Walking Tours of Wicklow

6-day Itinerary | 8-day itinerary | 10-day itinerary

Introduction to the Wicklow Way

Although the best of the mountain walking is reputed to be in the southwest, the Wicklow Mountains offer superb and challenging routes, all within easy transfer from Dublin city.

The name Wicklow comes from the Viking "Wykynlo" or "Viking's Loch" referring to the town of Wicklow, one of their favourite bases on the Irish coast. The Gaelic "Cill Mhantáin" translates to the "Church of St. Mantan". From the border with county Dublin, the mountains cover the middle and west of the county, running south to the Wexford border. The highest point is Lugnaquilla at 926m. Rounded during the last Ice Age, the hills are smooth with granite bases and shiny schists poking through, to give them a wonderful silvery light. The Ice Age also produced wonderful deep valleys - Glenmacanass, Glenmalure, Glendalough, which run northwest to southeast, providing not only wonderful views but also plenty of legwork for the aspiring hiker!

Good pastureland forms the east of the county to the relatively gentle coastline. The train journey from Dublin follows the coast before turning inland at Wicklow town to Rathdrum and the lovely Vale of Avoca.

Wicklow Way Route

The total route is 132km and was the brainchild of a Dublin hill walker JB Malone, as early as 1966. The Way opened in 1981 and is one of the better-managed routes in the country, thanks to the Wicklow Uplands Council and local landowners. It is a pleasure to walk, well signposted, with rougher sections of the track graded to prevent erosion. The central section is covered by the Wicklow Mountains National Park - its headquarters are in Glendalough and worth a visit. The route follows on occasion the Military Road, constructed by the British in the early 19 th century to gain access to the lower regions of the county and the Irish rebels hiding within! The main downfall, as with many of the Irish Waymarked Ways, is the use of forest paths and minor roads to avoid walking on private land. However, it is little enough not to detract from the superb scenery, rugged narrow valleys and spectacular mountains. The route doesn't pass through many towns or villages, so most of the day to day walking is remote. Approximately 20% of the route is on tarred roads.

We offer the Wicklow Way from south to north, starting in the lower farming countryside and working up to the higher hills. This also allows for an easy transfer back to Dublin city at the end of your tour. We also suggest several optional mountain routes to extend the itinerary. Please follow these with care and caution, as they are not Waymarked.

We offer the following standard itineraries in the Wicklow Hills:

• 8 day walking tour on the Wicklow Way starting in Tinahely
• 10 day walking tour, starting in Tinahely with extra nights in Glenmalure and Laragh
• 6 day walking tour, starting in Glenmalure
• It is possible to provide an abbreviated itinerary
• It is possible to continue from Enniskerry to the end of the Wicklow Way in south Dublin and overnight in Dublin city

Customised holidays based in Wicklow that can include walking are also available - just fill out the Itinerary Request Form or e-mail us directly with your requirements.

Airports for this area

Dublin - Train connection to Rathdrum and transfer provided to Tinahely. Train connection to Rathdrum for 6 day tour, with transfer provided to Glenmalure

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