P.S. I Love You: A Romantic Guide to the Wicklow Mountains

The bridge where Gerry meets Holly isn't in New York. It's in the Wicklow Mountains, about an hour south of Dublin, on a road so narrow that two cars passing requires one to reverse. When Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler filmed that scene in 2007, they weren't acting about the wind — it genuinely howls through that valley at speeds that make dialogue nearly impossible.

P.S. I Love You didn't just use Wicklow as a backdrop. It made the landscape a character in the story. The "errors" Gerry sends Holly lead her through the mountains, to pubs, to beaches, and ultimately to the emotional resolution that gives the film its power. For visitors, this creates a rare opportunity: you can follow the actual route Holly takes, visiting the real locations where key scenes were filmed.

This guide covers the essential P.S. I Love You filming locations in Wicklow. We'll tell you exactly where to find the bridge, the beach, the pub, and the scenic viewpoints. More importantly, we'll explain the practical realities: the roads are genuinely challenging, the weather changes fast, and trying to navigate while emotional about a movie plot is a recipe for a stressful day. This is romantic territory best explored with someone else handling the logistics.

The Meeting Bridge: Where Gerry and Holly First Connect

Finding the Actual Location

The bridge where Gerry meets Holly — the inciting incident of the entire film — spans a small river in the Wicklow Gap at coordinates 53.0106° N, 6.3294° W. It's not marked on most tourist maps, and Google Maps will try to send you down farm tracks that aren't suitable for rental cars.

The bridge itself is a simple stone structure, probably dating to the 19th century. What makes it cinematic is the setting: the river valley, the surrounding hills, and the quality of light that filters through the Gap. Director Richard LaGravenese chose this spot specifically because the narrow road forces the kind of "accidental" meeting that drives romantic comedy plots.

Getting there: From Dublin, take the N81 south through Blessington. At Hollywood (the Irish village), turn onto the R756 towards Glendalough. The bridge appears about 12 kilometres past the village on a left-hand bend. There is no parking area — you pull onto the grass verge.

The reality check: This road is properly narrow. Meeting another car means someone reversing, often for 50+ metres. If you're not confident reversing on a slope with a ditch on one side and a stone wall on the other, this isn't for DIY driving.

Why the Scene Works (And Why It's Hard to Recreate)

The landscape feels remote and wild, yet it's only an hour from Dublin. That accessibility-for-remoteness is Wicklow's signature. The wind in the film isn't exaggerated — the Wicklow Gap is a natural wind funnel. Gusts of 60-80 km/h are common, exceeding 100 km/h in winter. Standing on the bridge for photos is a genuine physical challenge. The romantic mood requires either perfect timing or humour about looking windswept.

Best time to visit: May through September offers the most reliable weather, though "reliable" in Wicklow is a relative term. Early morning (before 10am) typically has calmer winds and better light for photography. Bring layers — even in summer, the Gap can be 10 degrees cooler than Dublin.

Lough Tay: The "Guinness Lake"

The Private Estate Problem

Lough Tay appears briefly in P.S. I Love You's scenic montage. It's more famous as "the Guinness Lake" — the dark peaty water and white sand resemble a pint of Guinness. It's also a Vikings location, used as the fjord around Kattegat.

The challenge: Lough Tay sits entirely within the private Luggala Estate. There is no public access to the lake, and the estate employs security who patrol boundaries.

What you can see: The R759 "Military Road" runs along the eastern side of the valley, offering spectacular views down to the lake from several laybys. The most famous viewpoint is known locally as "the Vee" — a hairpin bend with a gravel pull-off where photographers gather.

What you cannot do: Walk down to the water, swim, or access the beach. The estate employs security who patrol the boundaries. Trespassing isn't just rude — it's legally actionable in Ireland.

The driver advantage: A local Private Driver knows which viewpoints offer the best light at different times of day, and can time visits to avoid the tour buses that crowd the Military Road in summer.

Brittas Bay: The Beach Where It All Makes Sense

Ireland's East Coast Secret

Brittas Bay appears in the climactic scenes where Holly finally understands Gerry's message. The beach stretches five kilometres along the Wicklow coast, offering dunes and Atlantic surf that's dramatic without being dangerous.

Unlike the west coast beaches, Brittas Bay faces east. This means sunrise views over the water and sheltered conditions from the prevailing westerly winds. The dunes are a protected ecosystem — home to rare plant species and nesting birds — so access is restricted to designated paths.

Getting there: From the Wicklow Gap, take the R750 east towards the coast, following signs for Brittas Bay. The main car park fills by midday in summer.

Practical tip: The beach is best two hours either side of low tide. Check tide tables before visiting.

The Pub: Johnnie Fox's and Movie Magic

Finding the Film's Fictional Establishment

The pub where Gerry's friends gather to help Holly doesn't exist as a single location. Director LaGravenese used multiple Wicklow establishments to create a composite fictional venue. The exterior shots were filmed at Johnnie Fox's Pub in Glencullen, one of the highest pubs in Ireland and famous for its traditional music sessions.

Johnnie Fox's sits at 300 metres elevation in the Dublin Mountains. It's been operating since 1798 and has built a reputation as much on its location as its pints. The pub claims to be the "highest pub in Ireland" — a claim disputed by several establishments in Cork and Kerry, but valid for the Dublin/Wicklow area.

What you'll find: Traditional music nightly, a seafood menu that emphasizes locally caught fish, and a crowd that mixes tourists with Dublin locals escaping the city. The pub is genuinely atmospheric — low ceilings, wood panelling, open fires — but it's also genuinely busy. Arriving after 8pm without a reservation means standing.

For visitors wanting the "movie pub experience," Johnnie Fox's is the essential stop. For visitors wanting a quieter drink with similar atmosphere, the smaller establishments in villages like Laragh or Rathdrum offer less crowds.

The Practical Route: Following Holly's Journey

The Romantic Road Trip Itinerary

Morning: Depart Dublin via the N81. Stop at Hollywood village for coffee and photos with the "Hollywood" sign.

Late Morning: Continue to the Wicklow Gap and the meeting bridge — the emotional heart of the tour.

Midday: Lunch at Johnnie Fox's Pub. Book ahead. The seafood chowder is excellent.

Afternoon: Drive the Military Road past Lough Tay viewpoints. Continue to Glendalough — the 6th-century monastic settlement with round tower and lakeside walks.

Late Afternoon: Brittas Bay for beach time. The light is best before sunset.

Total driving distance: Approximately 140 kilometres of narrow, winding roads.

Why This Needs a Driver

The route described above involves:

• Single-track roads with no passing places
• Reversing on slopes when meeting oncoming traffic
• Navigating while trying to spot film locations
• Finding parking at popular spots without wasting time
• Driving after an emotional day looking at romantic movie locations

The route involves single-track roads with no passing places, reversing on slopes, and navigating while spotting film locations. A Private Driver transforms this from a stressful navigation challenge into an actual romantic experience. You can look at the scenery, talk about the film, take photos, and arrive at each location relaxed rather than frazzled.

The driver also adds value you can't get from a map: knowing which viewpoints work in different weather, where to stop for the best photos, which pubs have music on which nights, and how to avoid the tour bus schedules that crowd the Military Road.

Beyond the Film: Powerscourt Estate

Powerscourt offers formal gardens voted among the world's finest by National Geographic. The house was damaged by fire in 1974, but the terrace views across the Wicklow mountains are unmatched. It's a logical final stop before returning to Dublin.

Final Thoughts: The Reality of Movie Location Tourism

P.S. I Love You works because the locations are genuinely beautiful and genuinely challenging to navigate. The Wicklow Mountains demand preparation, appropriate clothing, and realistic weather expectations.

What the film doesn't show is traffic, parking struggles, narrow roads, and the need to keep eyes on tarmac when you'd rather look at scenery. The solution isn't skipping the locations — it's removing logistical stress by hiring a Private Driver who knows the area.

The mountains will still be dramatic. The beach will still be beautiful. The bridge will still be there, wind and all. But you'll arrive relaxed and remember the scenery rather than the driving.

For Cinematic Ireland: The Ultimate Guide to Film & TV Locations — the master hub

For more romantic Ireland experiences:

• The Banshees of Inisherin: Visiting Achill Island & Inis Mór
• Star Wars in Ireland: How to Visit Skellig Michael & Malin Head
• The Quiet Man in Cong