Glendalough Upper Lake, Glacial lake in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Glendalough Upper Lake is a glacial lake in County Wicklow, Ireland, lying at the far end of a narrow wooded valley enclosed by steep rocky cliffs. It is the larger and more remote of the two lakes that make up the Glendalough valley, with the Lower Lake sitting closer to the main monastic site.
The valley and its lakes were shaped by glaciers during the last Ice Age, which cut deep into the rock and left behind a hollow that filled with water as the ice retreated. The two lakes formed separately because glacial debris piled up between them, creating a natural divide that is still visible today.
A cave in the cliffs above the southern shore is known as Kevin's Bed, named after the monk who is said to have lived and prayed there in the 6th century. Visitors today can spot it from the water's edge, though it sits high above and is not reachable on foot.
The lake is reached by following the main valley path from the car park near the monastic site, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes on foot. The lakeside trails are generally flat and easy to walk, though some routes heading up the surrounding slopes are steeper and better suited to those with sturdy footwear.
A small medieval church called Temple-na-Skellig stands on the southern shore and can only be reached by boat, followed by a climb up stone steps from a landing point. Because of this, most visitors to the valley have never seen it up close, even after multiple trips.
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