Glendalough {Fall Hike near Dublin}

Last weekend was October Bank Holiday, but since we're heading back to the US this week, we decided to lay low in Dublin, but still make an effort to get out of town for a day. 

The weather forecast for Saturday was cold but sunny.  That's about as perfect as it can get over here, so we wanted to take advantage of it.  We hit the road in the Little Green Machine with our friends Abby & Brandon for a trip down to Glendalough to go on a hike.

Brian and I had been to Glendalough before, on our first road trip in Ireland, but we didn't go on any of the hikes, so I was really looking forward to it.

Before we headed off on a hike, we walked around the remains of St. Kevin's Monastery.

St. Kevin's Monastery - a church with the Round Tower in the back

The Round Tower at the Monastery

Cemetery at the Monastery 

Another shot of the cemetery, with the view

Abby and I

The whole gang by the lake

Starting the accent 

Top of the (first) hill - view of the small lake

Beautiful colors, and a nice path

Abby at the top of the (next) hill

Run off of the big lake, love this one

A bit windy- the boys at the peak of our hike.

The girls at the top

Back down at the bottom, one last shot of the lake

walking back to the car, loving the leaves

The hike was about 9K, so just over 5.5 miles, a great walk with beautiful views.  When finished, we rewarded ourselves with some Irish stew, fish & chips and of course, a Guinness.

I love the crisp days we're getting here in Dublin, it reminds me of Portland.  Trees turning colors, leaves covering the ground, fresh air and the sun shining.  I hope we get a few more here before the rain settles in for good.