The Wicklow Way: Self Guided 5 Day

Marley Park – Coolakay (Enniskerry) 23.3Km – Height Gain 404m Marley Park, which is a beautifully maintained wooded public park n Rathfarnham in South County Dublin is the official start or end of the Wicklow Way trail. The trail then leads you on a gentle ascent into the Dublin hills. Travelling south from here you will be rewarded with stunning views of Dublin city and coastline on reaching the summits of the Dublin hills. A mixture of forestry tracks and rocky paths bring you around Fairy castle and on through Glencullen Forest. From here you cross over into Glencree and Curtlestown where your days walking ends on the outskirts of Enniskerry village.

Coolakay to Old Bridge (Roundwood) – 16.9Km – Height Gain 502m After a hearty breakfast you join back on the trail where you stopped yesterday. Be sure to bring some snacks and water as there are no places to shop along the way.  The trail today will bring you through Crone Wood and alongside the Powerscourt Waterfall in the Powerscourt Deerpark. The track continues on into the Dargle Valley and around the side shoulder of Djouce Mountain, before passing the scenic Lough Tay (film location of “Brave heart” ) and on to Roundwood.

Old Bridge – Laragh (Glendalough) – 7.2Km – Height Gain 240m Joining back onto the trail near Roundwood, your walk from Roundwood takes you on quiet country roads and onto Paddock Hill. This is a bird sanctuary for The Irish Red Grouse. This is a beautiful days walking along winding grassy tracks from one valley into the next with wonderful scenic views into Glendalough Valley. As you come closer towards Glendalough you pass through some great forest trails with Scot Pines, Norwegian Spruce and European Larch trees.  This is the valley you finish your day at the 6th century monastic city of Glendalough.