A Guided Walking Holiday in Dublin City & Wicklow
Upon arriving in Dublin City, you’ll have the chance to discover the vibrant offerings of the city before we embark on a walking tour along one of Ireland’s East Coast’s most stunning headlands—Howth Head.
In the second part of our tour, we’ll make a short journey to County Wicklow, often referred to as “The Garden of Ireland,” renowned internationally for its breathtaking beauty. Wicklow is a true haven for walkers, being home to the Wicklow Way, the oldest marked walking trail in Ireland.
During this popular guided walking holiday in the Wicklow Mountains, you’ll explore Ireland’s largest national park, which spans 90,000 hectares in central Wicklow, falling within the scenic realm of Ireland’s Ancient East.
Wicklow Mountains National Park preserves some of Europe’s oldest bogs, heather-clad peaks, and diverse woodlands, including both broadleaf and coniferous trees. Hiking in the Wicklow Mountains reveals a rich tapestry of landscapes—ranging from woodlands and rolling hills to lush valleys, serene streams, and tranquil lakes. The area is home to native wildlife, including sika and red hybrid deer, foxes, badgers, hares, and various birds of prey.
At the heart of the Wicklow Mountains lies Glendalough, which features a renowned and historically significant monastic settlement where we’ll tread the path of St. Kevin. This settlement flourished for centuries after its establishment in the 6th century, evolving into Ireland’s earliest proto-urban center and a major European hub for education. The iconic round tower stands tall amidst a backdrop of stunning natural beauty.
Glendalough, translating to “the valley of two lakes” (Gleann Da Loch), exudes a serene ambiance, steeped in the spirituality of its rich history.
If you’re still contemplating your next destination, check out our other guided walking tours of Ireland for inspiration. We also offer Wicklow Day Tours for those with limited time.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions—we’re here to assist you in finding the perfect route for your adventure! Let’s chat and find the ideal experience for you!
If you’re still deciding where to go, take a look at our other guided walking tours of Ireland for inspiration. We also offer Wicklow Day Tours if your time is more limited.
Always feel free to get in touch if you’ve got any questions at all. We love helping folks find the best route for them, so let’s have a chat to find yours!
Our Guided Dublin & Wicklow Mountains Walk
Prices / Dates
Price: From €1,699 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€695
Tour Dates 2025:
Sunday, 15th June to Saturday, 21st June
Sunday, 24th to Saturday 30th August
Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate
Accommodation: Hotel
Included / Excluded
- 6 nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation
- Meals to include: 6 full Irish breakfasts & 1 Lunch (Day 2) & 1 Evening Meals ( Day 6)
- Pickup at Dublin Airport and return to Dublin Airport at the end of your tour.
- All transport to and from walks.
- Entry to Guinness Store House
- The National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh
- Dublin Hop-on Hop-off City Bus Ticket
- 4 Evening Meal
- Alcohol or soft drinks
- Entry fees to any attraction outside of the above
We will pick you up at Dublin Airport at 1.00 pm and transfer take you the short journey to Dublin City, taking you the scenic route through Dublin's Phoenix Park and onwards to our first stop at Guinness Store House. Once our tour finishes at the home of one of Dublin's most iconic locations we will travel to your hotel where you will have free time to explore the city at leisure on on of Dublin's Hop-on Hop-off buses before relaxing for the evening.
As part of our sustainability efforts here at Footfalls, today we will travel by public transport from Dublin City to the Dublin suburb of Howth in north county Dublin.
Arriving by train into the pretty harbour town of Howth we will set off on a spectacular cliff top loop of Howth Head offering some of the most spectacular sea-views of Ireland's capital's coastline.
Our walk finishes again in the harbour of Howth, where you will have the opportunity to sample some fish and chips (other options are available) before returning to the city mid-afternoon for some more free time to explore Ireland's Capital.
Distance: 8km / 5 miles Assent: 130m / 430 ft.
Departing Dublin City we will make the journey south to The Wicklow Mountains and the first part of our adventure today takes us to The National Botanic Gardens in Kilmacurragh, an 18th-Century arboretum. We will have a guided tour of the gardens and hear the Thomas Acton family's story that developed the estate in the nineteenth century. The guided tour lasts approximately one hour.
Afterwards, you will have some free time to wander and explore the magnificent gardens and their surroundings.
In the afternoon, we will take a short drive to the town of Rathdrum, where we will do a circular walk, starting and finishing in the town.
Along the walk, we will visit an old Famine Graveyard, walk part of a mass path used in bygone days as a recognised path or track to and from church and through a Millennium Forest. We will finish with a beautiful, relaxing stroll along the banks of the Avonmore River.
Of course, no day of walking in this part of Wicklow would be complete without a visit to one of the fine establishments (bars) that Rathdrum has to offer!
Distance: 8 km/5 miles, Ascent: 80 m/240 ft
Our first walk starts in the village of Laragh and along a section of the Wicklow Way into the valley of Glendalough, Gleann Dá Loch in Irish, meaning "Valley of two lakes".
Our journey takes us into the 6th Century Monastic Settlement, where we will do a short tour of some of the monuments and ruined churches that exist there.
From here, we will continue along to explore the glacier-moulded valley and its two lakes before starting a short ascent to Poulanass Waterfall and into Derrybawn Woods. Here, we will be offered stunning views down over the Glendalough Valley and surrounding countryside.
Distance: 12 km/7 miles, Ascent: 360 m/1180 ft
Today’s walk takes us south through Ballard Forest. We will pass evidence of a forgotten farming community that once lived and toiled the land. We follow a local’s path up the heather-covered Trooperstown Hill that will lead to magnificent views in all directions. Enjoy vistas including rolling hills, the Irish Sea, the Wicklow Mountains, and the Round Tower of Glendalough.
Our walking trail gently descends into Trooperstown Forest, over the Avonmore River, and up Paddock Hill, where we will join another part of the famous Wicklow Way.
Distance: 17 km/10.5 miles, Ascent: 350 m/1050 ft
St. Kevin's Way follows in the footsteps of pilgrims of over a millennium who have made the journey through the Wicklow Mountains to the Ancient Monastic settlement of Glendalough.
Our day starts with a short drive to our starting point high in the Wicklow Mountains to an area known as St. Kevins Pool, where in ancient time pilgrims would have washed before continuing to the Monastic City of Glendalough.
We will rise gradually to our high point of the Wicklow Gap before descending into the Glendasan Valley exploring the rich mining history of the valleys around the Wicklow Mountains and following the Glendasan river on our journey into Glendalough.
In the evening we will make the short journey to the beautiful Valley of Glenmalure where we will have our dinner in the iconic Glenmalure Lodge.
Distance: 14 km / 8.75 miles, Ascent: 190 m/620 ft
Depart for Dublin Airport after our final hearty Irish breakfast, arriving at 12 noon.
