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Vartry Lake/Reservoir – 2 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk
A pleasant road walk around the shore of the lower lake offers many scenic vistas and takes about two hours. At reception turn left towards Roundwood Village, then take the next left turn (200m) and walk forward until you reach the walks on either side of the road. A pleasant walking experience 5 minutes from the park – watch out for wild deer, foxes, owls, or go fly fishing (permit required).
Djouce Woods – 2 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk Distance: 7 km
Approach from Sally’s Gap, just outside Roundwood Village in the direction for Dublin – Wicklow Walking Routes.
The Stoney Pass – 3 Hours – Distance: 10 km – Ramble
The Stoney Pass is an old route linking Ballinastoe to Luggala and this walk makes a circuit in this area. A detour up to The Barr will yield fine views down to Luggala and Lough Tay. Not suitable for younger children. Approach from Roundwood and take R759 to Sally Gap and park in the car park on right beside the prominent Pier Gates to Luggala Lodge.
Three Rock – 3 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk – Distance: 8 km
Ticknock & Three Rock Woods have been popular for many years. Families with young children will want to short cut across to three Rock which reduces the distance and climb by half.
Prince William’s Seat – Estimated Time:3 Hours – Hillwalk – Distance 8 km.
This is a short easy Hill walk combining part of The Wicklow Way with an ascent of Prince William’s Seat and Knocknagun. Approach from Glencullen or Rockbrook.
Raven’s Rock – 3 Hours – Distance: 7.5 km – Ramble. Curtlestown Wood contains a fine section of The Wicklow Way and this walk uses this to ascend to a large tor called Raven’s Rock. The full walk is not suitable for young children. Approach from Enniskerry village, travel 3 miles out the Glencree road and park in a car park on the right.
Maulin – Estimated Time:5 Hours – Distance:8.5 km – Ramble/Family Walk
This walk provides an interesting route of ascent up Maulin combined with spectacular views into the Powerscourt Deerpark and across to the Waterfall. Not suitable in the full for young children due to the amount of uphill. Approach from Enniskerry/Kilmacanoge, follow signs for Powerscourt Waterfall, continue 1 mile beyond the latter’s gate and park in Crone Woods car park. Follow the footsteps of deer hunters on walks across high moorland. Wicklow is teeming with deer (Red/Sika Hybrid), increasing your chances to getting up close to nature. Walk through the untamed wilderness with the awesome views and spectacular scenery.
Luggala Valley – Wicklow Walking Routes – 5 Hours – Ramble Distance: 15.5 km
Annamoe – Walking Routes – Wicklow – 4 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk Distance: 12 km
Trooperstown – 3+ Hours – Ramble – Distance: 10+ km
Trooperstown Hill lies a little aloof to the east and receives very few visitors in comparison to Laragh & Glendalough. This walk is mostly on track or path.
Glendalough – Spink Loop – Back in the 6th century, hermit monk Saint Kevin first sought solace and contemplation in the idyllic surroundings of Glendalough. His followers established a monastery here, which would become one of the most important monastic sites in Europe. The focal point was the 33m high round tower, where the monks could hide away, keen to keep their precious manuscripts from the hands of invading Vikings. The Glendalough Valley is now part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Established in 1991, it now extends to more than 170sq km. Only an hour’s drive from Dublin city, there is a vast array of routes at all levels of difficulty but Glendalough is best explored on the Spink and Glenealo Valley Route, a high quality loop walk with excellent way-marking and a well-maintained trail.
Ascent :380m Distance 9km Estimated Time:3hrs – 4hrs Grade moderate. Back at the Visitor Centre there are refreshments available in the restaurant. Start and Finish: Glendalough Visitor Centre Terrain:mix of good paths and board walking.
Glendalough – The Green Road – 3 Hours – Ramble – Distance: 9 km
This walk uses a selection of forest tracks in Derrybawn Woods. What all these tracks have in common, is that they are or were parts of The Wicklow Way which has changed its route here several times over the years. Starting point is the same as the ‘Glendalough’ route
Glendalough – Miner’s Road – 3 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk – Distance: 7 km
This walk visits the old mining area and makes a circuit of the dramatic Upper Lake backed by the steep cliffs of the Spink. To lengthen the walk, hike to the saddle of Borenacrow and return via the Wicklow Way. For a family walk follow the Miners Road as far as you like and return the same way. Approach from Laragh (R756). Fork left to Glendalough, cross bridge and park in Upper Lake car park.
WALKING …… WALKING …… WALKING …… WALKING
Mullacor – 5 Hours – Hillwalk – Distance: 14 km. This Hillwalk commences with a steep ascent from Glenmalure on old mining paths. You can optionally finish at the Glenmalure Inn and save 3kms or return to the start via The Wicklow Way
Flags Pass – Estimated Time:4 Hours – Distance:11 km – Ramble
Flags Pass is the name of the high saddle that links Glenmalure to the Ow Valley and Aughavannagh. This walk makes a circuit of the valley of the Drumgoff Brook, taking in two hilltops of greatly differing characters; Slieve Maan and Fananerrin. Approach from Drumgoff (past old barracks) which is reached from Laragh/Rathdrum.
Croaghanmoira – Walking Routes – Wicklow – 3.5 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk
Coolafunsuoge – Walking Routes -Wicklow – 3.5 Hours – Ramble Distance: 11 km
Coolattin Woods – Walking Routes – Wicklow – 1 to 2 Hours – Family Walk
Stookeen Hill – 2.5 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk – Distance: 7 km
A pleasant short circular walk through Raheenakit Forest with good views across the midlands from the open hillside. Mostly on forest tracks, muddy in places. From shillelagh fork left at the Walkers shop in village, travel 1 mile to Ballard crossroads, turn right and park at forest entrance on hillcrest.
Moylisha Hill – 3.5 Hours – Ramble – Distance: 12 km
This walk takes a meandering route up around Moylisha Hill with an opportunity to visit a Megalithic court tomb. The route starts and finishes at Egan’s Pub in Parkbridge
Dunderry – Walking Routes – Wicklow – 2.5 Hours – Ramble Distance: 9 km
Cuilaphuca Wood – Walking Routes – Wicklow – 2 Hours – Ramble/Family Walk
Walking The Wicklow Way.
The countryside of Ireland is a patchwork of many different landscape types, including several mountainous and upland areas. One of the most spectacular of these is in county Wicklow, just south of Dublin, which despite its proximity to the capital contains many kilometres of wonderfully unspoilt mountain trails of which The Wicklow Way is the best known. In fact the Wicklow Way was the first such trail in Ireland having been formally established in 1980. Why not take in a small section of the Wicklow Way that suits your experience and fitness level?
The Wicklow Way is now part of a network of long-distance self-guided walking trails, (also called ‘way-marked ways’), throughout Ireland. The Wicklow Way combines easy accessibility with a wide variety of scenic experiences, some of them in truly remote upland areas. They include mountains, upland lakes, steep-sided glacial valleys, fast flowing mountain streams, forests and farmland. The Wicklow Way route is now the most westerly section of the E8 footpath which extends across much of Europe.
The Wicklow Way begins in Dublin’s southern suburb of Rathfarnham and travels in a south-south-westerly direction across the Dublin and Wicklow uplands, then through the rolling hill country of southwest County Wicklow to finish in the small, County Carlow village of Clonegal 132 kilometers later.
A combination of suburban parkland, forest trails, wild and scenic mountain landscape and finally rolling countryside offers a wonderfully varied, 8 to 10 day experience for a hill-walker of average fitness. En route the Wicklow Way passes mountain lakes, ruined buildings – stark reminders of previous widespread human habitation – occasional memorials to historic events of past centuries and extensive remains of the early Christian monastic settlement in the beautiful Glendalough valley.
General Information on Scenic Areas ……. Scenic Drives ………
You might want to head for the nearby village of the village of Roundwood, with its thriving Sunday market. Roundwood is an ideal base to visit Glendalough, Powerscourt or the Blessington Lakes with nearby Russborough House. Slightly south is Laragh with its restaurants and pubs. Why not try the scenic drive across Sally’s Gap, head south past the Blessington Lakes (visit Russborough House) and return via The Wicklow Gap, a truly beautiful drive. Pass through Laragh on the way back, it makes a great base for further exploration of the surrounding mountains. Experienced walkers might want to climb Lugnaquilla, the highest mountain in Wicklow, while those in pursuit of more leisurely walks can explore historic Glenmalure or the scenic area around Lough Dan.. Further north still the beautiful formal gardens of the Powerscourt Estate lie in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain. Don’t miss Powerscourt Waterfall close by, at 130m the highest waterfall in Ireland or Britain. The cascade is impressive at any time of year, but especially dramatic after rain.
