5 Day Self-Guided Walk – The Wicklow Way and more…

Distance 55 Kilometres – Wicklow Way, Enniskerry, Djouce, Lough Dan and Glendalough.

Terrain: forest paths and mountain tracks, deep valleys, lakeshore, rivers and open farmland.

Grade moderate – some steep descent on tarmac and green roads to lakeshore, small areas of soft ground in the valleys.

The walk covers a section of the Wicklow Way from Powerscourt estate to Glendalough and includes some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland. We pass through Luggala Estate where Braveheart, PS, I love you, and many other famous films were made.

Itinerary

Day 1

We collect you in Dublin Airport or other arrival point near Dublin and, following a spectacular one hour drive over the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains, you arrive at your accommodation Lough Dan House, which will be your base and home for the duration of your tour. After settling in and some refreshments you may take an afternoon walk, about 6 to 10 kilometres which will give you an introduction to what is in store over the following days.

Day 2

Route: Wicklow Way, Powerscourt Estate to Luggala.

Distance 16 kilometres. Terrain: mainly forest tracks and mountain paths some boardwalk, good underfoot and exposed in places.

Grade moderate – ascent white hill 630 metres if you include Djouce Mountain 725 metres.

Splendid views of Loughs, Mountains and Valleys punctuates a day made strenuous by gradient, terrain and exposed moorland. A challenging and most rewarding day’s walking.

Day 3

Route 3: From Lough Dan House, Scar and Wicklow Way to Glendalough

Distance 17 kilometres. Terrain: good walking paths, open Mountain and forest tracks, and covers some sections of the Wicklow way from Paddock hill to Glendalough.

Grade moderate – the route includes Kanturk and Scar Mountain, total ascent 641 metres.

A most enjoyable and rewarding walk some strenuous parts but by no means difficult for the average fit person, superb views of mountains, glens and valleys.

Day 4

Route 5: Circuit of Glendalough

Distance can be varied from 9 to 17 kilometres, total ascent 450 metres.

Terrain: mountain paths. Boardwalk over soft ground, stone pitching and gravel tracks. Grade moderate.

One of the most popular walks in Ireland and some of the most magnificent views you will ever see of the Glendalough Valley with the Round Tower and two lakes. The walk finishes at the visitors centre where you will be transferred back to Lough Dan House for your final night.

Day 5

You will depart Lough Dan House next morning after breakfast. However you have a further option on this Journey of a grand farewell drive, taking in Glenmacnass water-fall, the winding Military Road by Sally Gap and Feather-bed mountains.  We will leave you at Dublin City or Airport and look forward to seeing you and your friends another time.

All walks listed in the itinerary can be changed and tailored specially to suit your individual needs.

“On a last minute whim we decided to go to Ireland in Aug. We have never been hikers but, inspired by a friend who armed us with backpacks and equipment we set off for the Wicklow way sound of Dublin. Instead of going from town to town we wanted to have a “base camp” and ended up with Lough Dan House.

We could not be more pleased! The house is beautiful and the rooms well appointed and sits surrounded by farmland with sheep wandering out front. The bathrooms are very modern and the beds so comfortable we slept better than we have ever on a trip.

Every morning we would start with an excellent breakfast made by Teresa and set out on a trip. Teresa would pack up a lunch and Sean would take us where we would start giving us tips and local knowledge along the way filled with the kind of humor you think of when you think of Ireland. The walks were INCREDIBLE – beyond postcard perfect. Sean would always pick the best trip for us based on what we were looking for. A walk around Lough Dan, a costal walk to a little town or a treck to Glendalow which was spectacular. At the end of the day you would call “Dad” on the cel phone they provided and Sean would show up at the pub you were waiting in to take you home.

Arriving “home” is the best way to put it. Teresa would make a tremendous meal and we would finish off the day sitting with them talking local issues and all kind of other things around the fireplace. Sean and Teresa treated us like family and made our trip absolutely magical. We would recommend Lough Dan and, specifically Sean and Teresa, to everyone who ever had a dream of an romantic Irish countryside getaway.

(If you go to Glendalow be sure to ask Sean about the real story behind Saint Kevin!)”