Hiking Holidays: Wicklow Way

Comfortable start at the Wicklow Way. First you have to go straight ahead, before the first metres of altitude are done in the Coillte Forest. You continue past numerous farmhouses and up on the Stookeen Hill. From here you have an amazing view on the valley of Clonegal – the «Irish Switzerland».

The pub «The Dying Cow» offers you some interesting stories after the first kilometres and a welcome oppurtunity for a rest. The Wicklow Way then leads you onto scenic paths at the Muskeagh Hill. A small fairy forest just before Tinahely inspires you to dream before you toast the day with a pint at the market place of this small village.

You leave Tinahely behind and walk back up to Mangan Wood. Past sheep pastures and through small forests today’s tour leads you into the valley of the river Derry. You follow a quiet side road to Sandyford Bridge, where you spend the night on a small farm.

A hike up to the Sheilstown Forest and then down to the Iron Bridge. Today’s destination is the wild valley of Glenmalure. Irish rebels sought refuge in this place for many years, until the English Crown set up a base in the valley to end the rebellion. An old trading station and the ruins of the military barracks still bear witness of this turbulent time.

Views on the Lugnaquillia Mountain – the highest peak of the Wicklow Mountains – escort you on today’s hike up to the pass of Lugduff Gap. From here you descend into the picturesque valley of Glendalough. For the first christian monks this used to be a place of retreat and prayer for centuries. The Wicklow Way then takes you to the small village of Laragh.

You leave Laragh and walk up to Paddock Hill. The dense forests are soon replaced by an untouched heath landscape in the Wicklow Mountain National Park. The tour then takes you to the Old Bridge and on side roads you will reach the small village of Roundwood. The short stage gives you time for a hike around the reservoirs of the Vaultry Reservoir.

The royal stage of the Wicklow Way: You soon reach the first lookout point from where you can see nearby Lough Dan. You then enter an open area from where you can see as far as the British coast on clear days. The trail leads you up to the Djouce Mountain and with views on Ireland’s highest waterfall to Crone Forrest, where today’s stage ends.

Transfer to the fishing harbour Rosroe. This is the start of the ‚Famine Trail’, established during the time of famine in Ireland, in order to facilitate transporting groceries faster inland. Today this narrow trail winds along the coast of the Killary fjord offering spectacular views.