Lough Ouler

Tonelagee

Glenmacnass river

Route

• Start at the car park at the top of the Glenmacnass waterfall. Although the route can be walked clockwise or anti-clockwise, I would recommend the clockwise direction as it makes the descent easier (remember I said that the paths can be hard to find !). At the car park cross the river to the woods on the opposite side – there are stepping stones that can be used to make the crossing. Walk along the river bank to the right to reach the edge of the woods and then strike out uphill staying close to the edge of the woods. There is a path here, but it can be very overgrown in summer. Its a steep climb for about 100m and then levels off at the top of the woods and Tonelagee can be seen ahead.
• There is an old, overgrown road running along the top of the woods. Follow this to the right and find the path off to the left that heads up to Tonelagee. The walk up to the summit is now straightforward, with great views over Lough Ouler on the right-hand side.
• From the summit, follow the path northwards towards Stoney Top keeping Lough Ouler on your right. After a short distance you’ll see a standing stone with cross carved on it.
  

  Standing stone

  Cross carving

• At the standing stone bear right and start descending. Lough Ouler will still be on the right. Note that it is also possible to continue on to Stoney Top and descend from there, but it can be very boggy so I wouldn’t recommend it.
• Once you reach Lough Ouler, follow the edge of the lough round to the right and pick up the clear path running beside the Lough Brook that flows out from Lough Ouler. Follow this path down to the Genmacnass river.
• Now cross the Glenmacnass river. There are stepping stones here, and at the other side of the river is a small wood. Return back to the car park along the river. There is a fairly clear path running alongside the river for the whole distance.

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An alternative to the Spinc walk, this is a longer walk that loops to the south to take in Mullacor and Derrybawn mountains returning via part of the Wicklow Way.

Route

• Starting from the car park at the Upper Lough in Glendalough, take the path southwards to the base of the Poullanass Waterfall. Cross the bridge and follow the path uphill that runs beside the waterfall.
• At the top of the waterfall, a number of paths head off in different directions. Take the right-hand path, continuing uphill.
• After the first bend, there is a stile on the right which is easy identified by the sign warning about the need for appropriate outdoor footwear etc. Cross the stile and head steeply uphill. On reaching the top of the path, the reward is a spectacular view over Glendalough and the surrounding hills.
• The Spinc is a ridge extending to the west parallel to the Upper Lough. Follow the clearly visible boardwalk path along this ridge. The path is level and the easy walk along the ridge allows time to enjoy the views.
• When the forest bears away to the left, leave the boardwalk and follow the path to the pass between Lugduff and Mullacor. Use the boardwalk here to avoid as much of the bog as possible ! Climb steeply to the summit of Mullacor.
• Descend via the eastern shoulder of Mullacor to reach the path along the Derrybawn Ridge to the summit of Derrybawn mountain.
• Descend via the steep path to the forest. Cross the stile and continue on the path to join the Wicklow Way. Keeping on the Wicklow Way, return to Poullanass Waterfall and Glendalough.

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Although the Spinc walk receives more traffic, the views from Camaderry on the other side of the Upper Lake at Glendalough are at least as good and make for a fine walk.

Forest path near Education Centre

Summit of Camaderry (SE Top)

Glenealo River

Route

• Starting from the car park at the Upper Lake in Glendalough, head towards the lake and follow the wide path running westwards along the northern side of the lake.
• A short distance along this path is the Education Centre. Just after this, take the smaller path on the right heading uphill. Follow this path through a lovely forest until it takes a sharp turn left into a clearing. Take the small path on the right (its the only path) uphill.
• The trees are quickly left behind and on the open mountainside the path leading to the SE summit of Camaderry is clearly visible.
• At the SE summit, continue on the path to reach the NW (slightly higher) summit.
• From the NW summit, the two reservoir lakes at Turlough Hill are visible. Head towards the southernmost lake (on the left). The path quickly disappears and its necessary to pick your way through a series of peat hags.
• As you approach the reservoir, bear left and downhill towards the Glenealo River. Note that it is essential not to start the descent left too early (i.e. before nearing the reservoir) as there are dangerous cliffs between the summit of Camaderry and the Upper Lake. At the river, turn left back towards Glendalough. Follow the river to where it joins the path coming down from the Spinc ridge. Join the path and it follow it down beside the Glenealo River to reach the miners village at the western end of the Upper Lake.
• Follow the path that runs along the northern side of the lake to return to the car park.

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Since the google map for Glendalough lacks detail just now, the map below is below is probably more useful.

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Route

• Take the road from Oldbridge towards Lough Dan and park about 200m outside Oldbridge village. Take the small road uphill to the left that runs beside a wood. After about a kilometre the track passes a farm and continues to the open side of Scarr mountain. The walk to the summit is the straightforward.
• From the summit of Scarr head north west along the path to Kanturk.
• Descend towards the western end of Lough Dan to join the unpaved road that runs along beside the path. No cars are allowed on this road, so the whole area is remarkable for its peace and solitude.
• Return along the road beside Lough Dan.

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Deservedly one of the most popular walks in Wicklow. This is a high level walk along the Spinc ridge overlooking Glendalough, with panoramic views over Glendalough and the surrounding hills, returning past the Glenealo River as it cascades via a series of waterfalls into the Upper Lough. There is a well marked path for the entire walk and, apart from the fairly strenuous climb up to the Spinc ridge at the start, the walk is reasonably level and easy going.

View of the Spinc from west end of Upper Lough

Route

• Starting from the car park at the Upper Lough in Glendalough, take the path southwards to the base of the Poullanass Waterfall. Cross the bridge and follow the path uphill that runs beside the waterfall.
• At the top of the waterfall, a number of paths head off in different directions. Take the right-hand path, continuing uphill.
• After the first bend, there is a stile on the right which is easy identified by the sign warning about the need for appropriate outdoor footwear etc. Cross the stile and head steeply uphill. This is by far the most strenuous part of the whole walk as the path quickly gains height. On reaching the top of the path, the reward is a spectacular view over Glendalough and the surrounding hills.
• The Spinc is a ridge extending to the west parallel to the Upper Lough. Follow the clearly visible boardwalk path along this ridge. The path is level and the easy walk along the ridge allows time to enjoy the views.
• At the west end of the Spinc, stay on the path as it descends in a zig-zag towards the Glenealo River.
• The path now turns east and descends down beside a series of waterfalls to an old miners village at the west end of the lough. The views down the lough are exceptional on a clear day.
• After the miners village, the path continues along the north side of the lough back to the car park.

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Other Maps

The google map for Glendalough lacks detail just now, so the map below is currently a better bet.

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Lugnaquilla is the highest mountain in Wicklow and the only Munro (i.e. hill above 3000ft). It rewards the effort of climbing it with panoramic views over Glendalough and the Wicklow hills and views inland over the Blessington Lakes and Co. Kildare. There are a number of possible routes up Lugnaquilla – the one given here passes the dramatic cliffs of Fraughan Rock Glen and takes a short but steep route to the summit.

Fraughan Rock Glen	Fraughan River	Lugnaquilla summit from Clohernagh

Route

• Start from the car park at the end of the Glenmalure road, near to the youth hostel. Follow the small path north-west from the car park along the side of the river to find a small footbridge. Cross the river and continue along the road past the youth hostel.
• Fork left uphill a short distance after the youth hostel, following a forestry road up into Fraughan Rock Glen.
• In Fraughan Rock Glen the path follows beside the river, with the path gradually deteriorating as the river descends the steep slope at the head of the glen. Follow the path up to emerge onto an open area at the head of the glen with the summit of Lugnaquilla now visible in front.
• At this point one option is to bear right to reach the lower part of the northern shoulder of Lugnaquilla and then follow the shoulder to the summit. A shorter alternative is to bear left and take a more direct (and steeper) path up to the shoulder. In either case, once on the shoulder, the path to the summit is clear.
• Returning from the summit, head east along a gentle slope to reach the summit of Clohernagh.
• Follow the path east that descends the shoulder of Clohernagh (keep to the north of the shoulder to find the path) to join the Wicklow Way at the dramatic Carrawaystick Waterfall. Follow the path down to the Glenmalure road and return to the car park.

• An alternative descent is to begin following the path east from Clohernagh, but then bear north and descend to Arts Lough. Then follow the forest road down into Glenmalure.

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The google map above currently lacks detail – better map coming soon !