Glendalough: the Upper Lake

Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch, ‘Glen of the Two Loughs’) in the Wicklow Mountains is a beautiful landscape, famed for its cultural and natural heritage. It is the place that St Kevin (Cóemgen) adopted as a spiritual retreat, to be close to nature, and where he founded a celebrated monastery, probably in the later sixth century.  

There are two archaeological complexes as well as dispersed features. The main monastic complex lies east of the Lower Lake, adjacent to the OPW Glendalough Visitor Centre, whilst a range of sites are found to the east of the Upper Lake. The Upper and Lower Lakes are separated by an alluvial fan, sediment carried into the valley from the uplands draining into the Poulanass River to the south.  

This guide prepared by the School of Archaeology, UCD, is an introduction to these complexes around the upper lake.

Heritage Guides are included free with Archaeology Ireland subscriptions. Or can be purchased vis this website @ €5 each.