Dublin & Wicklow Walks

Duration: 2-3 hours
A hidden gem – a lovely woodland walk which is very peaceful and quiet. The walk is especially good in the autumn when the tree leaves are changing colour. The woodland is a nature reserve and a proposed site of special scientific interest, with one of the largest stands of native hardwoods in the country. The walk is low-level and easy, mostly following grassy paths.

Route

• The walk starts at the car park of the Vale of Clara nature reserve. This is just beyond the tiny hamlet of Clara, which has a picturesque bridge and church. Clara is reached by a small (quite easy to miss) turning off the main R755 Laragh-Rathdrum road – about 5km beyond Laragh.
• There are three marked loop walks to choose from – 2, 5.6 and 9.5 km long. The longer route takes 2-3 hours. For each route there are colour coded markers to follow.
  

Duration: About 1 hour
An easy walk for a summer evening or autumn afternoon on good paths through woodland. Although its not high, there are great panoramic views from the summit of Carrickgollogan and the lead mines chimney forms another point of interest.

• See also the Coillte information on Carrickgolligan, which includes a trail map;
• The wikipedia page on Carrickgollogan;
• And a brief history of the lead mine.

Route

• Starting in the carpark, find the Coillte map showing the trails. From this map, bear right and follow the wide path towards Carrickgollogan – the hill will quickly become visible as a low summit through the trees.
• As you get approach Carrickgollogan, bear right off the main path onto a smaller path that leads through the trees and winds up to the summit of Carrickgollogan. Despite its low height, on a clear day the panoramic views are excellent.
• Retrace your steps back down the hill and rejoin the main path. Continue along the main path, which will bear left and continue through the woods. Keep on the main path – don’t follow the paths heading downhill to the right (unless you would like to do some pleasant exploring of the woods) – and you will eventually come to the edge of woods and see open fields. Bear right and you’ll shortly arrive at the lead chimney. Although its high, its will not be visible until you get quite close, as the view is obscured by the trees.
• At the chimney, an optional detour is to walk downhill following the chimney flue (which is underground but visible as a raised mound leading northwards). The brambles at the bottom are v. good, but come at the cost of the walk back uphill.
• After exploring the chimney, return to the woods and continue along the path to the right. As before, keep bearing left and you will end up back at the car park.
• If you would like to extend the walk, its only a short distance from the car park to the Scalp.

Duration: 3-4 hours
A more challenging walk with great views over the surrounding hills and beautiful heart-shaped Lough Ouler. Although there are paths along the full route, these are often remarkably hard to find and so in practice much of the route can end up being off-path, which can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your inclination.

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.

Duration: about 2 hours
A shortish walk around Lough Bray Lower, with great views over secluded Lough Bray lodge. A longer walk around both Lough Bray Upper and Lough Bray Lower is also possible, but I prefer the shorter walk myself.

Eagles Crag

Lough Bray Upper

Lough Bray Lodge

Route

• The route starts at the path beside the gatehouse to Lough Bray lodge. There is a layby a hundred metres or so further along the road where its possible to park, although it can get tricky to find space in summer.
  

  Gatehouse at start of route

  Path at start of walk

• Follow the path away from the road and you will soon see Lough Bray Lower. Follow the path around to the left and around the lough where it then climbs steeply up to Eagle Crag. There are excellent views over both loughs, and of Lough Bray lodge.
  
  View over Lough Bray Upper from Eagle Crag
• From Eagle Crag, bear right and follow the path along the ridge around Lough Bray Lower. This returns to the road to the north of the gatehouse, from where it is a short walk back to the start of the route.

Duration: About 3 hours
A fairly easy walk in great scenery between Lough Tay and Lough Dan. Shame the name of the hill is such a mouthful ! The area around Lough Dan really is one of my favourites – since there are no roads the area is completely car free and has a great feeling of quietness. Knocknacloghoge itself also seems to be a little off the beaten path so its much quieter than other hills around Lough Tay.

Knocknacloghoge

Lough Dan from summit

Meandering river …

Route

• The start of the walk is at the Pier Gates, entrance to Luggala Lodge. Car parking is easiest further along the road (towards Roundwood) where there is a layby on the right. Next to the Pier Gates themselves is a pedestrian kissing gate that leads onto a tarmac road leading downhill.
  
  Pier Gates, pedestrian gate is to the left.

• Follow the tarmac road downhill, then turn left at the white cottage (the estate gatehouse) – there is even an old sign on the cottage pointing towards Lough Dan …
  
• Follow the road past a farm and you will cross two bridges. The road ends after the second bridge and there is a gate on the right that leads up to Knocknacloghoge itself. Cross the gate and follow the path up hill to a second gate. Keep going through this gate.
  Second bridge. Gate leading to hill is across the bridge and to the left
• On the right a little way on (running across the hill following the line of the bracken) is an old drove road, now a grassy path. Follow the road as it heads up around the side of the hill.
  
  Drove road
• The summit of the hill will come into sight on the left. The road itself continues around the hill without going to the top, so follow the path on the left that heads up hill from the drove road. Take this path towards the summit. This path eventually peters out, but the hillside is criss-crossed with small paths and any of these can now be taken to reach the top.
  
  Summit cairn
• To descend, begin by following the path that leads south from the summit. Bear to the left and keep heading towards the head of Lough Dan (there are cliffs to the right). There are two options for descending. If its late summer and the bracken is thriving (it can be 4 or 5 feet high), then follow the line of the bracken left back towards to the drove road and retrace your steps back to the start of the walk. If the bracken is passable, then a nice alternative is to descend towards the cottage at the head of Lough Dan and return left along the old road.
  
  Cottage at head of Lough Dan
• For a much longer walk, its also possible to descend to the south-west towards the Inchavore River and either walk back to Lough Dan along the river, or cross the river at the Copse and climb Kanturk and Scarr. I wouldn’t recommend either of these options though – the descent from the hill is over boggy, lumpy ground, and the path back along the river is similarly unpleasant (with the addition of deep bracken to add to the “fun”). If its been raining the river will also almost certainly be impossible to cross without getting wet.

Duration: About 45 minutes.

A short walk for a summer evening, the main highlights being the ruined Hellfire Club and the spectacular views across Dublin city. The walk is circular and can be done in either direction, but its recommended to go clockwise (starting out along the forestry road, returning directly downhill) to best enjoy the views on the return leg.

Hellfire Club

Path from Hellfire Club back to car park

Route
The route is straightforward and follows well trodden paths. Starting at the car park, walk the length of the car park to where a forestry road starts. Follow this road for about 1km as it twists through the woods, then take the sharp right turn onto another forestry road that appears as the main road bends to the left and heads downhill. Although there a few muddy paths leading off from the main road, the right turn you want is the first one onto a proper forestry road and so is easy enough to spot. Follow the road for about 300m to find the Hellfire Club. This is a ruined building with a colourful history – see, for example wikipedia for more details. There are great views over Dublin city from here. Continue past the Hellfire Club following a narrow path downhill through the trees. This leads directly back to the car park.

Duration: about 1.5 hours
A very enjoyable walk through lovely woods to the Devils Glen waterfall, returning alongside the river through the glen.

Path through woods

Waterfall

Woods

Route

• Turn off the R763 into the entrance of the Devils Glen woods and drive for about a mile to the car park. At the entrance to the car park itself is a noticeboard with a map of the woods. Starting from this noticeboard, bear right and follow the clearly visible path into the woods.
• After a short distance, on the right you’ll see some overgrown steps (see photos below) leading up to a rocky outcrop – a short detour is in order for the view.
  

  Steps to view point

  Plaque on steps

• Returning to the main path, follow the path through the woods to eventually reach the Devils Glen waterfall. The path is clearly marked and easy to follow. Note rock arch (see below) about halfway along the path, and various pieces of artwork on the way.
  
  Rock arch 
• Return initially along the same path, but on reaching a fork bear left to stay by the river and return to the car park via a different route from that coming out. A couple of the sculptures along this route are shown below.
  

  Sculpture

  Sculpture

Duration: about 1.5 hours
An unusual low level walk through lovely forest (away from the Glendalough crowds) and along a section of St Kevins Way.

Forest walk

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 you reach a junction. Take the small path downhill that is marked by a wooden post with a grey dot (this is one of the way-marked walks organised by the national park at Glendalough).
• Follow this path until it reaches the river and joins St Kevins Way. Turn right onto St Kevins Way .
• St Kevins Way eventually joins the road through Glendalough. Cross the road and walk through the monastic city to reach the marked path to the Upper Lake. Follow this path back to the car park.

Other Maps

Map below is slightly more detailed than google map. See also the “grey” walking trail marked on this map,

Duration: About 1.5 hours

A lower level walk to base of the spectacular Powerscourt Waterfall. The first part of the walk is through pleasant woods, before opening out into the Powerscourt Waterfall valley. The valley itself makes a good spot for a picnic (there is also a cafe), while clambering over the rocks at the base of the waterfall is always a favourite with children.

Route

• Starting from the car park at Crone, follow the forest trail at the head of the car park. There are several twists and turns in the path, but ignore side paths and follow the route clearly marked with Wicklow Way signs.
• After a fairly long, level stretch, the path comes to a Y junction with a path to the left leading down hill. The path is a bit overgrown but easy to spot.
  
  

  y-junction, take path to left.

• Follow path downhill to a gate. Take path around right-hand side of gate.
  
  

  gate, with path to right

• Turn right just after the gate into trees and head downhill to reach an old forest road.
  
  

  forest road

• Follow the forest road downhill. You’ll come to a point where the road is now blocked by gorse and bracken – there is a narrow path through this, but a better (i.e. drier, less prickly) option is just to step off the road 10-20m into the trees and follow parallel to the road.
  
  

  Route through trees bypassing gorse

• Keep downhill and you’ll shortly come onto a metalled road. Head right and follow this road to the waterfall itself.
• Return by the same route.

Duration: About 4.5 hours

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.

Other Maps

Duration: About 1 hour.

A short walk through delightful woods (very photogenic on a sunny day or in autumn), followed by a steep climb up the scalp itself for a commanding view. The climb up the scalp requires a bit of scambling and is probably unsuitable for young children (say below 7 or 8 years old).

Path through the woods

Scalp

Curious trees

Route

• At the north end of the car park, follow the path (through a gap in the fence). After a short distance, a narrow path crosses the main path dropping steeply downhill from left to right. Take this path. Soon it levels out and curves left.
• On reaching a gate leading onto the road through the Scalp, turn left along the road. A short distance on the left is a gate where the old road continues straight and the new road bends to the right. Cross onto the old road and start climbing up the scalp.
• Bear to the right up the slope towards a large slab of rock, then bear left below the cliff and scree to reach a grassy slope which leads to the top of the cliffs. The slope up the scalp is quite steep and requires a bit of a scramble.
• At the top, enjoy the view! There are many small paths leading away from the top – follow any of them heading away from the cliffs to reach a wider path through the woods. Follow this path.
• At the T-junction continue straight and follow this path back to the car park. An alternative is to take the left turn at the T-junction for a slightly different route back.
• This walk can be easily extended to include Carrickgollogan and the Lead Mines Chimney.

Duration: About 4.5 hours

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.

Other Maps

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

Click on map to enlarge

Duration: About 3 hours
A lovely walk up to Scarr mountain returning via Lough Dan. In addition to the great views, Lough Dan is entirely car-free (the only “road” along the Lough is a dirt track) and so feels remarkably peaceful.

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.

Duration: About 3 hours for full walk, or 1.5 hours for shorter option.

A longer (3 hours or so) walk taking in part of the Wicklow Way, the Powerscourt Waterfall and the summit of Maulin. With superb views over the Powerscourt Waterfall valley and higher level views over the Wicklow mountains from the top of Maulin, this is a great walk for a clear day. Two shorter variations on this walk are also possible:

• After reaching the Powerscourt Waterfall, return back along the same path. This reduces the time to about 1.5 hours, and follows good, clear paths at all times.
• Descend into the Powerscourt Waterfall valley – more details here.

View of Maulin from the Sugar Loaf walk. Route of walk is marked in blue

Path above Powerscourt Waterfall valley

View of Sugar Loaf

Route

• Starting from the car park at Crone, follow the forest trail at the head of the car park. There are several twists and turns in the path, but ignore side paths and follow the route clearly marked with Wicklow Way signs.
• After passing through the forest, the path suddenly emerges into the open high above the valley into which the Powerscourt Waterfall drains, with wonderful views. Follow the path along the side of the valley.
• The path eventually becomes less clear for a while as it enters some pine woods. Follow a line through these woods to emerge in the open again to a clearly marked path with a view of Maulin to the right, and the Dargle river (which becomes the waterfall) to the left.
• A pleasant detour is to follow the path downhill to the Dargle River for a picnic.
• At this point there is an option to return back to Crone along the same path again, reducing the walk duration by about an hour. Otherwise, continue uphill to the summit of Maulin along the clearly visible path.
• Follow the path back into the woods to pick up the forestry road. Be sure to head west rather than east to find the point where the path enters the woods.
• Follow the forestry road back to Crone car park. There are several routes through the forest, but all lead back to the car park.

Duration: About 2 hours from Bray to Greystones, 20 mins return by train.

The walk around Bray Head is a real gem. As well as the uninterrupted views out to sea and of the cliff scenery, one of the most appealing aspects of the walk is how quickly the ambience changes from the bustle of Bray town to a quiet that feels a million miles away. The clear, level path is probably suitable for all ages, although care is needed with young children at some stretches where the path runs close to the cliffs.

Cliff path

View along coast

Cliff path

Route

Although the directions here start from Bray. this route can be walked in either direction i.e. starting either from Bray or Greystones.

• Start from the Bray Head Hotel, at the southern end of Bray promenade. Although blocked to cars, the road continues south, quickly rising and changing to a footpath.
• Follow the footpath around the coast.
• After walking around Bray Head, continue along the path as it skirts Greystones beach. If preferred, it is possible to descend onto the beach at a bridge where the path crosses a river draining into the sea.
• On reaching Greystones harbour, continue into the town to the railway station. Take one of the frequent trains back to Bray, end enjoy the cliff views once again from the comfort of the train. The station in Bray is about a kilometre or so from the starting point at the Bray Hotel.

Other Maps

Click on map to enlarge

View of Bray Head from Sugar Loaf Walk