10 Things to Do Near Blessington — Straight from the People Who Live Here
Blessington is small but what's around it is anything but. Here's what we'd do — from lakeside walks to Powerscourt, Glendalough, and a few things most visitors miss.
We get asked this a lot. People book a few nights at Tully's Home and then ask what's actually around. The honest answer: more than most people realise.
Blessington is a proper Irish market town — not a tourist trap, and that's part of the appeal. But within 20–40 minutes you've got the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, Russborough House, the Powerscourt Estate, and some of the best walking in Ireland. Here's what we'd do.
1. Walk the Blessington Greenway
This one starts right from the town. The Blessington Greenway is a 22km off-road trail along the edge of the Blessington Lakes — flat enough for kids, beautiful enough that you won't be checking your phone. Do the full loop or just a section of it. On a clear day the views across the reservoir are genuinely stunning.
No booking, no fee. Bring water and wear layers — this is Wicklow.
2. Russborough House
One of the finest Palladian mansions in Ireland, sitting 10 minutes outside Blessington. The guided tour is worth every cent — the story of the Beit art collection and the multiple heists is genuinely wild. The grounds are free to walk, and a good spot for a picnic on a dry day.
3. Glendalough
About 40 minutes south through the Wicklow Mountains. A medieval monastic city in a glacial valley between two lakes. Even if history isn't your thing, the scenery alone is worth the drive.
The Upper Lake walk — about 4km return — is the one to do. Go early if you can; it gets busy by mid-morning in summer.
Guided tours to Glendalough if you'd prefer not to drive.
4. Powerscourt Estate and Waterfall
About 35 minutes east near Enniskerry. The formal gardens are among the best in Ireland — genuinely impressive, with the Sugar Loaf as a backdrop. The Powerscourt Waterfall is 6km away separately — the highest in Ireland, and a nice walk around the base.
Both have entrance fees. Worth every cent of both.
5. Golf at Tulfarris
If you're staying with us, you're already on a golf course. The Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort is right next door — 18 holes along the lakeshore, and a course that genuinely challenges without being brutal. Book a tee time through the hotel directly.
6. The Spinc Ridge, Glendalough
The best walk in Wicklow that most visitors actually do. A boardwalk ridge above Glendalough's upper lake with views that are particularly good in autumn when the valley turns. About 9km loop, moderate difficulty. Trailhead at the Glendalough Visitor Centre.
7. Turlough Hill
Thirty minutes from Blessington and almost nobody goes there. A pumped-storage reservoir sits on top of a mountain — genuinely strange and completely brilliant. Clear days give you views across half of Leinster. Short enough that you can combine it with something else.
8. Kayaking on the Blessington Lakes
The lakes are right on our doorstep. A few local outfitters run kayaking and paddleboarding sessions in the warmer months — a completely different way to see the reservoir and the surrounding hills.
Water activities near Blessington
9. A day trip to Dublin
Blessington is 35km from Dublin city centre — about 45 minutes without traffic. Perfectly doable for a day. Guinness, Trinity College, the National Gallery, a proper pub lunch — all without paying Dublin hotel prices to sleep there.
10. The Wicklow Way
If you're a serious walker, the Wicklow Way runs through this area. You don't have to do the full 130km — dip into a section from Glendalough or Knockree, get a feel for the upland blanket bog and the mountain views, and come back for dinner. One of Ireland's finest long-distance trails.
Whatever you're planning — ask us when you arrive. We'll always know what's on, what's worth skipping this week, and where to eat.
