The Military Road (R115) climbs from Dublin's suburbs into open blanket bog and crosses the Wicklow Mountains at Sally Gap, a crossroads at over 500m with no buildings, shops, or facilities — just moorland, the Liffey Head Bog, and views over Lough Tay (the 'Guinness Lake') further south. It is a separate experience from the sheltered valley at Glendalough, exposed and often windswept.
| Distance | 35 km from city centre |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 55 minutes by car |
| Getting there | No direct public bus serves Sally Gap; self-drive via the R115 (the historic Military Road) from Dublin is the independent option, or a guided scenic-drive minibus tour from the city centre (~€45–€65 / ~$49.50–$71.50) |
| Address | Sally Gap, R759, County Wicklow, Ireland |
How to get there
- Car (55 min via M50 and R115 Military Road)
- Guided scenic-drive minibus tour
Weather through the year in Ireland
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Ireland.
Location
Sally Gap, R759, County Wicklow, Ireland
53.1500, -6.3230 View on map
Highlights
- Lough Tay viewpoint, a small lake with a white sand 'beach' (privately owned shoreline, view from the road pull-in only), a few km south of Sally Gap
- Liffey Head Bog, the source of the River Liffey, a short boardwalk-free bog walk near the crossroads
- Glenmacnass Waterfall, a roadside cascade a further 10 minutes south on the R115
- No entry fee and no opening hours — the pass and viewpoints are open-air and accessible any time of day
Tips for visiting
- There are no shops, toilets, or fuel stations between Glencree and Laragh — fill the tank and bring water before setting out
- Mobile signal is patchy or absent for long stretches; download offline maps in advance
- This is a scenic drive, not a single-site visit — a solo driver can do it self-guided with a printed route, or join a minibus tour if preferring not to drive narrow mountain roads