Laragh: History, Glendalough and Walking Trails

Laragh appeals to travellers who want to combine local history and landscape. Laragh is best known for its proximity to the monastic city of Glendalough and serves as a starting point for hikers and tourists seeking leisure activities in the mountains. You can shape your stay around different interests, such as the village’s architectural history or the trails and scenery nearby.

Local history with different traces

The Laragh Heritage Trail tells the story of the village through a series of protected buildings and structures. The trail traces its origins to the 1798 Rebellion and the construction of the Military Road. There is not yet a formalised route linking the individual sites. If you are interested in the trail, you should therefore think of it as a historical way to explore Laragh, rather than a fixed sequence of stops.

The buildings point to different chapters in the village’s history. The Roman Catholic Church of St Kevin was completed in 1851. The Anglican Church of St John had been completed earlier, in 1847; its construction was part of a programme to support people affected by the Famine. The dates and background give each church its own historical context.

Laragh Mill is also part of the architectural heritage: it was built around 1855 and is the village’s only significant industrial building. Laragh Castle was originally one of five military barracks built in Wicklow. The Priest’s House has housed the priests of St Kevin’s Church since it was built in 1864. The Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks was built around 1855 to accommodate the local Royal Irish Constabulary. These last three buildings are private homes and are not open to visitors. Their history can be explored without planning to visit them as stops.

Trails, lakes and mountain scenery

Nearby, Glendalough lies in a glaciated valley with two lakes. The monastic site has an interpretive centre where visitors can learn more about the area. The trails in the surrounding area take different routes: one climbs steeply alongside Poulanass Waterfall, then follows a forest path around the ridge of Derrybawn Mountain. From there, it offers views of the Glendalough Valley, including Upper and Lower Lake, the monastic settlement and the village of Laragh.

Another trail runs along Upper Lake through a forest of Scots pine to the abandoned Miners’ Village in Glendalough. The routes offer different landscape experiences: one combines the climb beside the waterfall with views from the ridge, while the other follows the lakeshore through the pine forest to the abandoned village. If you are travelling with family, deciding which kind of surroundings you would like to explore together may also help you choose your accommodation.

Glenmacnass Waterfall lies north of Laragh. Clara Lara is a 100-acre amusement park, about 5 km from Laragh on the road to Rathdrum. These destinations add other possible interests to the village’s history and trails, without needing to be linked into a single route.

Dates and getting around

Brockagh Market & Car Boot takes place monthly on the second Sunday, except in January and February. The Walking Festival is held annually in October and starts in Laragh. If either event is a deciding factor for you, plan your trip around its date.

Laragh is at the junction of the three roads R115, R755 and R756 through the Wicklow Mountains. The Wicklow Way Bus provides transport from Laragh to Rathdrum railway station. When choosing a holiday rental, both your planned activities and how you will get there may be important considerations. Those mainly interested in exploring the historic buildings will have different priorities from those who want to discover mountain trails or the lakes of Glendalough. Your specific travel interests can help you shape a stay that suits you in Laragh.

Discover more places

Find more destination pages at Tulfarris Holiday Village, Donard, Ballyknockan, Roundwood, Blessington, Kilcoole, Arklow and Kiltegan.

For the wider travel overview: County Wicklow.