Wicklow information & activities

The ideal way to appreciate the scenic beauty of Wicklow is also the most natural way…..simply by walking. Ireland’s temperate climate,  especially in Wicklow affords year round walking, hiking and mountain climbing.

Walking and hiking tours for all ages and hiking abilities are readily available in County Wicklow and are guaranteed to put you in touch with the charm and natural beauties of this “Garden of Ireland” at its loveliest.

A County for All Seasons 

Hiking and walking tours run all year round so you can pick your season.  High season is July and August; mid season May, June, and September; and low season February, March, April and October and November.  Each season offers different challenges and different rewards in climate, flora and fauna.  

• Spring offers new growth, breathtaking fields of wildflowers and a thousand shades of green. Weather can be variable with sudden quick showers followed by rainbows over the mountain peaks.
• Summer season in the Irish countryside brings an abundance of young animals and flocks of birds to increase the year round wildlife population, and the terrain is usually dry with trails reaching even the remotest areas.
• Autumn brings perfect hiking and walking weather and rich russet shades to the mountainsides with spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
• Winter hiking and walking has the advantage of clear, frosty, refreshing mountain air, and the landscapes take on a special beauty after a light snow fall. The hardest weather that Ireland’s winter has to offer can easily be weathered by wearing suitable hiking or walking gear and by staying on trail and avoiding wet and boggy areas.

The Wicklow Mountain range lies just south of Dublin and is the largest unbroken block of elevated ground in Ireland, covering an expanse of mountain ranges about 40 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide.  Highest peaks include Lugnaquilla (the “Lug”) at 925 meters, and Mullaghcleevaun (Irish for Top of the Cradle) at  849 meters. The easy accessibility to various elevations means that hikers and climbers can find trails uniquely suited to their levels of experience and ability.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself or your group alone for long periods of time on the trails of Ireland’s unspoiled mountains and hillside landscapes.  Hiking in Ireland is a relatively new local pastime and since the entire population of Ireland is less than five million you will never feel crowded or rushed at any stage of your hiking or walking tour. Centuries of Celtic magic and mystery are interwoven with Mother Nature’s bounty in this unspoiled land, rich in archaeology, history, tradition and culture.  

Wicklow Walking Tours

A very rewarding way to experience the beauties of the Wicklow Mountains and surrounding hills is to book an independent walking tour that will take care of your accommodations and meals and transport to starting points of scenic walks but leave you on your own during the walks.  Such tours also supply you with maps and instruction and safety backup, but leave you to enjoy the splendid isolation and tranquil beauty of the scenic trails. Singles, couples, or group tours can be booked that originate and end in Dublin with transportation in mini buses between hiking areas, or day hikes can be made from locations all around the county.  Transport by bus, train or car from Dublin city center or the Dublin Airport to the Wicklow hiking areas takes between an hour and an hour and a half.

Self guided tours usually range from five to ten days, but less experienced hikers can arrange shorter itineraries to suit their abilities.  Accommodation may be fixed, returning to a home base each evening, or progressive, with accommodation in family-run Bed & Breakfast guesthouses along the way.  Daily hikes range from 7.5-14 miles (12-23 kilometers).

If your time or stamina is more limited, there are many day walks you can join, either accompanied by an experienced guide or by simply joining like minded walkers out for a day’s excursion.  These are usually limited to 5-8 miles (10-12 kilometers) with moderate ascents.

The Wicklow Way – The Oldest Way-marked Trail 

Ireland’s oldest marked trail, the Wicklow Way, was pioneered over forty years ago by J.B. Malone, a famous Irish hill climber, who spent years promoting the thrills of hiking and climbing in Ireland.

The Way affords some of Ireland’s finest sights, including the Powerscourt Waterfall, Luggala, Loch Dan, Glenmalure, and the ancient historical site of Glendalough. The Way extends from Marlay Park in Dublin to Clonegal on the borders of Wicklow and Carlow Counties and covers a distance of 79 miles (127 kilometers).

Nature Protected and Unspoiled 

The Wicklow Mountains National Park, established in 1991, extends over 9000 hectares of heather covered mountainsides, woodlands, peat bogs, marshlands, lush green pastures, mountain glens, craggy mountain peaks, streams, waterfalls, valleys, and clear mountain lakes.  The National Park belongs to the people of Ireland and has no restrictions on visitors so is open twenty-four hours a day year round.  Large herds of hybrid deer, foxes, badgers, hares and birds of prey all enjoy save haven in the National Park.

Scores of shorter way-marked trails crisscross the Wicklow Way.  Each offers something special, whether it’s a close encounter with the flora and fauna unique to Ireland, an historical site, a spectacular vantage point, or a climbing challenge.