Walk of the Week: The Wicklow Way
As far as Irish adventures go, the Wicklow Way is one of Ireland's most accessible waymarked walking routes, leading from the bustle of Dublin through a multitude of mountain and valley landscapes.
In a Nutshell
Distance: 127km Grading: Moderate Ireland’s oldest way-marked trail, pioneered by famous hill walker, J.B. Malone.Where is it?
The route begins officially in Marlay Park, Dublin. Dublin is a fantastic place to begin an Irish adventure. First time visitors and tenth time visitors alike will revel in the charisma and the craic. Marlay Park itself is just a short bus ride to the suburbs, and with many affordable flights to Dublin from the UK, Europe, and beyond, it's a very easy trail to reach. [caption id="attachment_16377" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Walking the Spinc in Glendalough[/caption] Expect striking scenery as you walk through the Wicklow Mountains and on to County Carlow, affording some of the best views on the Emerald Isle.Why walk it?
In addition to scenery including the famed "Guinness Lake" and Glenmalure Glacial Valley, there are lots of man made treasures to enjoy along the way too, including the ruins of Glendalough’s 6th century Monastic City, and of course the famous Irish hospitality at your pit-stops along the way. [caption id="attachment_16378" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Lough Tay - Does look like a pint of Guinness, doesn't it![/caption] Plus of course, nothing beats a pint of the black stuff to reward your walking efforts. Osbourne's bar at the end of the trail in Clonegal is a bit of an attraction, with its bar counter made from old coffin lids! In general, this is an easy to navigate moderately graded walk, with all the sense of achievement of a classic long distance trail, and fantastic rewards in one of the world's most welcoming countries.Planning to Walk the Wicklow Way
At Macs Adventure we suggest either a 5 walking day itinerary to pack in the highlights from Dublin to Tinahely, or a 8 walking day itinerary to cover the full waymarked route from Dublin to Clonegal. Contact info@macsadventure.com if you’d like more information, and you can see all the details of the Wicklow Way here: http://www.macsadventure.com/holiday-177/the-wicklow-way We hope our Walk of the Week series inspires you to try a new trail, maybe one you might not have thought of before. Happy hiking!Written by
Frances McCann