Wicklow Mountains National Park

205 square kilometres of protected upland running through County Wicklow and into South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, a short distance south of the capital, which is what it is for, as much as anything: recreation within reach of a city. Walking, climbing, rowing, diving, fishing and limited swimming are all available inside it. Drivers can take the R756 through the Wicklow Gap, or the historic Military Road, the R115, running from the Dublin hills south through the middle of the mountains to Laragh.