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Sugar Loaf

Duration: About 1 hour for short route, about 2.5 hours for longer route.

Surely one of the most popular walks of all time near Dublin. A favourite walk for all ages with fantastic views down the coast and inland to the Wicklow mountains. The shorter walk can be done in about an hour there and back (maybe an hour and a half with smaller children), with the longer route starting from Kilmacanoge taking about 2.5 hours. Children love the scramble up the rocky path near the summit, and the scamble back down, although younger children will need adult help.


Sugar Loaf viewed from
Powerscourt Waterfall Walk
View from start of short route

Short Route

Probably the most difficult part of this route is finding the small side route leading to the hill – see map below. Park at the foot of the hill (there used to be a car park, but its now closed so its necessary to park at the side of the road). Follow the path, which is clearly visible, to the top of the hill.

Short route is marked in blue, longer route in green. View Larger Map

Longer Route

Again, probably the hardest part of this route is finding the starting point.

  • Take the exit from the N11 into Kilmacanoge village and immediately take the left hand turn up a narrow road to the GAA ground. Along the side of the GAA ground is a path that marks the start of the route.
  • Follow the path to the shoulder of the Sugar Loaf. A clearly marked path then leads along the shoulder and up to the summit.
  • On the return, it possible to retrace your steps. But an alternative is to continue south and circle around the Sugar Loaf. Head for the Glen of the Downs and join the path that leads north back to the GAA ground.

See google map above.

Other Maps


Click on map to enlarge

Click on map to enlarge. Route starts from Kilmacanoge.

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6 Responses to “Sugar Loaf”

  1. rory Says:
    March 9th, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    the large google map seems to be incorrect when you click ‘view larger’. A map of The Netherlands comes up. NOW THAT’S SOME WALK!

  2. admin Says:
    March 9th, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    well spotted ! should be fixed now.

  3. trev Says:
    March 27th, 2011 at 10:56 am

    thanks for the info mate

  4. Paula Kehoe Says:
    July 30th, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Thank you for great directions with your map,will be visiting and walking the

    sugarloaf.

    Sincerely
    Paula

  5. milan Says:
    August 1st, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Thanks for directions, and maps, very useful

    I took longer route today, and finding starting point from GAA ground was in fact quite easy, however I didn’t manage to find southern route, the one I took just disappeared in the bushes(yes those sharp ones, brrr, my poor gore-tex), I just continued, and found another trail and thought it was the right one, but that one also disappeared somewhere on the western part on the hill. I manage at last to find route I climbed up and went down to a car. It was great, I little bit excitement ;) just want to say southern-western route can be maybe harder to find.

    Otherwise nice walk, a lot of blueberries(either I am not sure one can pick and eat them here in Ireland),

    2.5 hours is probably for families with kids, I managed in two hours with photo stops, and got a little bit lost on western side of the hill so I had to walk through a lot of vegetation that slowed me down.

  6. Paul Smith Says:
    August 31st, 2011 at 11:50 am

    I think that carpark is back open.

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