birds up close, and have the opportunity to handle a trained hawk and enjoy the thrill of seeing it fly freely and return to your gloved fist.

The next stop is Wicklow a small town on the coast where you can have lunch in one of the many restaurants or Pubs. From Wicklow we drive via the Vartry Water Reservoir to the start of the Old Military Road, this road takes us through the beautiful Wickley Mountains, there are many beautiful views along the way, so stop regularly and enjoy. Be sure to stop at the Glenmacnass Waterfall, an impressive waterfall of 80 meters high, hidden in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. From the parking lot it is a short walk along the road, so watch the traffic.

We continue through the Wickley Mountains to Enniskerry, where we visit the Powerscourt Gardens and waterfall, stroll through the 47 hectares of beautiful castle gardens.

We also visit Ireland’s highest waterfall on the Powerscourt Estate. Take in the breathtaking beauty of Ireland’s highest waterfall, which dramatically plunges down 121 metres of rugged rock. Atmospheric, romantic and exciting, it is an unmissable part of the Powerscourt Estate. There is a kiosk “The Bug Buffet” offering hot drinks, hot snacks, ice cream and sweets. Films and TV series have been filmed at the waterfall since the 1920s, one of the most recent being the hit series “Vikings” in 2015. The waterfall’s pristine, timeless setting has made it a firm favourite with directors making period dramas.

From Enniskerry we drive to Dublin the end point of this day and our 10-day trip through Ireland. In Dublin you can stop at St Patricks Cathedral to take pictures.

The end of the journey is at The Brazen Head, the oldest Pub in Dublin to drink a Guinness and enjoy a delicious meal while listening to live music (if you are lucky). Dublin is a beautiful city so take a few extra days to enjoy this city, there are many good hotels in Dublin.