3-5 Day Wicklow Guided Walking Tour
| Places visited : Glendalough – Enniskerry - Powerscourt - Sugarloaf - the Wicklow Way - Djouce - Lough Tay – Vale of Clara - Avoca | Dates 2012: |
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| Please Specify date while booking. | April 13th | ||
| May 25th | |||
Price: 3 Day Tour €345, 5 Day Tour €565 |
June 8th |
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July 20th |
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| Aug 10th | |||
| Aug 31st | |||
Sept 7th |
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Includes: Accommodation with breakfast, |
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County Wicklow also known as "the garden of Ireland" it is just 1 hrs drive from Dublin's busy citycentre. The Dublin/Wicklow mountains are renowned for there diversity and splendid beauty and are the perfect surroundings for wonderful walks.
The Mountains are saturated with a patch work of forests, glens, lakes and valleys and whether your doing the 3 or 5 day tour we will set the walks to suit your pace and needs.
Wicklow has always been and still remains place of great inspiration to poets and writers alike. It is also steeped in its history of Irish resurrection and in the heart of the Glendalough there is the remains of the 6th Century Monastery of St. Kevin. It is also obvious when you visit Glendalough that St. Kevin’s choice of settlement is not by chance.
Day 1 : Pickup from Dublin @ 10:00 (Glendalough)
Glendalough and it's beautiful valleys. (easy / moderate)
Your tour starts with a pickup from Dublin and a drive deep into the heart of the Wicklow Mountain National to Glendalough where we will be staying for two nights. We will be staying in the Trooperstown Lodge, which provides excellent accommodation with great facilities. After we arrive and you have settled into your accommodation we will enjoy a great walk in the area over looking this beautiful valley and lakes, passing through one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. Glendalough is a fantastic place to start this tour and I'm sure you will agree when you see it.
The Spinc Walk:
Starting from the upper lake in Glendalough, this is one of the most beautiful walks in the area. This is a looped walk which overlooks the whole of Glendalough and it's two lakes. The walk is approx 4hrs at an easy pace with plenty of stops along the way to take in the views. This walks passes through an old mining village, an ancient Celtic Kings cemetry, a wonderful waterfall and some forested area.
After the walk you can return to the accommodation to realax for a while and in the evening enjoy a meal in the Wicklow Heather restaurant.
There are many local pubs that you can unwind and listen to some traditional music.
Day 2:The Wicklow Way, Glenmalure or Clara
Wicklow Way Walk approx 4hrs, ascent: 500m (moderate)
or Vale of Clara 3hrs (easy /moderate)
Today you will have a choice of walk depending on the group. We can along part of the Wicklow Way towards Glenmalure, through some forested track and out onto some open mountains before descending into the valley of Glenmalure. Glenmalure was the stronghold of the last Celtic Chief in this region Fiach Mc Hugh O'Byrne.
Or a Walk in the Vale of Clara which offers incredible forested walks. Clara is known as the smallest village or hamlet in Ireland, two houses and the ubiquitous church. I found this area one day while out staying in Laragh and it’s an absolute gem. There is a choice of walks here from 3 different loops all of which are easy going and through a wonderful forested area.
In the evening we will drive to the small town of Red Cross to Mickie finn's Pub to enjoy an evening meal with Irish dancing and music. Here you don't just enjoy watching Irish dancing but will get the chance to learn a few steps yourself.
Day 3: Enniskerry and the Powerscourt Gardens.
We will leave Glendalough today and drive to Enniskerry where we will visit The Powerscourt Garden's. We will be staying here for the next two nights in the Brook Cottage B+B.
This picturesque village is famous for the Powerscourt Garden's in County Wicklow and it’s also the film location of Celia Ahern's “P.S. I love you" and the Hollywood Block buster “Leap here”.
For those on the 3 day tour we say goodbye to Wicklow and take the scenic drive through Glencree back to Dublin.
Today is your day for those on the 5 day tour to enjoy Enniskerry.
Although Enniskerry is a small village it has many great restaurants, lively pubs and quaint coffee shops to relax in.
We can also organise some other activities for you in the area. Such as.
- Horse Riding - experience some horse riding over looking some great country side.
- Mounatin Biking - On a purpose built track with great guides.
- Cycling
- Golf - Selection of great golf courses in this area.
- Sea Kayaking
- Health Spa Session in the Rainforest Spa.
These can be arranged for you by your guide on the tour.
Day 4: The Wicklow Way or the Sugarloaf Mountain
Wicklow Way Walk approx 4hrs, ascent: 500m (moderate)
Sugarloaf Walk approx 1.5hrs, ascent: 100m (easy)
Today you will have a choice of walk either a walk over Djouce along the Wicklow Way or an easy guided walk on the sugarloaf. The walk over Djouce starts at Crone woods and follows the Wicklow way trail which brings you through a wooded area with beautiful views across to the sugarloaf and along the east coast of Ireland. The path goes along a trail over looking Powerscourt waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ireland. The trail will finish at Lough Tay below Luggala Mountain.
The Sugarloaf walk we will drive to the base of the Sugarloaf named due to the Quartzite stone on top of it. This is an excellent easy walk which also provides wonderful views along Ireland’s east coast and on a clear day you can see the mountains of mourne or even Snowdonia in Wales.
Day 5: Short walk and drop back to Dublin.
Short Walk 2- 3hrs ascent 200m
After breakfast we will drive for a short walk nearby on Prince William’s seat
over looking the Glencree Valley before we return to Dublin.
About the walks and fitness levels:
The walks on this tour are generally of a moderate level with
the option on most days for an easier type walk.
All the walks are taken at a pace to suit the group.
The groups can range from 6 to 12 in size with a mixed level of fitness and age usually.
Here is a short list of extras you will need to bring along for this walking holiday.
N.B. Ireland’s climate is of a moderate type and suited to walking all year round. Although it is quite changeable so starting a walk on a fine 
clear morning may not be the case for the afternoon.
- Hill walking Boots
- Wind / waterproof jacket
- Socks Leggings / tracksuit bottoms
- Thermal top / T-shirt
- Fleece & spare fleece
- Hat &gloves
- Over trousers
- Gaiters
- Small 1st aid kit.