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
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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
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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
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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
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Directions To Get Here

Easy Access From DUBLIN In The North

Follow Signs From The M11

Good Bus Service
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THE WALKS

Dont get lost  take a copy with you

Print - Version - Here  >
 

Glendalough Visitor 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
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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  >

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