Glendalough is an ancient Christian site in the south-east of Ireland with traditions going back to St Kevin who is believed to have established a hermitage there in the sixth century. It’s one of the great pilgrimage centres of Ireland. It combines not only a very historic site in wonderful scenery but also the opportunity for spiritual reflection and prayer. To get there, I walked across Wales to Holyhead in the far north of the Wales where I took a ferry to Dublin. I then walked down through the Wicklow Hills south of the Irish capital to Glendalough, the valley of the two lakes and on to the port of Rosslare where I took the ferry back to South Wales. My route home then took me through the historic Welsh towns of Carmarthen, Llandeilo Fawr and Brecon.
My pilgrimage took me north across Wales and over to the island of Anglesey (Ynys Môn). Here, the church of St Cwyfan’s in its dramatic position on a tidal island 
Once in Ireland, a day in Dublin with its many reminders of a difficult history and challenging present. This modern sculpture commemorates those who sought refuge in Canada during the famine of the 1840s 
You can still arrive at Glendalough on the ancient road that takes you into the Celtic monastery first established in the Age of the Saints after the death of St Kevin 
What can be seen at Glendalough today dates from the ten to the twelfth centuries and includes the famous round tower 
St Kevin is believed to have established a hermitage at Glendalough. Legend says that a blackbird nested in his hands, such was his devotion to prayer. Here a modern sculpture commemorates this story 
At the nearby village, the local church has various features to encourage prayer and reflection including a labyrinth to walk