Walkabout Wicklow

Having booked a spontaneous trip to Ireland, I was considering how to fill my days when I stumbled upon Walkabout Wicklow tours.
Hike in the gorgeous Irish countryside?
Burn off the inevitable (countless) pints of Guinness?
Yes, please.
I emailed the owner/​operator Joe and inquired as to any open dates. He responded promptly and I was able to register for a walking tour online. (You can also hold a space and pay in cash on the day of the tour.)
Joe had recommended waterproof gear and sturdy shoes. He also advises hikers to take a packed lunch as the tour is an all-​day affair. I had the sturdy shoes, but lacked the waterproof gear. No bother, as Joe had plenty to spare.
At 9:15 we set out as a group of 9 from the Suffolk Street Tourist Center in Dublin. As we drove out of the city, Joe gauged our collective Ireland savvy by quizzing us on Irish culture. It really broke the ice and soon a group of what had previously been strangers were chatting like old friends. He stopped to pick up another tour guide and off we went towards Glendalough/​Wicklow.
There were a few stops for photo ops en route. The road from the P. S. I love you scene? Got a picture. (Lamentable is Gerard Butler’s absence from the shot, but I won’t hold Joe accountable… entirely.) The Guinness family hunting lodge? Got a picture. Me almost being blown off a cliff by mega winds? Got a picture.
The hike itself was great craic as they’d say. Not normally a picture person, I took an embarrassing amount of photos and videos that simply don’t do the stunning scenery justice. (But enough to mock friends and family with back home. «Haha! You’re at work and I’m here, sucker!») Mick, our tour guide, pointed out interesting facts and tidbits as we hiked the 9 km around Wicklow. We ate halfway though the hike and then continued on. The hike took us through forests, up valley trails and around hills. It was incredible. Given the diverse landscape and the ever-​changing Irish weather, we were told that all hikes could be modified to accommodate our comfort level. A+ for adaptability.
At the end of a raw hike (40s and rainy), Joe was waiting for us with tea and chocolates. We made a quick stop to the nearby monastic ruins and then were back to Dublin (by about 5pm).
I loved the cities I visited in Ireland, but getting out into the countryside was truly one of the highlights of my trip. Yeah, you can drive through it on a bus, but that’s exceedingly lame. You miss the delicious fresh air, you miss the photo ops. You miss being able to drink from actual Irish springs. (Seriously.) You miss meeting great people who want to experience these things and the awesome tour guides who make it happen. Do NOT miss out on a Walkabout Wicklow tour.