Editing Glendalough

{{short description|Glacial valley and monastic settlement in County Wicklow, Ireland}}
{{Other uses|Glendalough (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox monastery
| name             = Glendalough
| native_name      = {{lang|ga|Gleann Dá Loch}}
| native_name_lang = ga
| image            = St._Kevin's_Kitchen,_Glendalough,_Co._Wicklow_(2023).jpg
| order            = [[Celtic Christianity]]
| founder          = [[Kevin of Glendalough|Saint Kevin]]
| established      = 6th century
| disestablished   = 1398
| mother           = 
| diocese          = [[Diocese of Glendalough|Glendalough]] (to 1185)<br/>[[Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough|Dublin and Glendalough]] (1185–1398)
| status           = Inactive
| style            = [[Celtic Christianity#Monasticism|Irish monastic]], [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]]
| churches         = 
| people           = 
| location         = [[County Wicklow]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|53|00|37|N|6|19|39|W|region:IE_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| map_type         = Ireland
| public_access    = yes
| website          = {{URL|www.glendalough.ie}}
| remains          = [[Irish round tower|Round tower]], gateway, cathedral, several churches
| embedded = {{Infobox designation list
| embed                =yes 
| designation2         = National Monument of Ireland
| designation2_offname = Glendalough
| designation2_number  = 134<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Monuments of County Wicklow in State Care |url=http://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-wicklow.pdf |access-date=29 March 2020 |website=heritageireland.ie |publisher=National Monument Service |page=1}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''Glendalough''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɡ|l|ɛ|n|d|ə|ˈ|l|ɒ|x}}; {{irish place name|Gleann Dá Loch|valley of two lakes}}<ref name="logainm">{{Cite web |title=Gleann Dá Loch/Vale of Glendalough |url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/113206 |access-date=19 October 2021 |website=[[Placenames Database of Ireland]] (logainm.ie)}}</ref>) is a [[glacial valley]] in [[County Wicklow]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], renowned for an [[Early Middle Ages|Early Medieval]] monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by [[Kevin of Glendalough|St Kevin]]. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a [[galena]] lead mine. Glendalough is also a recreational area for picnics, for walking along networks of maintained trails of varying difficulty, and also for [[rock climbing]].

==History==
[[File:Glendalough Valley From Brockagh Mountain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Lower Lake and Monastic Village from [[Brockagh Mountain]]]]
Kevin, a descendant of one of the ruling families in [[Leinster]], studied as a boy under the care of three holy men: [[Éogan of Ardstraw|Eoghan]], Lochan and Eanna. During this time, he went to Glendalough. He was to return later, with a small group of [[monk]]s to found a monastery where the 'two rivers form a confluence'. Kevin's writings discuss his fighting "knights" at Glendalough; scholars today believe this refers to his process of self-examination and his personal temptations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travel Tales: Glendalough |url=http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/multi-day/virtual-tourist/week-12/fri-glendalough.html |website=www.findingdulcinea.com}}</ref> His fame as a holy man spread and he attracted numerous followers. He died in about [[7th century in Ireland|618]], traditionally on 3 June. For the next six centuries, Glendalough flourished and the [[Irish annals|Irish Annals]] contain references to the deaths of [[abbot]]s and raids on the settlement.<ref name="sacred">Glendalough Visitors Guide, Produced by "The Office of Public Works" (Oifig na nOibreacha Poibli), Glendalough, County Wicklow.</ref>

Circa 1042, oak timber from Glendalough was used to build the second-longest [[Viking ship|Viking longship]] [[Skuldelev ships#Skuldelev 2|recorded]] (circa 30 m). A modern replica of [[Sea Stallion (longship)|that ship]] was built in 2004 and is currently located in [[Roskilde|Roskilde, Denmark]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Havhingsten fra Glendalough (Skuldelev 2) ''transl.'' The Sea Stallion from Glendaloug |url=http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/research/ship-reconstruction/skuldelev-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406115803/http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/research/ship-reconstruction/skuldelev-2/ |archive-date=6 April 2012 |access-date=14 December 2011}}</ref> At the [[Synod]] of Rath Breasail in 1111, Glendalough was designated as one of the two [[diocese]]s of North Leinster. [[The Book of Glendalough]] was written there about [[1131 in Ireland|1131]]. [[Lorcán Ua Tuathail|St. Laurence O'Toole]], born in 1128, became [[Abbot of Glendalough]] and was well known for his sanctity and hospitality. Even after his appointment as [[Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)|Archbishop of Dublin]] in 1162, he returned occasionally to Glendalough, to the solitude of St. Kevin's Bed. He died in [[Eu, Seine-Maritime|Eu]], in Normandy in 1180.<ref name="sacred" /> In 1176, the [[Annals of Tigernach]] report that Glendalough was 'plundered by the foreigners'. In 1214, the dioceses of Glendalough and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin|Dublin]] were united. From that time onwards, the cultural and ecclesiastical status of Glendalough diminished. The destruction of the settlement by English forces in [[1398 in Ireland|1398]] left it a ruin but it continued as a church of local importance and a place of [[pilgrimage]].

Glendalough is on the 1598 map "A Modern Depiction of Ireland, One of the British Isles"<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Modern Depiction of Ireland, One of the British Isles — Viewer — World Digital Library |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/104/zoom.html |website=www.wdl.org}}</ref> by [[Abraham Ortelius]] as "Glandalag". Descriptions of Glendalough from the 18th and 19th centuries include references to occasions of "riotous assembly" on the feast of St. Kevin on 3 June.<ref name="sacred" />

The present remains in Glendalough tell only a small part of its story. The monastery in its heyday included workshops, areas for [[manuscript]] writing and copying, guest houses, an infirmary, farm buildings and dwellings for both the monks and a large lay population. The buildings which survive probably date from between the 10th and 12th centuries.<ref name="sacred" />

==See of Glendalough==
{{Main|Bishop of Glendalough}}
[[File:Glendalough Upper Lake, Wicklow Ireland.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|Upper Lake surrounded by [[Camaderry]] (right), [[Conavalla]] (distance centre), and [[Lugduff]] (far right), and The Spinc forested outcrop (near centre)]]

===Church of Ireland succession===
The [[Church of Ireland]] maintains the diocese of Glendalough in union with the diocese of Dublin- together being the [[Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough]]. As such, the [[Archbishop of Dublin]] is also styled as bishop of Glendalough.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dublin.anglican.org/about-us/our-archbishop#:~:text=Early%20Life%20and%20Education,was%20born%20in%20Lurgan%2C%20Co.}}</ref>
===Catholic succession===
Since 1969, Glendalough has been a [[titular see]] in the Roman Catholic Church
and is used for bishops who hold no [[Ordinary (officer)|ordinary]] power of their own, and thus are [[titular bishop]]s.<ref name="titular">{{Cite web |last=Cheney |first=David M. |title=Glenndálocha (Titular See) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2g50.html |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>

====Titular bishops====
* Raymond D'Mello (20 December 1969 – 13 December 1973)
* Marian Przykucki (12 December 1973{{snd}}15 June 1981)
* [[Donal Murray (bishop)|Donal Murray]] (4 March 1982{{snd}}10 February 1996)
* [[Diarmuid Martin]] (5 December 1998{{snd}}14 October 2004)
* [[Guy Sansaricq]] (6 June 2006{{snd}}21 August, 2021)<ref name=titular/><ref name="national">{{Cite web |title=National Black Catholic Congress |url=http://www.nbccongress.org/aboutus/congress-directory/african-american-catholic-bishop-guy-sansaricq.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423140705/http://www.nbccongress.org/aboutus/congress-directory/african-american-catholic-bishop-guy-sansaricq.asp |archive-date=23 April 2008}}</ref>
* [[Kevin S. Randall]] (13 August 2023 – present)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brandall.html | title=Archbishop Kevin Stuart Patrick Randall &#91;Catholic-Hierarchy&#93; }}</ref>
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==Annalistic references==
See [[Annals of Inisfallen]] (AI)
* ''AI800.2 Minndenach, abbot of Glenn dá Locha, rested.''
* ''AI809.2 Échtbrann, abbot of Glenn dá Locha, [rested].''
* ''AI1003.6 Dúnchad Ua Mancháin, abbot of Glenn dá Locha, rested.''

==Monuments in the Lower Glen==

===Gateway===
[[File:The_Gateway_to_the_monastic_city_of_Glendalough.jpg|thumb|The Gateway|alt=]]
The Gateway to the monastic city of Glendalough is one of the most important monuments, now totally unique in Ireland. It was originally two-storeyed with two fine, [[granite]] [[arch]]es. The [[antae]] or projecting walls at each end suggest that it had a [[timber]] roof. Inside the gateway, in the west wall, is a cross-inscribed stone. This denoted [[sanctuary]], the boundary of the area of refuge. The paving of the [[causeway]] in the monastic city is still preserved in part but very little remains of the enclosure wall.<ref name="sacred" />

===Round Tower===
[[File:Glendalough_Round_Tower_Above.jpg|thumb|The Round Tower]]
This fine tower, built of [[schist|mica-slate]] interspersed with [[granite]] is about 30 metres high, with an entrance 3.5 metres from the base. The conical roof was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stones. The tower originally had six timber floors, connected by ladders. The four storeys above entrance level are each lit by a small window; while the top storey has four windows facing the [[cardinal direction|cardinal compass points]]. [[Irish round tower|Round towers]], landmarks for approaching visitors, were built as [[bell tower]]s, but also served on occasion as store-houses and as places of refuge in times of attack.<ref name="sacred" />

===St. Peter and St. Pauls' Cathedral===
[[File:Glendalough church.jpg|thumb|The Cathedral|alt=|left]]
St. Peter and St. Pauls' Cathedral<ref>"A New History of Ireland" [[T. W. Moody]], [[F. X. Martin]], [[Francis John Byrne|F.J. Byrne]] and [[Art Cosgrove|Cosgrove, A]]: [[Oxford]], [[Oxford University Press|OUP]], 1976 {{ISBN|0-19-821745-5}}</ref> is the largest and most imposing of the buildings at Glendalough, the [[cathedral]] had several phases of construction, the earliest, consisting of the present [[nave]] with its antae. The large [[schist|mica-schist]] stones which can be seen up to the height of the square-headed west doorway were re-used from an earlier smaller church. The [[chancel]] and [[sacristy]] date from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The chancel arch and east window were finely decorated, though many of the stones are now missing. The north doorway to the nave also dates from this period. Under the southern window of the chancel, there is an [[Almery|ambry]] or wall cupboard and a [[piscina]], a basin used for washing the sacred vessels. A few metres south of the cathedral an early cross of local granite, with an unpierced ring, is commonly known as St. Kevin's Cross.<ref name="sacred" />
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=== Priests' House ===
[[File:Priest_House,_Glendalough.jpg|thumb|The Priests' House|alt=]]
Almost totally reconstructed from the original stones, based on a 1779 sketch made by Beranger, the Priests' House is a small [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] building, with a decorative arch at the east end. It gets its name from the practice of interring priests there in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its original purpose is unknown although it may have been used to house relics of [[Kevin of Glendalough|St. Kevin]].<ref name="sacred" />

=== St. Kevin's Church or "Kitchen" ===
[[File:Glendalough, Co. Wicklow - 2022.jpg|thumb|Saint Kevin's Church|alt=]]
This stone-roofed building originally had a nave only, with an entrance at the west end and a small round-headed window in the east gable. The upper part of the window can be seen above what became the chancel arch when the chancel (now missing) and the sacristy were added later. The steep roof, formed of overlapping stones, is supported internally by a semi-circular vault. Access to the croft or roof chamber was through a rectangular opening towards the western end of the vault. The church also had a timber first floor. The belfry with its conical cap and four small windows rises from the west end of the stone roof in the form of a miniature round tower. It is commonly known as St. Kevin's Kitchen as the bell tower resembles a kitchen chimney. However, food was not cooked here.<ref name="sacred" />

=== St. Ciarán's Church ===
The remains of this nave-and-chancel church were uncovered in 1875. The church is currently thought to commemorate St. Ciarán, the founder of [[Clonmacnoise]], a monastic settlement that had associations with Glendalough during the 10th century.<ref name="sacred" />

=== St. Mary's or Our Lady's Church ===
One of the earliest and best constructed of the churches, St. Mary's or Our Lady's Church consists of a nave with a later chancel. Its granite west doorway with an [[architrave]], has inclined jambs and a massive lintel. The underside of the lintel is inscribed with an unusual [[saltire]] or x-shaped cross. The east window is round-headed, with a [[hood mould]]ing and two very worn carved heads on the outside.<ref name="sacred" />

===Trinity Church===
[[File:Trinity Glendalough 2022.jpg|thumb|Trinity Church|alt=|left]]
A simple nave-and-chancel church, with a fine chancel arch. Trinity Church is beside the main road. A square-headed doorway in the west gable leads into a later annexe, possibly a sacristy. A round tower or belfry was constructed over a vault in this chamber. This fell in a storm in 1818. The doorway inserted in the south wall of the nave also dates from this period. Projecting [[corbel]]s at the gables would have carried the verge timbers of the roof.<ref name="sacred" /> It is a simple nave and chancel church with an addition to the west end of the 9 metre long by 5.5 metre wide nave.

===St. Saviour's Church===
[[File:St_Saviour's_Priory,_Glendalough.jpg|thumb|St. Saviour's Church|alt=]]
The most recent of the Glendalough churches, [[St Saviour's Priory, Wicklow|St. Saviour's priory]] was built in the 12th century, probably at the time of St. Laurence O'Toole. The nave and chancel with their fine decorate stones were restored in the 1870s using stones found on the site. The Romanesque chancel arch has three orders, with highly ornamented capitals. The east window has two round-headed lights. Its decorated features include a serpent, a lion, and two birds holding a human head between their beaks. A staircase in the eastern wall leading from an adjoining domestic building would have given access to a room over the chancel.<ref name="sacred" />

===The Deer Stone===

The Deer stone is a bullaun stone. It sits on the south side of the Glenealo River, directly opposite ruins of St Ciarán’s church,
beside the green road leading to the upper lake. Their original use is largely unknown, their original use many of these stones over time developed associations with the saints and were part of the post medieval pilgrim rituals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 June 2013 |title=The 'Deer Stone' a 19th century pilgrim station at Glendalough |url=https://pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/2013/06/03/the-deer-stone-a-19th-century-pilgrim-station-at-glendalough/ |access-date=9 August 2023 |website=Pilgrimage In Medieval Ireland }}</ref> In August 2023, The Deer Stone was vandalised, causing permanent damage.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Lasting damage' done to Deer Stone in Glendalough |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2023/0809/1398883-deerstone-glendalough-wicklow/ |publisher=[[RTÉ News]] |date=9 August 2023 |access-date=9 August 2023 }}</ref>
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== Monuments near the Upper Lough ==

===Reefert Church===
[[File:Reefert Church, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.jpg|thumb|Reefert Church|alt=]]

Situated in a grove of trees, this nave-and-chancel church dates from around 1100. Most of the surrounding walls are modern. The name derives from ''Righ Fearta'', the burial place of the kings.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=315|isbn=0-906362-43-1 |access-date=}}</ref> The church, built in a simple style, has a granite doorway with sloping jambs and flat lintel and a granite chancel arch. The projecting corbels at each gable carried verge timbers for the roof. East of the church there are two crosses of note, one with an elaborate [[interlace (visual arts)|interlace]] pattern. On the other side of the Poulanass River, close to Reefert are the remains of another small church.<ref name="sacred" />

===St. Kevin's Cell===
Built on a rocky spur over the lake, this stone structure was 3.6 metres in diameter with walls 0.9 metres thick and a doorway on the east side. Only the foundations survive today and it is possible that the cell had a stone-corbelled roof, similar to the [[Beehive house|beehive huts]] on [[Skellig Michael]], [[County Kerry]].<ref name="sacred" />

=== St. Kevin's Bed ===
[[File:Wicklow_Mountains_National_Park_Glendalough_Valley_St_Kevins_Bed_02.JPG|thumb|St. Kevin's Bed]]
St. Kevin's Bed is a cave in the rock face about 8 metres above the level of the Upper Lake on its southerly side (with The Spinc cliffs above it). It was reputedly a retreat for St. Kevin and later for St. Laurence O'Toole. Partly man-made, it runs back 2 metres into the rock.<ref name="sacred" /> A writer for the ''[[Dublin Penny Journal]]'' described the cave as "not bigger than a small baker's oven... I, and two young men who followed me, found it a very tight fit when crouched together in it".{{sfn|Marsh|2007|page=41}}

=== The "Caher" ===

This stone-walled circular enclosure on the level ground between the two lakes is 20 metres in diameter and is of unknown date. Close by, are several crosses, apparently used as stations on the pilgrim's route.<ref name="sacred" />

===Temple-na-Skellig===

This small rectangular church on the southern shore of the [[Glendalough Upper Lake|Upper Lake]] is accessible only by boat, via a series of steps from the landing stage. West of the church is a raised platform with stone enclosure walls, where dwelling huts probably stood. The church, partly rebuilt in the 12th century, has a granite doorway with inclined jambs. At the east gable is an inscribed Latin Cross together with several plain grave slabs and three small crosses.<ref name="sacred" />

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==Miner's Village==
{{multiple image
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[[Camaderry|Camaderry Mountain]] {{convert|699|m|ft}} which overlooks the upper Glendalough Lake from the north shore, contains the ''Luganure mineral vein'' which is a source of [[lead]] in the form of [[galena]] (PbS), and also contains traces of silver.<ref name="HO" /> While the main Camaderry mines were in the neighbouring Glendasan Valley, a second Miner's Village and processing facilities were constructed at the head of the Glendalough valley, which was nick-named ''[[Van Diemen's Land]]'' by the miners.<ref name="HO" /><ref name="HO2">{{Cite web |last=David Kinsella |date=March 2015 |title=EXPLORING THE MINING HERITAGE OF COUNTY WICKLOW: Glendalough Mines |url=http://www.countywicklowheritage.org/page/the_glendalough_mines |access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>

In 1859, the Glendasan and Glendalough mines were connected with each other by a series of tunnels called [[adit]]s, which are now mostly flooded, through the Camaderry mountain. These tunnels helped drain the mineral vein and made it easier to transport [[ore]] to Glendalough where it could be more easily processed. The rusted remains of ore crushers can still be seen at the Miner's Village, however, the tramway and inclined rails system are gone.<ref name="HO">{{Cite web |last=Deirdre Burns |title=Mining Heritage of Wicklow |url=http://oldsitehc.info/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/County_Heritage_Services/Wicklow/Mining_Heritage_of_Co_Wicklow.pdf |access-date=9 March 2019 |publisher=Heritage Office, Wicklow County Council |pages=23–35 |quote=The Glendasan and Glendalough Mines }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="HO2" />

In 1809, [[Thomas Weaver]] established the 'Glendalough Mining Company' in partnership with local investors.<ref name = LTGM>{{cite AV media | people=Gabriel Egan, Dr. Martin Critchley, Colum Driver, Sonny Byrne, Robert Carter | date=2020-10-05 | title=The Life and Times of Glendalough Mines (2006)| type=Video | location=Glendalough | publisher=Wicklow Heritage ([[YouTube]] page)|access-date=2024-11-04|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gg8qDOoQWs}}</ref>{{rp|6:48}} Weaver had previously been involved with mapping the geology of Wicklow, after the [[Wicklow gold rush]] of 1795, 14 years prior.{{sfn|McArdle|2011|page=18}} In 1825, the Glendalough Mining Company took over the Glendasan mines when they bought Weaver's shares.<ref name = LTGM/>{{rp|6:59}}

Mining in Glendalough/Glendasan took place in three phases. The first phase was from 1825 to 1890 by the ''Mining Company of Ireland''. A second phase took place between 1890 and 1925 by the local Wynne family.<ref name="HO2" /> The mines were re-opened briefly from 1948 to 1957 after which mining ceased completely.<ref name="HO" />

==Nature==

===Geography===
{{Multiple image
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The valley of Glendalough was formed during the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]] by a [[glacier]] which left a [[moraine]] across the valley mouth. The '''Poulanass River''', which plunges into the valley from the south, via the '''Poulanass Waterfall''', created a [[River delta|delta]], which eventually divided the original lake in two.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nairn |first=Richard |title=Discovering Wild Wicklow |publisher=TownHouse and CountryHouse |year=2001 |isbn=1-86059-141-8 |pages=8}}</ref> Surrounding Glendalough are the mountains of [[Camaderry]] {{convert|699|m|ft}}, the [[hydroelectric]] station at [[Turlough Hill]] {{convert|681|m|ft}}, and large [[massif]] of [[Conavalla]] {{convert|734|m|ft}} which dominates the head of the valley, and the peaks of [[Lugduff]] {{convert|652|m|ft}}, and [[Mullacor]] {{convert|661|m|ft}}.<ref name="dillon">{{Cite book |last=Dillion |first=Paddy |title=The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits |publisher=Cicerone |year=1993 |isbn=978-1852841102 |quote=Walk 7: Turlough Hill, Camaderry}}</ref><ref name="collins">Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, {{ISBN|978-1-84889-164-7}}</ref>

===Vegetation===
Glendalough is surrounded by semi-natural [[oak]] woodland. Much of this was formerly [[Coppicing|coppiced]] (cut to the base at regular intervals) to produce wood, [[charcoal]] and bark. In the springtime, the oakwood floor is carpeted with a display of [[Common bluebell|bluebells]], [[Oxalis|wood sorrel]] and [[Anemone nemorosa|wood anemones]]. Other common plants are [[Luzula|woodrush]], [[bracken]], [[Polypodiaceae|polypody fern]] and various species of [[moss]]es. The understorey is largely of [[holly]], [[hazel]] and [[Rowan|mountain ash]].

===Wildlife===
Glendalough is a good place to look for some of Ireland's newest breeding species, such as the [[goosander]] and the [[great spotted woodpecker]], and some of the rarest, such as the [[common redstart]] and the [[wood warbler]]; [[peregrine falcon|peregrine]], [[white-throated dipper]], [[common cuckoo]], [[eurasian jay]] and [[common buzzard]] can also be seen.<ref>BirdWatch Ireland  ''Irish Birds'' Vol.7 (2004–05) pp.377,542,547; Vol.8 (2006–09) pp. 101,103,253,257,367,369,574,576; Vol.9 (2010) p.69</ref>
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== Recreation ==

===Walking trails===
{{see also|Lists of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland#Boarded mountain paths}}
[[File:561 Glendalough, County Wicklow.jpg|thumb|View west, ''White Route'' boardwalk]][[File:Glendalough Miner's Path Wicklow Ireland.jpg|thumb|View east, Miner's Road Walk]]
There are nine [[Trail blazing|way-marked]] trails of varying difficulty around Glendalough that are maintained by the [[Wicklow Mountains National Park]] (and who provide a map of all trails).<ref name="trails" />  Some of the trails stay on mostly flat-ground pathways around the two lakes of Glendalough (''The Miner's Road Walk'', ''Green Road Walk''), others lead up the Poolanass Waterfall area with options beyond into a network of forest paths (e.g. ''Derrybawn Woodland Trail'').<ref name="trails" />  The most notable trails used to take the steep 600–step boarded path (using [[Railroad tie|railway sleeper]]s), but replaced by a zig-zag path in 2020 from the Poolanass Waterfall up to vantage platform of '''The Spinc''' (from the Irish "An Spinc"; meaning "pointed hill"), which overlooks the upper lake and the Glendalough valley below.<ref name="spinc" /><ref name="trails" />

The most noted Spinc trail is the ''White Route'' which follows a further scenic boarded path westwards along the cliffs of the upper lake to the '''Glenealo Valley''' (home to herds of [[red deer]]), and down on stone paths to the Miner's Village, and back along the Miner's Road on the north shore of the upper lake, to finish at the upper lake car park, (off the R757).<ref>{{Cite web |title=R757 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki |url=https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=R757 |website=www.sabre-roads.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="spinc">{{Cite news |last=John G. O'Dwyer |date=17 May 2017 |title=The Spinc Loop: Walk for the Weekend: Haunting beauty of Glendalough |work=[[Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/walk-for-the-weekend-haunting-beauty-of-glendalough-1.3080076 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Adrian Hendroff |last2=Helen Fairbairn |date=22 October 2018 |title=Ireland's 30 best autumn walks – with a cosy meal or pint at the finish: Number 11 The Spinc |work=[[Irish Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/irelands-30-best-autumn-walks-with-a-cosy-meal-or-pint-at-the-finish-37439356.html |access-date=8 March 2019 |quote=This route is the most popular of nine waymarked walking trails in the Glendalough valley, and rightly so. It climbs through a forest to the top of a high cliff overlooking the Upper Lake, where the exposure and views take your breath away.}}</ref>  As the entire  ''White Route'' loop is on paths (either stone/sand paths or boarded railway sleepers), it can be completed in running shoes and does not require climbing footwear; the entire 9-kilometre loop of the ''White Route'', starting and ending at the upper lake car-park, takes circa 2–3 hours.<ref name="trails">{{Cite web |title=Walking Trails |url=https://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/recreation/walking-trails/ |access-date=8 March 2019 |publisher=[[Wicklow Mountains National Park]] |quote=There are nine way-marked walking trails in the valley of Glendalough. The walks vary from a short half-hour stroll to a long four-hour hill walk. Large maps of the walks are displayed outside the National Park Information Office and at the OPW Visitor Centre beside the Monastic City. All the walks start and finish at the National Park Information Office near the Upper Lake. Each trail is signposted with colour-coded arrows. Staff at the Information Office can help you choose a suitable route.}}</ref><ref name="spinc" />

The [[Wicklow Way]], a [[List of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland|long distance waymarked walking trail]], also passes through Glendalough.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WICKLOW WAY:Glendalough to Glenmalure |url=http://www.wicklowway.com/trail-description/glendalough-glenmalure.php |access-date=8 March 2019 |publisher=WicklowWay.com |quote=The Wicklow Way crosses the main valley floor, just after the Visitors Centre, via a footbridge over the Glendasan River, and continues up-valley to Poulanass waterfall. Here the trail turns into the Lugduff valley and the start of a 4–5 km uphill trek of 400m to the shoulder of Mullacor (657m), crossing the boggy saddle between it and Lugduff on a boardwalk.}}</ref>

The 30-kilometre medieval pilgrimage tail, [[Saint Kevin's Way]], starts in [[Hollywood, County Wicklow|Hollywood]], and ends in Glendalough.

===Rock climbing===
[[File:Glendalough Main Face Rock Routes.png|thumb|Marked climbs on the ''Main Face'']]
Glendalough's south-facing [[granite]] cliffs, situated on slopes of [[Camaderry]] above the north-western end of the valley (just above the Miner's Village), have been a [[rock climbing]] location since 1948.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peter Kenny |date=14 June 2005 |title=Glendalough: First ascent of Spillikin Ridge |url=https://www.irishmountaineeringclub.org/blog/2006/06/14/spillikin-ridge/ |access-date=9 March 2019 |publisher=IMC Journal}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="1993 guide" />  The north-facing cliffs on the other side of the upper lake are not considered suitable for rock-climbing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climbing & Bouldering |url=https://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/recreation/climbing-bouldering/ |access-date=8 March 2019 |publisher=[[Wicklow Mountains National Park]]}}</ref>

The 2009 [[Mountaineering Ireland]] [[climbing guidebook]] for Wicklow,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Wicklow Rockclimbing Guide |date=2009 |publisher=Mountaineering Ireland |isbn=9780902940239 |pages=334}}</ref> as well as the online guidebooks for Glendalough,<ref name="wiki" /> list about 144 routes at all [[grade (climbing)|grades]] up to E5 6b (''Bathsheba'' and ''The Wake''); the cliffs are particularly noted for their long, and multi-pitch, VS/HVS routes.<ref name="ukc">{{Cite web |title=Glendalough (Ireland) |url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=1309#overview |access-date=8 March 2019 |publisher=UKClimbing |quote=Superb climbing on clean rock in a fantastic scenic location. Some absolute classic routes especially in the VS/HVS range.}}</ref><ref name="1993 guide">{{Cite book |last1=Lyons, Joe |url=http://www.climbing.ie/isbn.html#wicklow |title=Rock Climbing Guide to Wicklow |last2=Fenlon, Robbie |publisher=[[Mountaineering Council of Ireland]] |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-902940-11-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011003638/http://www.climbing.ie/isbn.html#wicklow |archive-date=11 October 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The climbs vary between one and four [[pitch (vertical space)|pitches]], and up to over 100 metres in length. There are several sectors:<ref name="wiki">{{Cite web |title=Glendalough Rock Climbs |url=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/Glendalough |access-date=8 March 2019 |publisher=Irish OnlineClimbingWiki}}</ref><ref name="ukc" />
* ''Twin Buttress'', lying at the far western end of the cliffs overlooking the Miner's Village, is a large buttress divided by a seasonal waterfall (which itself is often split into two streams), with the most popular climbs split over ''West Buttress'', ''Expectancy Slab'' and ''Main Face''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twin Buttress Area |url=http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/Glendalough_West_Wing_%26_Main_Face |access-date=9 March 2019 |publisher=IrishClimbingWiki}}</ref>
* The ''Upper Cliffs'', a band of cliffs high up on the hillside east of Twin Buttress.
* ''Acorn Buttress,'' a small buttress just below Twin Buttress, which is a popular base-camp location.
* ''Hobnail Buttress'', a small buttress with some easy climbing, on the hillside one kilometre to the east.

The [[Irish Mountaineering Club]] has operated a [[Mountain hut|climbing hut]] since the 1950s.

Below the crag is an extensive [[boulder]] field which is also used for [[bouldering]] activities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bouldering in Ireland |url=http://www.theshortspan.com/features/boulderinginglendalough.htm |website=www.theshortspan.com |access-date=2 April 2007 |archive-date=19 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519215531/http://theshortspan.com/features/boulderinginglendalough.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Lower Lake, Glendalough 1.jpg| Lower Lake 
File:Upper lake, Glendalough, Wicklow.jpg|Higher Lake
File:Irl 1sh airmail.jpg|One shilling Irish stamp with ''Vox Hiberniae'' flying over ''Gleann Dá Loċ'' (1949)
File:Glendalough alt.jpg|Glendalough (1890s)
File:Wicklow Way Glendalough.jpg|Glendalough (2011)
File:Wicklow county arms.png|St. Kevin's Church on the coat of arms of [[County Wicklow]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{commons category|Glendalough}}
{{commons category|Miners' Village, Glendalough}}
{{commons category|Poulanass Waterfall}}
{{commons category|Camaderry}}
*[[Abbot of Glendalough]]
*[[Bishop of Glendalough]]
*[[Irish round tower]]
*[[Kevin of Glendalough|Saint Kevin]]
*[[List of abbeys and priories in Ireland#County Wicklow|List of abbeys and priories in County Wicklow]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Marsh|first=Richard |title=Tales of the Wicklow Hills. 2000 Years of History, Myth, Legend and Local Stories|year=2007 |publisher= Legendary Books |location=Dublin 7|isbn= 978-0-9557568-0-1}}
* {{cite book |last=McArdle |first=Peadar |title=Gold Frenzy: The Story of Wicklow's Gold |year=2011 |publisher= Albertine Kennedy Publishing |location=[[Swinford]]|isbn= 978-0-906002-08-7}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
;Climbing guides
*{{Cite book |title=Wicklow Rockclimbing Guide |date=2009 |publisher=Mountaineering Ireland |isbn=9780902940239 |pages=334}}
*{{Cite book |last=Flanagan |first=David |title=Rock Climbing in Ireland |publisher=Three Rock Books |year=2014 |isbn=978-0956787422 |ref=none}}
*{{Cite book |last=Fairbairn |first=Helen |title=Dublin & Wicklow: A Walking Guide |publisher=Collins Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1848892019 |ref=none}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Glendalough, Vale of}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Glendalough}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140818125940/http://visitwicklow.ie/category/glendalough/ List of the various monuments in Glendalough]
*[http://www.megalithicireland.com/Glendalough%20Monastic.html Megalithic Ireland's Glendalough Monastic Site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120405121056/http://www.rsai.ie/index.cfm?action=obj.display&obj_id=113 Monastic buildings of Glendalough] (Archived link)
*[https://www.nationalparks.ie/app/uploads/2022/09/Glendalough-walking-trails-A3-front-and-back.pdf Walking Trails of Glendalough]
*[http://www.glendaloughprayercentre.org/ God's Cottage Prayer Centre and to The Bible Chapel, Glendalough] - Pilgrimage Centre

{{Geography of County Wicklow|state=collapsed}}
{{County Wicklow}}
{{Irish long-distance trails}}
{{Irish Rock Climbing}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Former populated places in Ireland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 6th century]]
[[Category:Climbing areas of Ireland]]
[[Category:Glens of Ireland]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Valleys of County Wicklow]]
[[Category:History of County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Towers in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:National monuments in County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic pilgrimage sites in Ireland]]
[[Category:Christian bell towers]]
[[Category:Former churches in County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Christian monasteries in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Ruined abbeys and monasteries]]