Overview
The lake that defines Blessington is younger than the cars parked beside it. The valley was flooded in 1940 as part of a project to supply water and generate electricity, drowning farmland and the small farming community of Ballinahown. The local heritage guide records the farms, roads and bridges affected by the project, which is the kind of detail that tells you what the place is really about. The town itself sits at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains on the N81, about 25 km south-west of Dublin, on the edge of County Wicklow near the Kildare border, and works as a relaxed base for the lake, Russborough House and a web of walking and cycling routes.
If you have half a day, the obvious move is the greenway towards Russborough and back. Everything else is a bonus.
History and heritage
The town was earlier known as Munfine; the name Blessington was first recorded in the 1660s, tied to a charter associated with Archbishop Michael Boyle, though the pleasing ‘blessing’ etymology is disputed. Bronze-Age activity is well attested here, and the Blessington gold lunula, found in the early 20th century, is the best-known find. Medieval traces remain in the Rath Turtle Moat and the 12th-century St Mark’s Cross near the town centre.
The 18th century brought substantial development under the Downshire family, who left the Market House, Downshire Lodge and a parish schoolhouse on the streetscape. Russborough House was built for the Leeson family in the 1740s. One piece of transport history worth knowing: from the 1880s until 1932 a steam tram ran between Dublin and Blessington, and a marker stone in the town still commemorates it. There is no railway station here now, despite what some listings claim.
What to see and do
Russborough House and parklands
Russborough is a Palladian house, built in the 1740s and set in parkland above the lake. The interiors carry 18th-century craftsmanship, fine art and period furniture, and the estate also has gardens and woodland paths. Check the estate’s separate house tour and parkland arrangements if you plan to go inside, and current parking charges if arriving by car.
The Blessington Lakes
Poulaphouca Reservoir supplies water and electricity and is also a scenic stretch of water, with a long shoreline. The Poulaphouca Reservoir Special Protection Area protects birds and wetland habitat, and swans and wintering wildfowl are among the birds to look for. Enjoy the views from signed shore routes and stay out of the water: ESB warns against swimming at Poulaphouca and its other reservoirs. Check permissions and access for any other water activity, including boating and fishing.
The Blessington Greenway
The Blessington Greenway starts by the Avon at the southern end of town. It follows the lakeshore and forest paths, using a section of footpath beside the N81, before continuing towards Russborough. The surface is mixed, so check the map and surface conditions before setting out, and allow for the return trip. Check what the Avon currently offers, and its parking arrangements, before you rely on it.
Cycling and the town itself
Blessington is a useful staging point for the bigger Wicklow climbs, with quiet lanes and lakeside stretches leading towards the Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap. In the town, St Mary’s Church dates from 1683 and has a historic set of change-ringing bells cast in 1682. A short heritage trail takes in the Horseshoe Arch, once the entrance to a blacksmith’s forge, and the tram marker stone. On the outskirts, Burgage Cemetery is a peaceful walk among 19th-century headstones.
Practical information
- Getting there: By car via the N81 from Dublin, about 25 km. Check Dublin Bus for route 65 and current stops. There is no rail service to Blessington.
- Parking: Use signed town parking, or check current charges at your chosen trailhead or estate.
- Safety: Keep out of the reservoir water. Check trail conditions before you set out.
- Seasonality: The lake, greenway and town can be visited through the year; check conditions and any seasonal arrangements before you go.
Arrive early on a Saturday for the town, then walk the greenway towards Russborough, which ties the lake, the woodland and the house together.