Wicklow Mountains Excursion
From Rathfarnham, just outside Dublin, the road leads south, climbing steadily. Ahead, to the right, can be seen Kippure, 2,517ft/767m, with its television tower; to the rear there is a fine view of Dublin. Soon afterwards the road to Enniskerry diverges to the left. The R115 then continues south, past two small lakes and over a boggy plateau, the source of Dublin's River Liffey and of the Dargle, which flows east and lower down the valley forms the spectacular Powerscourt Waterfall.
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At the Sally Gap (1,657ft/505m), the watershed, the R115 joins the R759, which winds its way southwards over bare moorland, crossing a number of streams flowing down from the hills on the right of the road, Gravate (2,396ft/730m), Duff Hill (2,406ft/733m) and Mullaghcleevaun (2,839ft/865m). It then descends the rugged valley of Glenmacnass, passing a waterfall (best seen from the other side of the valley), to Laragh, at the meeting place of a number of valleys (and the roads and rivers which follow them).
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Athgreany
From Glendalough Forest Park the R756 runs down to Hollywood. Rather more than 1mi/2km south of the village, at Athgreany, is a large stone circle of uncertain age (National Monument) known as the "Piper's Stones," with an isolated stone, the "Piper," outside the circle.
Glendalough Forest Park
Camaderry lies within the Glendalough Forest Park (nature reserve), the boundary of which is skirted by the road. 2.5mi/4km beyond the pass a narrow road on the right leads to Glenbridge Youth Hostel, in a lonely valley bottom. In another 4mi/6km another road goes off on the right and runs north to the Lacken Reservoir or Poulaphuca Lake, with an area of 8sq.mi/2,000ha, which contributes to Dublin's water supply and is also harnessed to produce electric power.
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Great Sugar Loaf
Near the pretty little village of Roundwood the road joins the R755 which is followed northwards. On the right of the road rises the Great Sugar Loaf (1,644ft/501m). It can be climbed in 45 minutes from the large parking lot at the southern foot of the mountain.
Laragh (via Wicklow) to Dublin
From Laragh the R755 traverses the exceptionally charming scenery of the Vale of Clara, going southeast along the Avenmore River to Rathdrum. To the south extends the Avondale Forest Park. From the R752 leading to Wicklow we turn onto the N11 and go northwards to Ashford with the extremely charming Mount Usher Gardens. The R764 running inland passes the large Vartry Reservoir. Near the pretty little village of Roundwood the road joins the R755 which is followed northwards.
Wicklow Gap
From Laragh, in the shade of the Wicklow Mountains, the R756 climbs westward, passing in a side valley on the left the famous monastic site of Glendalough, to the Wicklow Gap (1,595ft/486m), between Tonelagee (2,734ft/833m) to the north and Camaderry (2,337ft/712m) to the south.
