Bramble Rock
+2 photosAbout Bramble Rock
Bramble Rock is a Fáilte Ireland approved 4-star b&b in Glendalough, on the Wicklow coast, listed on Fáilte Ireland’s official register of quality-assured accommodation. It is a smaller, owner-run house of 4 rooms, the kind of place where you deal with the people who actually run it.
Relaxed B&B offering modern, rustic-style rooms with en suite bathrooms, plus a hot breakfast.
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Claim this listingStaying in Glendalough
The "Valley of the Two Lakes", a sixth-century monastic city set among the woods and glacial lakes of the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
Glendalough was founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit monk who came looking for solitude and ended up starting one of early medieval Ireland's great centres of learning. What survives today, spread across the floor of the valley, is known as the Monastic City: a round tower some 30 metres tall, the small steep-roofed St Kevin's Church known as "Kevin's Kitchen", a ruined cathedral and a scatter of high crosses and grave slabs, all set between the Upper and Lower Lakes that give the valley its name.
A B&B here puts you inside Wicklow Mountains National Park itself, so the monastic site is only the start of it. The Upper Lake end of the valley has waymarked trails for every ability, from the flat, easy lakeshore path to the steeper climb up the Spinc boardwalk above the old miners' village, with the valley opening out below you.
It also works as a base for the wider Wicklow Mountains, not just the one glen. The Wicklow Way passes close by, and the Sally Gap and the Military Road, built by the British Army to flush out rebels after 1798, carry on north through open blanket bog and heather to Roundwood and the Sugar Loaf, so a stay here suits walkers as much as anyone after the history.
Things to do near Bramble Rock
The Round Tower and Monastic City
The round tower, built around the turn of the 12th century, is the valley's landmark, originally a belfry and lookout that doubled as a refuge in times of raid. Around it lie the cathedral ruins, St Kevin's Church and a collection of decorated high crosses, the remains of a monastic settlement that once drew scholars and pilgrims from across Ireland.
The Upper and Lower Lakes
The two glacial lakes that give Gleann Dá Loch, the "valley of the two lakes", its name sit at the heart of the site, ringed by oak woodland and steep valley sides, with easy lakeshore walking on both.
St Kevin's Bed
A small cave cut into the cliff face above the Upper Lake, traditionally said to have been St Kevin's own retreat, is one of the more atmospheric spots in a valley that is full of them.
The Spinc and miners' village walk
A waymarked trail climbs the boardwalked Spinc ridge above the old lead and zinc mining village, giving views back down over both lakes before dropping into the Glenealo Valley, one of the National Park's best short hikes.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Glendalough sits inside the National Park, which protects a big stretch of the Wicklow uplands, including blanket bog, oak woodland and open mountain, with a visitor centre in the valley itself.
Getting to Glendalough
Glendalough is about an hour south of Dublin city, reached via the N11/M11 to Kilmacanogue and then the R755 and R756 through Roundwood, or the scenic Military Road over the Sally Gap. St Kevin's Bus service runs a direct route from Dublin city centre. There is no rail link into the valley itself, so a car or the bus is the practical way in.
Booking Bramble Rock direct, and what the rating means
A real, assessed b&b
Bramble Rock holds a 4-star b&b rating under Fáilte Ireland's National Quality Assurance Framework, assessed against the bedrooms, bathrooms, breakfast and welcome rather than self-declared. It's an independent signal you can trust before you book, separate from any platform's own review score.
No fees, no middleman
Ring the owner, or use the contact details on this page, and arrange the stay with the house rather than through an app. No booking fee added to your bill and no commission taken from the owner, so the room rate you agree is the room rate you pay.
A better stay, direct
Owners answer the questions a booking platform never will: whether the room at the front is quieter, how early breakfast can be served, or where to park for a few days. Speaking to the house directly is how B&Bs in Ireland were booked for decades.
Still deciding where to base yourself? Browse more B&Bs in Wicklow.
Check availability at Bramble Rock
Send the owner the details of your stay and they will come back to you directly. No booking fee, no platform in between, just Glendalough on the other end.
Bramble Rock, common questions
Where is Bramble Rock?
Bramble Rock is at Laragh East, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow (Eircode A98 HK49). Give the Eircode to your sat-nav to find the door.
How do I book Bramble Rock?
You contact the owner directly, by phone or the enquiry form on this page. DirectBnB adds no booking fee and takes no commission, so you arrange the stay with the house itself and pay the room rate with nothing on top.
What star rating does Bramble Rock have?
Bramble Rock is a Fáilte Ireland approved 4-star b&b under Fáilte Ireland's National Quality Assurance Framework, and guests rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 93 Google reviews.
Is Bramble Rock suitable for families?
Yes, Bramble Rock is listed as family friendly. Ask the owner directly about room configurations and cots when you book.
How many rooms does Bramble Rock have?
Bramble Rock has 4 rooms. As a smaller, owner-run house it is worth booking ahead, particularly in summer and over weekends.
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