Enniskerry

Enniskerry (Irish Áth na Sceire, "rocky ford") is a village in County Wicklow, best known for Powerscourt House, gardens and waterfall. It was created in the 1840s as a planned village for tenants of Powerscourt estate. It's also a base for exploring the Wicklow Mountains, and being within an hour's travel of central Dublin can get crowded at weekends, but suburban sprawl has been kept at bay. Enniskerry had a population of 2000 in 2022.

Get in
Dublin Bus 44 runs hourly from city centre, taking an hour via O'Connell St, Merrion Square, Dundrum Rd, Sandyford, Murphystown, Jamestown and Kilternan. South of Kilternan, you'll know you've left Dublin for Wicklow when you pass through the rugged valley of "The Scalp".

Go Ahead Bus 185 runs every 30 min between Bray, Enniskerry village and Powerscourt, taking 25 min.

is the nearest railway station, on the coast 8 km east. This has Dart trains from Dublin Connolly every 10-20 min, taking 50 min via Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey. It also has mainline trains from Dublin Connolly to Wicklow Town, Arklow, Gorey, Wexford and Rosslare, for ferries to Fishguard and Pembroke.

By road follow M11 / N11 and exit onto R117 at Kilroney Cross; follow the river valley up to Enniskerry.

Get around
Powerscourt is a short walk from the village, but you need wheels to reach the waterfall or explore Glencree.

Bus Éireann and other operators run bus tours from central Dublin to Powerscourt and various nearby scenic spots.

Alpine Cabs (+353 87 299 8836) and Furlongs Minibus (+353 86 263 1061) can take you round the area.

See

 * is a triangle at a road junction, with attractive buildings from 1840 in mock-Tudor style.
 * Glencree is a scenic valley in the mountains west of Enniskerry, which frames the view of Great Sugarloaf Mountain east towards Greystones. Across the head of the valley is a military road (now R115) from Dublin to Glendalough built to hunt down fugitives from the failed rebellion of 1798, "The Year of the French". A barracks was also built here, which later became a harsh school, then a prison camp for Germans: as prisoners of war in World War I, and as internees in World War II when Ireland was neutral. Postwar it housed German and Polish war orphans. It's now the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, opposite the German war cemetery.
 * is a pass in the mountains where the military road R115 intersects R759. Spectacular scenery here with Luggala above and Lough Tay below.
 * is a pass in the mountains where the military road R115 intersects R759. Spectacular scenery here with Luggala above and Lough Tay below.
 * is a pass in the mountains where the military road R115 intersects R759. Spectacular scenery here with Luggala above and Lough Tay below.

Do

 * Kippure stands at 757 m / 2484 ft on the Dublin—Wicklow county boundary. It has a TV transmitter and other ugly fittings at its summit, but fine views. Most Sunday strollers use the access lane from R115 on its east flank, but feel free to struggle through bog by approaching from any other direction. Hills to its west are Seefingan (723 m) and Seelin (621 m): beware the army firing ranges if you go that way.
 * Other hills that you can climb near Enniskerry include Fairy Castle, Maulin, Djouce, Luggala, Gravale, Duff Hill and Mullaghcleevaun. See Bray for Great Sugar Loaf, which is further east and detached from the main chain.
 * The Wicklow Way is a long-distance hiking trail through these hills.
 * Golf: Powerscourt GC lies north of the mansion hotel, with two championship courses, the East and the West. Lots more golf towards Bray on the coast.
 * Golf: Powerscourt GC lies north of the mansion hotel, with two championship courses, the East and the West. Lots more golf towards Bray on the coast.

Buy

 * Windsor Spar on The Square is open M-Sa 7AM-7PM, Su 8AM-7PM.
 * Arty-crafty places in the village are Corner Studio, Objects, Smock Boutique, Botanical Art Gifts and Enniskerry Antiques Gallery.

Drink

 * Enniskerry Inn just off The Square serves food daily noon-9PM and has rooms.
 * Powerscourt Distillery by the gardens makes Fercullen single malt whiskey, tours available.

Sleep

 * Fernadale House is a B&B on the village square. Check whether they're offering breakfast, or room only.
 * Powerscourt Springs 3 km south of the village is a good B&B, but doesn't live up to its price or billing as a spa or "health farm".
 * Coolakay House is a pleasant welcoming B&B 500 m further west towards the waterfall.
 * Powerscourt Springs 3 km south of the village is a good B&B, but doesn't live up to its price or billing as a spa or "health farm".
 * Coolakay House is a pleasant welcoming B&B 500 m further west towards the waterfall.

Connect
As of June 2024, Enniskerry and its approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.

Go next

 * Glendalough is an extensive complex of Early Christian and Norman religious sites, in a scenic valley.
 * Wicklow Town has a notorious jail, now a museum, and two fine botanic gardens.
 * Dublin is just over the hills to the north.