Overview & History
Enniskerry (Irish: Áth na Sceire, meaning “rugged ford”) is a compact, purpose-built village of just over 2,000 people, sitting at 91 metres in a valley at the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. It stands on the Glencullen River, about 24 km south of Dublin city centre, reached by the R117 – locally called “The Twenty-One Bends” for its winding drop into the valley.
Unlike many Irish settlements that grew organically over centuries, Enniskerry was deliberately laid out in the 1840s as a planned estate village for tenants of the Powerscourt Demesne. The original buildings were designed in a neo-Tudor style, giving the central square its distinctive Victorian charm. In 1861, Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt, commissioned Saint Patrick’s Church to serve the Protestant population, replacing an earlier chapel. This period also saw extensive landscaping of the adjacent estate grounds. Today, the village retains its historic layout while functioning as a vibrant community with strong ecumenical ties between the Roman Catholic parish of St Mary and the Church of Ireland parish of St Patrick.
Exploring the Village Square
The village square remains the social and commercial heart of Enniskerry. Lined with mock-Tudor shopfronts, it hosts a selection of independent boutiques and heritage stores. Avoca Handweavers operates a popular store and terrace café here, offering traditional Irish crafts, knitwear, and light meals. Nearby, the Enniskerry Antiques Gallery, Corner Studio, and Botanical Art Gifts provide opportunities for unique souvenir hunting.
Dining options are concentrated around the square. Poppies Café is a local favourite for homemade breakfasts and lunches, while Emilia’s serves Italian specialities. For a more substantial meal or a pint after a day out, the Enniskerry Inn offers award-winning gastro-pub fare in a cosy, fireside setting.
Powerscourt Estate, Gardens & Waterfall
If you only do one thing here, make it Powerscourt Estate. The 47-acre gardens run down towards Triton Lake in a series of formal Italian terraces, framed by statues and mature planting, with the Great Sugar Loaf filling the view beyond. There’s an 18th-century Palladian house (rebuilt after a fire gutted it in 1974), a Japanese garden and a pet cemetery.
A short drive on is Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest in Ireland at 121 metres, dropping into the River Dargle. A path crosses the river for different angles, and the woodland around it holds Sika deer, red squirrels and plenty of birds. Picnic areas and a seasonal kiosk make it an easy family stop – but the midges can be relentless in summer, so bring repellent.
On-site, the Powerscourt Distillery produces Fercullen single-malt whiskey. Guided tours are available, offering insights into the distillation process and a tasting of their award-winning spirits.
A Cinematic History
Enniskerry’s square and the landscape around it have drawn filmmakers for decades. It stood in for medieval England in Laurence Olivier’s Henry V (1944), which employed over 800 local extras during World War II. More recently, the village was transformed into a fairytale setting for Disney’s Disenchanted (2022), with temporary cobblestones, floral garlands on the clock tower, and fictional shopfronts drawing thousands of curious visitors during the shoot. The square also featured in Leap Year (2010), P.S. I Love You (2007), and the BBC drama Ballykissangel. Film enthusiasts can still spot traces of these productions, and the area remains a popular backdrop for location scouts.
Walking & Outdoor Adventures
Enniskerry is a natural gateway to the Wicklow Mountains and serves as a key base for hikers tackling sections of the Wicklow Way. Just north of the village, the Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve runs for about 129 acres along the Glencullen River valley, managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service, with up to 11 km of trails through sessile oak and mixed woodland. It holds the richest diversity of woodland invertebrate life of anywhere in Ireland – which matters more to entomologists than to most walkers, but it’s a quiet, spring-fed wood either way. Opening arrangements can vary around bank holidays, so check before you set out.
For more challenging terrain, the surrounding mountains offer numerous trails:
- Crone Woods to Maulin – A moderate loop weaving through mixed woodland with occasional glimpses of the valley and waterfall.
- Kippure Circuit – A climb to 757 m on the Dublin-Wicklow border, offering panoramic views (note: avoid western approaches near army firing ranges).
- Lough Tay & Djouce – A scenic route to the emerald-green “Guinness Lake” and up to Djouce (725 m) for classic valley outlooks.
The area is also popular with cyclists, with gentle forest tracks suitable for families and steeper mountain roads for experienced riders. Golfers can play two championship courses at Powerscourt Golf Club, set against dramatic mountain backdrops.
Practical Information
Getting There
- By Bus: Dublin Bus route 44 runs from the city centre (via O’Connell St, Dundrum, Sandyford and Kilternan), taking about an hour and a half – it’s a scenic crawl, not a fast link. Go-Ahead Ireland route 185 runs every 30 minutes between Bray, Enniskerry and Powerscourt.
- By Train: The nearest station is Bray (8 km east), served by DART services from Dublin Connolly and InterCity trains to Wexford and Rosslare.
- By Car: Follow the M11/N11 southbound, exit onto the R117 at Kilroney Cross, and follow the river valley. Free parking is available in the village square and at the Powerscourt Estate car park, but spaces fill quickly on summer weekends.
Accommodation
Enniskerry offers a range of options from luxury country houses to budget-friendly hostels:
- Summerhill House Hotel – A 4-star property with a spa and wheelchair-accessible rooms.
- The Arch House – Heritage-style one-bedroom apartments with private patios and a fully accessible ground-floor unit.
- The Enniskerry Inn – Gastro-pub with a few en-suite bedrooms, handy for walkers.
- Knockree Youth Hostel – Located on the Wicklow Way, offering dorms, family rooms, a honeymoon suite, and a large dining hall.
Visitor Tips
- Powerscourt Waterfall and House & Gardens operate on separate ticketing and opening hours. Check the official estate website before visiting, as seasonal variations apply.
- The village experiences high footfall on summer weekends and bank holidays. Arriving early or visiting mid-week ensures easier parking and a more relaxed atmosphere.
- Mobile coverage is reliable, with 4G available from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three across the village and approach roads.
- Dogs are welcome at the waterfall and on most walking trails, but must be kept on a lead.
One practical note worth planning around: Powerscourt Waterfall and the House & Gardens sit on separate sites, with separate tickets and opening hours, so don’t assume one entry covers both. Do the waterfall in the morning while the light’s on it, eat in the square, then take the gardens in the afternoon.