BOB MONTGOMERYGREAT ROADSCOUNTY WICKLOW, Ireland's 'garden county', is a unique place, right on the doorstep of Dublin. And, of course, it has a long association with motorsport.
Hillclimb venues abound: Enniskerry, Cruagh overlooking the city, the Long Mile hill at Kilmacanogue and Ballinaslaughter, which was first run in the first years of the last century, are just some examples. Sally Gap - that fearsome special stage which runs northsouth over the Wicklow Mountains - was a highlight of the Circuit of Ireland Rally each year before that event was emasculated by changing requirements for international rallies.
Perhaps the most famous venue of all was the Wicklow Circuit, which was in use between 1950 and 1957 and where many famous names including future world champion Mike Hawthorn scored one of the early triumphs of his career driving his famous Riley. Mike loved racing in Ireland - the friendliness of the people and the challenging roads brought him back again and again - and in this regard little has changed.
We began our tour of Wicklow in Enniskerry, the pretty estate village dominated by the huge Powerscourt estate and gardens which are open to the public. If you do decide to visit the estate, do visit the waterfall which at 122m is the highest in Ireland and the scene of many sporting trials in the past. From Enniskerry take the R755 towards Roundwood, which has the distinction of being the highest village in Ireland. However, before arriving in Roundwood, turn west at the signposts to Sally Gap and Lough Tay.
This road climbs dramatically up towards the roof of the Wicklow Mountains, and offers a majestic entrance to the heart of Wicklow as it winds its way dramatically above Lough Tay. This is driver's country, and the road soon bisects the northsouth Sally Gap special stage of Circuit of Ireland fame. However, ignore the temptations of this road, and continue on the R759 until the main N81 road to Blessington is reached.
Blessington is the gateway to northwest Wicklow and is another estate town, as its broad tree-lined street testifies. It was also once the terminus for an interesting steam-tram system which ran from the outskirts of Dublin. On the main street, turn towards the Pollaphuca Reservoir which flooded the valley in the 1930s, and today provides water and electricity for Dublin.
Having crossed the bridge, turn right and follow the shore of the reservoir through the sleepy villages of Carrig and Lackan before turning left along the R758 towards the Wicklow Gap. At the junction with the R756 turn left on to the old pilgrim road - the Wicklow Gap - to the holy places of Glendalough. This is a magnificent road, rebuilt some years ago for the visit of the Tour de France cycle race to Ireland. Laragh, at the eastern end of the Wicklow Gap, is just a short distance from Glendalough - the Valley of the Two Lakes. From Laragh, head south along the R755 to Rathdrum where once there was a road circuit, now no longer in use.
Here too, is Avondale, home of that great enigma of Irish history, Charles Stuart Parnell. Avondale Forest park contains one of the world's great collections of tree species, and is well worth breaking one's journey to visit.
Now take the R752 south out of Rathdrum to Ballinaclash, then turn northeast towards Greenan and on until meeting a crossroads which is signposted back to Laragh again.
From Laragh take the R755 to Roundwood. From there continue on the R755 back to our starting point at Enniskerry, or alternatively take the R764 out of Roundwood to Ashford, Rathnew and into Wicklow town.
Watch out on the outskirts of the town for the small monument to the Wicklow motor races. If you have time, follow the old motor racing circuit as shown on the monument and marvel at the types of road even Formula 1 cars raced over in the 1950s with little margin for error. Brave men.