Lying south of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains are an unspoiled paradise largely unknown outside Ireland. With eerie ruins, stately mansions and hiking trails, the Wicklows are an ideal spot for a quick weekend jaunt out of the city.

On a clear day in Dublin, if you look south from any high point in the city, you will be in for a surprise - a mountain range looms in the distance. Only an hour from center city, the Wicklow Mountains draw Dubliners in large numbers but remain wild and largely undeveloped. While they may not be particularly high - the tallest peak is Lugnaquilla at just over 3,000 feet - the lack of development and sparse population give the feeling of setting foot in another country entirely.