Glendalough on a Tuesday in February

The upper lake when the coach park is empty and the head goes quiet.

We often think of Glendalough's quieter form, one many visitors overlook. This is not the version you encounter on a peak summer afternoon, with tour buses filling the car park and the round tower surrounded by people. This is the Glendalough of a Tuesday in February, when your heavy coat feels right and the upper lake reflects the cold sky. On these days, the only sound on the path is the water cascading from the cliff behind you.