click on anything that is underlined for extra information

Glendalough nestles in a beautiful scenic valley in the Wicklow mountains,
30 miles south of Dublin.  Here St Kevin established a monastery in 6th century,
the ruins of which provide picturesque views.  .
 short walk – 2-4 hours
long walk – 6-8 hours

WICKLOW WAY

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

The 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!

Glendalough. It has an ancient monastic settlement and two clear watery lakes beneath
the sheer cliffs of a deep valley,

Laragh
Although recently by-passed by the Wicklow Way, most wayfarers would head into Laragh
to avail themselves of its services, and it has a reputation as the gateway to Glendalough.

There is plenty of accommodation of all types, but in the height of summer every bed can be taken.
There is a post office, a couple of shops, and a few pubs and restaurants.
 

St Kevin’s Bus (tel 01-2828119) operates a daily service through the village, linking with
Glendalough, Roundwood, Bray and Dublin. Laragh and Glendalough are among the
busiest tourist destinations in Ireland, and in the summer months it makes sense
to book your accommodation well in advance.

The jewel of Wicklow is undoubtedly Glendalough, ‘the valley of the two lakes’ where
St. Kevin founded a monastery in the 6th century.A number of buildings remain

mainly from the 10th and 11th centuries, including the cathedral, a chapel known
as St. Kevin’s Kitchen, the round tower and several subsidiary churches.

The nearby interpretative centre has an audio-visual presentation on monastic life
in Ireland and a scale model showing how the monastic city looked in its heyday.

The Upper Lake at Glendalough is in a deep U-shaped glacial valley which can
be appreciated in full by making the steep climb to the viewpoint of the Spink.

Wicklow is an ideal area for walkers who want to enjoy splendid scenery without too much
arduous terrain. Most of the walks are on well walked tracks, many of them waymarked,

with some stretches on minor roads. The climate in Wicklow, being on the east coast,
is noticeably drier than in the West of Ireland. Access to the region

**Directions To Get Here**

Easy Access From DUBLIN In The North
Follow Signs From The M11
Good Bus Service

**THE WALKS**

>>>click>>>PRINT-VERSION-HERE<<<click<<<
 

Glendalough Visotor Centre

Roundwood to Laragh / Glendalough
Distance: 12km
Walks Vary from 2-8 hours

For further reading on the Glendalough area  Wicklow National Park.

Several paths lead through the monastic ruins and by the round tower to the upper lake.
A track on the north shore of the upper lake leads up the valley to old lead mines
and the top of Conavalla (734m).  Turn back at any point.
 

Alternatively, the Wicklow Way provides a signposted route south through the forest
and over Mullacor (657m), returning the same way.
 

For a one-way all-day walk, follow the Wicklow Way north for about 10 miles,
skirting the top of Powerscourt Waterfall with views east to the distinctive top of Great Sugar Loaf.

 After crossing Glencree River, the route meets a car park at a lane which you can take for
about 2 miles northeast into the village of Enniskerry.
 

Modern wooden posts mark the Wicklow Way.  This is largely easy walking in forest and open moorland.
 

For a short walk, head up the valley from the bus terminus at the Visitor Centre and return by the same route.  Alternatively, follow the Wicklow Way south and return the same way.

**For Disabled Or Less Adgile Ramblers**

Modern wooden posts mark the Wicklow Way.
This is largely easy walking in forest and open moorland.

Approximately 20% of the routes are on tarred roads.
Check for the most suitable routes at the

Glendalough Visitor Centre