Wicklow Wonder Tours Ford Transit minibus outside Powerscourt House

Experience Wicklow

Like a Local

Luxury Small Group Tours
Through Ireland's Garden County

Guided by fully qualified
National Tour Guide

Ciarán Hayden

★★★★★ Rated by visitors

Luxury 17-seat
Ford Transit Minibus

Collection from
Dublin available

Discover Wicklow

Glendalough round tower and monastic grounds

Glendalough

Ancient monastic city and round tower

Powerscourt Waterfall in County Wicklow

Powerscourt

One of Ireland's finest gardens

Great Sugarloaf mountain in Wicklow

Great Sugarloaf

Wicklow's iconic mountain

Copper pot stills and oak casks in an Irish whiskey distillery

Distilleries

Taste Wicklow's craft whiskey

Ciarán Hayden speaking in a ruined monastery

Meet Your Guide

Hi, I'm Ciarán.

Ciarán Hayden is a fully qualified national tour guide based in Dublin and Wicklow, with a passion for bringing Ireland's rich past and vibrant culture to life.

A graduate of the Fáilte Ireland National Tour Guide programme at the Portobello Institute in Dublin, Ciarán is very experienced at guiding visitors through the stories, streets, and flavours that define the region.

More About Ciarán

Specialising in modern Irish history and the elegance of Georgian Dublin, Ciarán blends deep historical knowledge with a natural gift for storytelling. His tours explore everything from cultural landmarks and hidden corners to the best of local food and traditional pubs, offering guests an authentic and immersive experience.

He also brings a particular depth of insight into Huguenot Ireland, tracing the influence of refugee communities such as the La Touche family, whose Delgany branch played a significant role in the social and economic development of Wicklow. By weaving these narratives into the broader story of Ireland, Ciarán highlights the lasting legacy of migration, enterprise, and identity.

His storytelling further extends to Ireland's long and complex struggle for independence, from the uprising of 1798 through the revolutionary period of the early 20th century and into the present day. With a balanced and engaging approach, he helps visitors understand the people, events, and ideas that shaped the nation.

Before becoming a guide, Ciarán served for 30 years as a firefighter, a career that shaped his calm presence, sharp insight, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Today, he brings that same dedication and energy to every tour, ensuring each group leaves with a deeper understanding of Ireland and a few delightful stories to tell.

From The Tour

The Bullaun Stone

A short field note from one of Ciarán's Wicklow tours, exploring the stories, traditions and sacred landscape around a Bullaun stone.

Featured Tours

Lough Tay and Wicklow mountain landscape

Classic Wicklow Tour

  • Glendalough
  • Powerscourt
  • Avoca
  • Lough Tay

A classic Wicklow day through mountain roads, lake views and the 1,500-year story of Glendalough, the Valley of the Two Lakes.

Tour story

Walk through the monastic city shaped by Saint Kevin, the Round Tower, ancient churches and the wider Viking and pilgrimage world of Glendalough, with stops that reveal Wicklow's place names, landscape and local lore along the way.

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Wicklow Wonder Tours minibus outside a Wicklow great house

Great Houses of Wicklow

  • Powerscourt
  • Kilruddery
  • Lunch
  • Avondale
  • Russborough

A full-day journey through Wicklow's great estates, where Palladian grandeur, formal gardens, political legacy and art-filled interiors meet.

Full Day Tour

Seasonal - subject to House opening schedules

Tour story

From Powerscourt's theatrical terraces and waterfall landscape to Kilruddery's formal gardens, Avondale's Parnell legacy and Russborough's limestone elegance, this tour tells the story of power, artistry, architecture and character in Wicklow's built heritage.

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Warm traditional Irish pub snug interior

Seven Secret Snugs of Wicklow

  • The Dying Cow
  • Glenmalure Lodge
  • Fenton's Bar
  • Old Shillelagh Inn
  • Harbour Bar Bray
  • The Cartoon Inn
  • The Hollywood Inn

A journey through Wicklow's most hidden pubs, where history, hearth and quiet magic meet.

Tour story

An off-the-beaten-track route through boreens, rebel valleys, mountain passes and coastal snugs, from The Dying Cow and Glenmalure to the Glen of Imaal, Shillelagh country, Bray, Rathdrum and the pilgrim road to Glendalough.

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What Our Guests Say

★★★★★

Ciarán was absolutely first class. The Wicklow County Council Cathaoirleach was really impressed, as were other Wicklow officials.
- Lia, Ireland

★★★★★

A wonderful day exploring Wicklow. Ciarán's stories, local knowledge and relaxed style made it feel like travelling with a friend. One of the highlights of our Ireland trip.
- Shelley, Ontario, Canada

★★★★★

An unforgettable day out. We discovered places we'd never have found ourselves, and Ciarán brought every stop to life with humour and fascinating stories.
- Mark & Janine, Christchurch, New Zealand

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