Ireland Walks
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the Ireland Walk Map>>
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Ballycotton Cliff Walk | 6 miles (9 km) | This popular coastal walk runs from Ballycotton village to Ballyandreen along a wonderful cliff top path. The route runs for about 5 miles (9km) with a number of seated viewpoints along the way. The area is great for wildlife watching so look out for Peregrine Falcons, herons, oystercatchers and sandhoppers on the way. You may also see dolphins and whales in the waters below during the winter months. Start the walk from the village, near to the lifeboat station. The pretty fishing village sits on a rocky ledge overlooking Ballycotton Bay. It includes a nice sandy beach stretching for about 16 miles to Knockadoon Head. From the lifeboat station there there are lovely views over to Ballycotton Island and the 19th century lighthouse. The path then heads west, passing Ballytrasna Beach and Doonen Macotter before coming to Ballyandreen Bay. Remember to bring your camera as the coastal scenery on the trail is simply stunning! View Full Details>> | |
| Blessington Lakes | 7 miles (11.2 km) | Enjoy a lovely waterside stroll along the Poulaphouca Reservoir on this walk in Blessington, County Wicklow. The reservoir is often referred to as two 'lakes' as it lies in two river valleys - that of the Liffey and, primarily, that of the King River. The site includes a lovely trail running along the western side of the water from the town of Blessington to Russeltown. Known as the Blessington Greenway it runs for about 3.5 miles, passing through lakeside woodland, with great views across the water to the surrounding hills. Look out for various birds on the water including the goosander, recently arrived as a breeding species in Ireland. The route finishes close to Russborough House which is one of the highlights of the area. The 18th century mansion houses the world-famous Albert Beit collection of art and offers fascinating guided tours. There's also a nice cafe where you can enjoy refreshments after your exercise. The lakes are located close to Dublin and can be reached in about 30 minutes by car. View Full Details>> | |
| Bray to Greystones | 5 miles (8.5 km) | This spectacular cliff top route in County Wicklow is one of the most popular walks in Ireland. It runs between the towns of Bray and Greystones, for a distance of just over 5 miles, on an undulating well trodden path. You'll pass along the Dublin-Wicklow railway line which runs outside of Bray Head along the coast, sometimes travelling within a few feet of the cliffs. The line, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is referred to as Brunel's Folly, due to the high costs of maintaining such a precariously positioned line. There are train stations in both towns so you can catch a ten minute service back to Bray at the end of the walk. The area is great for wildlife watchers. Look out for dolphins, whales, porpoises and basking sharks as you make your way along the path. Many varieties of sea birds can also be seen around the cliff tops. Keep your eyes peeled for Gannet, Kittiwake, Great Black-Backed Gull, Guillemots, Kestrels and Fulmar. The variety of flora on the route is also impressive. In the summer months you can see several types of wildflower, heather, bracken and gorse. The walk starts on the sea front in Bray, next to Bray Daly train station. Head south along the beach to Crab Rock where you cross the train line. Here you have the option of heading up to Bray Head. The hill stands at a height of 241 m (791 ft), commanding wonderful views over the area. At the summit you will find a concrete cross, placed there in 1953 during the holy year. Every Good Friday, hundreds of local people climb to the top of the head in a Good Friday procession marking the stations of the Cross. The route then descends back to the cliff top path where you continue south east to Brandy Hole and on to Greystones with fabulous views of the Irish Sea, The Wicklow Mountains and Bray. The final section takes you past Greystones Harbour before finishing on the front, close to the train station. At the end of your exercise you can enjoy refreshments at one of the fine pubs or cafes in Greystones. View Full Details>> | |
| Doolin to Cliffs of Moher | 7 miles (11 km) | Enjoy a spectacular coastal walk on this popular route in County Clare. The cliff top hike runs from the little village of Doolin to the Moher Tower at the southern end. There's fabulous views of the Atlantic coast and lots of wildlife to look out for on the way. At peak times there are 30000 birds from 20 different species to see on the cliffs. Keep your eyes peeled for puffins and razorbills in particular. Sea life is also in abundance with grey seals, porpoises, dolphins, minke whales and basking sharks to look out for in the waters below. Other features on the route include the fascinating geology of the area with Namurian shale and sandstone dating from 300-million years ago. There's also an excellent visitor centre with interactive media displays covering the geology, history, flora and fauna of the cliffs. The centre includes a nice cafe for refreshments after your exercise. The walk starts in Doolin and heads south west to the coast, with views of the Aille River which reaches the sea near the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Here you pick up the coastal path and continue past Doonagore Castle on your left. The 16th-century tower house is now a private holiday home. You continue south to O'Brien's Tower which marks the highest point on the cliffs at around 214 metres (702 ft). The tower was constructed in 1835 as an observation tower for the many Victorian tourists visiting the area. From here there are wonderful views as far as Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Loop Head at the southern tip of Clare and the mountains of Kerry are also visible. From the tower you head on to Stokeen Cliff and then to Moher Tower at the southern end of the cliffs. The ruined watchtower was built in the early 19th century and stands on Hag's Head, where the cliffs form an unusual rock formation resembling a woman's head looking out to sea. It's a striking location and makes a fitting end to the walk. View Full Details>> | |
| Drumshanbo to Leitrim | 5 miles (8.7 km) | This walk follows the Lough Allen Canal from Drumshanbo to Leitrim. The route is part of the Shannon Blueway which allows guided and unguided paddling and walking along the Lough Allen Canal and River Shannon from Drumshanbo to Leitrim Village. It runs for just over 5 miles along flat paths with nice views of the surrounding countryside on the way. The walk starts in Drumshanbo village and heads west to pick up the canalside path at the southern end of Lough Allen. You then head south to Acres Lough where you can enjoy a lovely boardwalk passing over the water. You can see this on the google street view link below. The canal continues south to Battle Bridge where you turn east towards Leitrim, with nice views of the River Shannon. View Full Details>> | |
| Dublin Canal Walk | 9 miles (15 km) | An easy waterside walk through the city of Dublin along the Grand Canal. The route runs from the Grand Canal Dock to Adamstown where it meets with the long distance Grand Canal Way which takes you all the way to the River Shannon. It's about a 15km (9mile) walk along a flat towpath so nice easy walking. On the way you'll pass a number of pretty locks and the statue of Patrick Kavanagh Statue. The Irish poet and novelist wrote the poem 'Lines written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin'. The walk starts from the Grand Canal Dock in the city centre of Dublin. The area has undergone significant redevelopment since 2000, being dubbed 'Silicon Docks' and becoming a popular location for high-tech multinationals such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Airbnb. The towpath then heads west passing Portobello, Dolphin's Barn, Inchicore. The path of the original main line, which serviced the Grand Canal Harbour, the City Basin (reservoir) and Guinness brewery, can be seen at Inchicore. The history of the canal is bounded to the brewery as it was used by Guinness at both ends of their process, for raw materials and the product itself. The route continues through Bluebell, and Clondalkin before coming to Adamstown and the Lucan Bridge. Here you can join with the Grand Canal Way which runs for 72 miles to Shannon Harbour. View Full Details>> | |
| Gap of Dunloe | 7 miles (12 km) | This walk takes you through the stunning Gap of Dunloe in County Kerry. The route follows a tarmac road through the area, with a series of beautiful lakes and the wonderful backdrop of the Kerry mountains all the way. It's a fairly flat route, running for about 11km. The road passes right through the narrow mountain pass which was forged between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain by glacial flows. The walk starts from Kate Kearney's cottage where there is a car park. From here you head south along the road passing the fives lakes including Coosaun Lough, Black Lake, Cushnavally Lake, Auger Lake, and Black Lough. There's also nice views of the River Loe which connects the lakes. Near the start of the hike you will pass an old arch bridge called the 'Wishing Bridge' so named because it is said that wishes made while upon it are destined to come true. The route finishes at the Head of Dunloe where you turn around an retrace your steps back to the car park. Here you can enjoy refreshments at the excellent Kate Kearney's Cottage, a 150 year old family-run establishment with a great menu. If you would like you could continue all the way to Lord Brandon's cottage but this would turn it into a 22km walk which may be to much in one day. The complete route would be more suitable for cyclists who can hire bikes in nearby Killarney. If you prefer to save your energy you can try hiring a jaunting car to take you through the gap. This horse-drawn trap takes up to four occupants and is a popular way of seeing the sights. View Full Details>> | |
| Glencar Waterfall | 1 miles (1 km) | This walk visits the beautiful Glencar Waterfall in County Leitrim. Start the walk from the Glencar Lough car park at the eastern end of the lake. From here you can pick up a lovely, surfaced footpath running along a stream to the falls. It's a delightful area with the waterside paths surrounded by attractive woodland. After rain the waterfall is particularly impressive. After visiting the falls you can follow the same paths back to the car park where there is a nice tea room for refreshments after your exercise. View Full Details>> | |
| Glendalough Lake | 7 miles (11.2 km) | This walk visits the upper and lower lakes of the beautiful Glendalough Valley in the Wicklow Mountains. The route runs for about 7 miles on good waymarked trails, taking you around both lakes with riverside sections, woodland and a waterfall to enjoy as well. The walk starts from the Glendalough visitor centre car park where you can pick up the Wicklow Way long distance trail. The trail heads west along the Glenealo River to the Lower Lake and Poulanass Waterfall. Over time the falls have cut a narrow gorge through the slate rock and borne millions of tonnes of rock, sand and mud into Glendalough, dividing what was originally one lake into the two seen today. The route then heads to the northern side of the upper lake where you follow the Miner's Lane west. At the west end of the Upper Lake lie the ruins of an abandoned miners' village normally accessible only by foot. The mining of lead took place here from 1850 until about 1957. After leaving the lake you continue along the Glenealo River until you come to a crossing on your left. This will take you to footpaths climbing above the lake on the southern side of the water. Follow the trails east through the woodland and you will come to the interesting ruins of the Reefert Church on the south eastern shore. The church is located in a peaceful woodland area and dates from the 11th century. Soon after passing the church your return to the waterfall where you can pick up the Wicklow Way to take you back to the visitor centre. View Full Details>> | |
| Grand Canal | 72 miles (116 km) | This route follows the towpath of the Grand Canal from Dublin to Shannon Harbour on the River Shannon. It follows the Grand Canal Way which is an offical waymarked long distance trail. The walk runs for 72 miles, passing through a number of interesting towns and villages with a number of pretty locks and nice views of the surrounding countryside. It is usually completed in 5 days. The route starts near Adamstown on the Lucan Bridge about 16km outside Dublin city centre. You then head west through Ringsend, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Harolds Cross, Crumlin, Caragh, Prosperous and Robertstown, its highest point. Just outside Sallins, the canal passes over the River Liffey at the Leinster Aqueduct. The final section runs through Edenderry, Tullamore and Rahan before it reaches the Shannon at Shannon Harbour in County Offaly. At Robertstown, the canal intersects with the Barrow Way, which follows the Barrow Line extension to the canal to Athy for part of its route View Full Details>> | |
| Howth Cliff Walk | 7 miles (12 km) | Explore the beautiful Howth Head Peninsula on this fabulous coastal walk near Dublin. The route is one of the most popular walks in Ireland, with waymarked footpaths taking you along a series of wonderful cliff tops. The area is also great for wildlife spotting with grey seals and a variety of sea birds to look out for on the way. The route runs for nearly 7 miles, passing along the coast on fairly easy paths. The walk starts from Sutton Railway Station which is only a 20 minute train ride from Dublin Connolly station. From here you follow Station Road and Greenfield Road south to the coastal path. The path heads south with views on your right across Sutton Creek and Dublin Bay to Bull Island. The route then bends round to the east, passing along Doldrum Bay before coming to the Baily Lighthouse where a lighthouse has stood since the 17th century. The path then turns north passing Webb's Castle Rock, Gaskin's Leap, Highroom Bed, Piper's Gut and the Nose of Howth before coming to Howth village. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding once-rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin. The area also includes Howth Castle with an estate which includes extensive heathland, Howth cliffs, light woodland, and the island of Ireland's Eye. You can catch a ferry to the island from the docks just to the north of the village. Here you can see the huge freestanding rock called 'the Stack', which is generally covered with hundreds of seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and gulls. Howth is also full of great pubs and cafes where you can stop for refreshments and try some of the excellent locally sourced seafood. The final section descends back to the coast path, before turning north to return to Sutton train station. View Full Details>> | |
| Howth Cliff Walk Purple Route | 6 miles (9.7 km) | This circular walk around the Howth Peninsula follows the purple waymarked
'Bog of Frogs' route along the cliff tops before climbing to the wonderful viewpoints above the coast. The route runs for just ove 6 miles with fairly easy coastal walking before a more challenging inland ascents. The walk starts from Howth Train Station which is only about a 20 minute train ride from Dublin. You then head east to the Nose of Howth before turning south to Piper's Gut and the picturesque Baily Lighthouse. The route then bends round to the west, passing Doldrum Bay before coming to Red Rock. Here you pick up the inland section to climb to Shielmartin Hill which stands at a height of 163 metres (535 ft). There's great views over Portmarnock, Sutton, Bull Island and most of Dublin Bay from here. You continue to the 171 m (561 ft) high Ben of Howth where you will find a Radio Mast and some wonderful views across the headland. The route then descends past the Deer Park golf club before returning to Howth village. View Full Details>> | |
| Loop Head | 1 miles (1.5 km) | This short circular walk explores this coastal headland at the mouth of the River Shannon, in County Clare. In 2013, Loop Head was named the 'Best Place to Holiday in Ireland' and was shortlisted in the Best Destination category at the World Responsible Tourism awards. The scenery is very beautiful but it is also a quiet place with less tourists than some of the other nearby coastal highlights of this part of Ireland. This short walk takes you around the lighthouse at the end of the peninsula. You can park next to the lighthouse and then pick up footpaths taking you to Cuchullin's Leap where you can see the giant sea stack. There's fabulous sea views and lot of coastal birds to look out for on the headland. The area is free to explore but for a fee you can also climb to a great viewing platform in the lighthouse. View Full Details>> | |
| Lough Allen | 30 miles (49 km) | This walk takes you around the lovely Lough Allen in County Leitrim. It uses the Leitrim Way and the Miner's Way long distance footpaths to create a long circular walk around the Lough. You'll pass through some nice countryside above the Lough with some waterside sections and views of the River Shannon to enjoy also. The walk starts from the small town of Drumshanbo at the southern end of the lough. From here you can pick up the Leitrim Way and follow it north through the countryside to the east of the water. Shortly after passing Dowra you turn south west along a section of the Miner's Way. This will take you to the village of Drumkeeran, located at the foot of Corry Mountain at the north western end of the lake. Here you turn south passing Seltannasaggart Mountain part of the Arigna Mountains. It's located on the border of County Roscommon and County Leitrim in Ireland and is the highest point of County Roscommon. You continue south past the moorland of Ardlougher to the village of Arigna. The village has a long association with the mining industry. Mining was carried out in Arigna for over 400 years until the mines were shut in 1990. The final section takes along the Arigna River to the lough side where you cross the River Shannon before returning to Drumshanbo. View Full Details>> | |
| Lough Dan | 6 miles (9 km) | This walk visits the beautiful Lough Dan near Roundwood in County Wicklow. The ribbon shaped lake is a popular venue for walkers with nice woodland trails and views of the surrounding mountains. Start the walk from one of the parking areas on the R759, just to the east of Lough Tay. From here you can pick up tracks heading west along the northern side of the Cloghoe River to the lake. You could also follow the Ballinrush Track on the southern side of the river if you prefer. This can be seen on the map link below. The trails lead to the north western end of the lake which is part of the Wicklow National Park. Here you can enjoy views of the Inchavore river which flows into the reservoir. The lake and surrounding area are great for wildlife watching too. The Inchavore River attracts Dippers and Grey Wagtails while Herons and Cormorants roost near the mouth of the Cloghoge River. Also look out for Peregrine Falcon sites on the steep cliffs overlooking the lake on the eastern side. and some lovely broad-leaved woodland in the Inchavore Valley. View Full Details>> | |
| Luggala | 4 miles (6.5 km) | Enjoy a climb to the 'Fancy Mountain' on this walk in the Wicklow Mountains. The 595 metres (1,952 ft) mountain is situated just above Lough Tay, near the village of Roundwood. It is part of the wider Luggala Estate (or the 'Guinness Estate'), owned by a member of the Guinness family. The luxury buildings on the estate, can be rented commercially year-round. The stunning estate has been used as the location of some major films, including Zardoz, Braveheart and Excalibur. You can start the walk from the parking areas on the R759, just to the east of Lough Tay. From here you can pick up tracks heading west, passing the southern end of Lough Tay and crossing the Cloghoge River. Just after crossing the river you turn right on a footpath which will take you up to the hill summit. From here you can enjoy fantastic views of several of the surrounding hills and mountains including Djouce, Ballinafunshoge Hill, Knocknacloghoge and Lough Tay & Lough Dan. View Full Details>> | |
| Lugnaquilla | 10 miles (16 km) | Climb to the highest mountain in Ireland on this challenging walk in the Wicklow Mountains. The route starts from the Baravore Car Park in a remote part of the Glenmalure Valley. From here you can pick up the footpaths heading north west along the Avonberg River. The route then turns west, heading up to Fraughan Rock Glen and Cannow Mountain. You then turn south to climb to the 925-metre (3,035 ft) summit of Lugnaquilla. From here you can enjoy fine views to the east across the Irish Sea to the hills of the Llyn Peninsula and mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, and west to the mountains of Munster. You descend to Cloghernagh before turning north to Art's Lough. The final section descends through woodland to return to the river and the car park. View Full Details>> | |
| Mount Leinster | 3 miles (5 km) | Climb to the 796-metre-high (2,612 ft) summit of Mount Leinster on this challenging walk in the Blackstairs Mountains. The mountain is located on the border of Counties Carlow and Wexford, near the town of Borris. The walk starts from the Nine Stones car park, a landmark point at the foot of Mount Leinster on the L3005. You then follow a car free tarmac road to the summit where you will find a 2RN transmission site with a mast height of 122 m. There's also wide ranging views over the countyside of Wexford, Carlow, Kildare and Waterford. On a clear day you can see all the way to Wales. This is the easiest route to the summit, running for about 1.5 miles, so it's a 3 mile hike in total. Look out for wildlife including wild horses which can often be seen grazing on the hillside. View Full Details>> | |
| Muckross Lake | 9 miles (14 km) | Enjoy a long loop walk around Muckross Lake on this wonderful walk in the Killarney National Park. Muckross is the deepest lake in Ireland and one of the three Lakes of Killarney, along with Lough Leane and Upper Lake. This 14km (8.7 mile) circular trail takes you around the whole lake with views of the larger Lough Leane and a visit to the beautiful Torc Waterfall. The walk starts from Muckross House, where there is a good sized car park. From here you can pick up the trail, heading past the mansion and the walled garden to the lakeside at Lough Leane. You then pass along the Lough before heading into the woodland between the two lakes. The trail runs along the northern side of the little Doo Lough, before coming to the western end of Muckross Lake. The next stages passes the lovely Meeting of the Waters on the western side of the lake. This is the spot where Killarney’s Upper Lake flows down to join the lower loughs. You then head east along the southern side of the water, where you will meet with the Owengarriff River. Here you will find the wonderful Torc Waterfall. The 18 metre falls are a splendid sight with lush woodland and a lots interesting riverside plants and flowers to see. Look out for red deer as you make your way through this section. The final part of the walk passes along the river on the eastern side of the lake, returning you to Mucross House. View Full Details>> | |
| Old Head of Kinsale Loop | 4 miles (6.2 km) | This circular walk explores a beautiful coastal headland near Kinsale in County Cork. The walk starts from Garretstown beach and follows a series of country lanes around the headland. It's a fairly easy walk, running for about 4 miles on surfaced paths. At the southern end of the route you will visit the memorial to the crew of the RMS Lusitania. The British ocean liner was sunk close to the headland, on 7th May 1915 by a German U-boat. Around here you can also see the ruins of Downmacpatrick Castle with fabulous views down to the tip of the headland. Since the golf course opened, access to the southern end of the Old Head of Kinsale has been restricted to golfers and guests only. There has been a long-running campaign for the restoration of public access organised by the Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign. However there's still some wonderful sea views to enjoy from the southern end of this loop. View Full Details>> | |
| Powerscourt Waterfall | 1 miles (1 km) | Visit the highest waterfall in Ireland on this short walk near Enniskerry, County Wicklow. The falls are located in a stunning valley surrounded by Djouce Mountain and the Great Sugar Loaf. The area has a good sized car park with paths leading down to a viewpoint close to the 121m (398ft) high falls. There are then a series of other nice trails to follow along the River Dargle and into the surrounding woodland of the Powerscourt Estate. Here you can see giant redwoods and look out for a variety of wildlife including Sikha Deer, Chaffinch, Cuckoo, Raven and the Willow Warbler. The site also has a kiosk serving food and drinks so you can easily refresh yourself after your exercise. View Full Details>> | |
| Royal Canal | 89 miles (144 km) | Follow the Royal Canal from Dublin to Termonbarry on this epic waterside walk in Ireland. The route follows the Royal Canal Way long distance trail which runs for 144 kilometres (90 miles) along the canal towpath. Construction on the canal begain in 1790 and completed in 1817. It fell into disrepair in the 20th century but has recently been restored with the length of the canal to the River Shannon reopened on 1 October 2010. The walk starts at Newcomen Bridge in North Strand, Dublin. Several companies have a base here including the Convention Centre Dublin, Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Irish headquarters, offices of the Central Bank of Ireland, Nationwide Building Society, Credit Suisse and TMF Group. The path heads west, to Blanchardstown, Maynooth, Kilcock, Enfield, Mullingar, Ballynacargy, Rathconrath, Killashee and Cloondara where the route finishes near Termonbarry in County Roscommon. Here the canal meets with the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. View Full Details>> | |
| Seven Heads Walk | 30 miles (48 km) | This long walk explores the beautiful Seven Heads Peninsula in West Cork. Along the way you'll pass pretty coastal villages, sandy beaches and lovely bays. The route first visits the eastern side of the headland, visiting the lovely seaside village of Courtmacsherry. You then pass along Courtmacsherry Bay to Broadstrand Bay and beach, before visiting Quarry Point and Barry's Point. You continue south to Carrigrour and Leganagh Point, with lovely views across Seven Heads Bay. You continue west, with an inland section, before passing along Follareal Bay to visit Dunworthy Point. You then turn north to enjoy a long section along the picturesque Dunworthy Bay. The final coastal section then takes you to Coosderrig, Turkeyland, Barry's Cove and Ballinglanna Cove where you leave the coast for a countryside section through Ballincourcey. View Full Details>> | |
| Torc Mountain | 9 miles (14 km) | Climb to Torc Mountain on this popular climb in the Killarney National Park. The mountain gets its name from the Irish word 'torc', meaning boar, after an enchanted boar was killed there by the legendary hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill. The hike to the summit takes place on good, waymarked paths with wooden sleepers near the mountain top. As such it's a very popular route that will suit most abilities. This walk starts from the car park on the N71, near the south eastern edge of Muckross Lake. You could also start from Killarney town and follow the long distance Kerry Way to the mountain. The route begins by heading south from the car park, passing along the Owengarriff River and the beautiful Torc Waterfall. You continue through pleasant, riverside woodland before coming off the Kerry Way and turning north along a path to the summit. From the 535m (1,755 ft) high point there are wonderful views over County Kerry, the three Lakes of Killarney and the town of Killarney. It really is a stunning sight and well worth the climb. After taking in the views the route then descends back to the car park on the same paths. View Full Details>> | |
| Torc Waterfall | 1 miles (1 km) | This short walk visits a lovely waterfall at the base of Torc Mountain, in County Kerry. It's a beautiful section of the Killarney National Park, with easy trails to follow along the Owengarriff River and a series of dramatic, rushing falls. There's a couple of conveniently located car parks close to the falls. From here you can pick up the riverside trails, which will lead you to a viewpoint where you can see the 18 metre high Torc Waterfall cascade. Red deer are often spotted in the area so keep your eyes peeled as you make your way along the trail. View Full Details>> | |
| Turlough Hill | 5 miles (7.5 km) | This walk visits Lough Nahanagan, Camaderry Mountain and Turlough Reservoir before climbing to Turlough Hill for wonderful views over the Wicklow Mountains. The walk starts from the Wicklow Gap car park just to the north of Lough Nahanagan. From here you can pick up footpaths heading south to the Lough before climbing to the 698 m (2,290 ft) summit of Camaderry. The route then bends round through Sevenchurches to the Turlough Hill Reservoir. Here you will find a hydroelectric Power Station which can generate up to 292 megawatts (392,000 hp) of electricity at times of peak demand. It is Ireland's only pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant. From here you climb to the west to reach the 681 metres (2,234 ft) summit of Turlough Hill. The granite mountain is covered with blanket bog, a habitat for heather, purple moor grass, Sphagnum moss and a number of Alpine plants. There's also great views over the surrounding lakes and mountains of Wicklow. View Full Details>> | |
| Tymon Park | 2 miles (3 km) | This large park in Dublin has a number of waymarked walking trails to try. Highlights in the park include a nice surfaced footpath running along the lakes and the River Poddle. There's over 300 acres to explore on a network of trails including a Fitwalk Circuit and three colour coded trails. In the southern end of the park you'll find the impressive Millenium Landmark Structure and the PACT woodland. At the northern end are the waterside trails along the lakes and river where you can look out for various waterfowl. View Full Details>> | |
| Vartry Reservoir | 4 miles (6.5 km) | An easy circular walk around the pretty Vartry Reservoir in Roundwood, County Wicklow. The route runs for just over 4 miles on a surfaced path around the lower reservoir. On the way you'll enjoy great views of the surrounding Wicklow countryside and mountains including Djouce mountain and Sugarloaf. There's also lots of wildlife to look out for including plenty of butterflies in the summer months. the walking is pretty easy with lovely scenery and the impressive old towers to see at the end of each reservoir. View Full Details>> |
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