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Known as the Garden of Ireland, Wicklow is renowned for its scenic mountain ranges and is situated just south of Dublin.
Stretching the length of the county, the domed granite mountains are Wicklow's most prominent feature and comprise 20,000 hectares of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The highest peak is Lugnaquilla at 924m and there are plenty of excellent walks through the mountains. One of such follows the route of the Military Road into the heart of the mountains, which was built by the British to quell frequent rebellions by the Irish in the hills.
One of Wicklow's most scenic locations and popular visitor attractions is Glendalough, the early Christian monastic settlement founded by St Kevin in the 5th Century, set in the heart of a glaciated valley beside two beautiful lakes. Another popular attraction is the rural town of Avoca famous for its weavers and also as the set for the Television programme Ballykissangel.
To the west of the mountains, lie flat farmland plains, while to the east are Wicklow's burgeoning coastal settlements and seaside resorts such as Greystones, Bray, Arklow and the county town of Wicklow.
Famous sons of Wicklow include one of Ireland's finest statesmen, Charles Stewart Parnell.
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