Emily’s Old Schoolhouse is at the northern end of Newtownmountkennedy - the village with the longest name in Ireland. Apart from the terrific Fishers emporium on the same site, you will find a comprehensive grocery store, pubs and the like a short stroll away.
Wicklow is one of those counties that has it all – accessible mountain scenery for walking and cycling, long stretches of powdery sand dune backed beaches at Brittas Bay (20 minutes away), and Ireland’s highest waterfall at Powerscourt Demesne.
In fact the stunning 18th century Palladian mansion of Powerscourt House in Enniskerry, (20 minutes the other way) is well worth a visit for its excellent golf, a magnificent gardens and the unique retail experience.
On your way, you might like to climb Sugarloaf Mountain, an unmistakable land mark in the area. Allow about an hour from the car park to the top - the last bit is a struggle - but the views at the summit are breath-taking.
The distinctive Wicklow landscape is the result of glacial erosion, during the last ice age some 11,700 years ago, glaciers formed corries and carved deep valleys, leaving a legacy of glacial lakes, huge granite boulders and rocky debris throughout the mountains.
If you want to explore Dublin City, like many locals, you can catch the train (DART) from the busy village of Greystones just ten minutes away, with its marina and beaches, and abundant restaurants to return to. Plus the trip around the headlands and bays is very scenic – avoid rush hour.
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