A 6-Day Irish Walking Adventure, the Wicklow Way to Dublin City
The Wicklow Way is Ireland’s oldest waymarked walking trail and is enjoyed by many independent/self-guided walkers every year. J.B. Malone pioneered this hiking trail over 40 years ago. It reveals some of Ireland’s finest views, including Powerscourt Waterfall, Luggala, Loch Dan, Glenmalure and historic Glendalough.
The Wicklow Way walking and hiking trail extends from Marlay Park in Dublin to Clonegal on the borders of Wicklow and Carlow, covering a distance of 127 kilometres (79 miles). At Footfalls Walking Holidays, we offer a variety of holiday packages on the Wicklow Way, to cater for all types of outdoor and fitness enthusiasts (more options can be explored here). This, easy to moderate, six-day walking holiday along the Wicklow Way towards Dublin will take you over 60km along the stunning beauty of the Garden of Ireland and part of Ireland’s Ancient East – a treasured Irish trail, just waiting to be explored.
Prices / Dates
Price: €889 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€455
Solo Traveller Supplement: +€75
Tour Dates: 15 March to 31 October
Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Included / Excluded
- 5 nights bed & breakfast
- All accommodation is pre-booked in approved family-run guesthouses with all rooms en-suite.
- Maps and waterproof route notes.
- GPX Tracking Files for each day
- Details on restaurants and places of interest to visit along the way.
- Luggage transfers daily while you walk.
- All information on trains or buses needed to get to your first accommodation, during the tour and back at the end of the tour.
- 24-7 Emergency Telephone support
- Public transport to the beginning of the tour and back at the end
- Packed Lunches
- Evening Meals
- Drinks and Snacks
- Personal Equipment
Day 1 - Arrive Rathdrum
Arrive at Dublin Airport and take the train to Rathdrum. Spend your first night in Rathdrum, in nearby bed and breakfast accommodation.
Day 2 - Glenmalure to Glendalough
Your first day of walking along the Wicklow Way takes you steadily up out of Glenmalure Valley. As you climb, the beauty of the surrounding countryside and the famous Glenmalure Waterfall will simply take your breath away! The trail crosses the side of Mullacor Mountain and continues into the valley of Glendalough “Gleann Dá Locha” the valley of two lakes. Glendalough. Which is one of the most visited sites in Ireland, is famous for its 6th-century Monastic City and also its mesmerising beauty! You will stay overnight in the cosy village of Laragh.
Distance: 17 km/10.6 miles, Ascent: 520 m/1560 ft, Approximate walking time: 4/5 hours
Day 3 - Glendalough to Roundwood
Today’s walk, although shorter, is a very rewarding one, taking in some fantastic scenery and finishing in one of the highest villages in Ireland (Roundwood at around 238 m). You will pass very close to our Footfalls Walking Holidays office, which is just outside the village of Laragh. At this stage, you have the option to extend your self-guided walk by taking in Scarr Mountain or instead enjoying a less strenuous walk around one of the Roundwood reservoirs, which supplies water to part of Dublin city. Tonight you will stay in Roundwood.
Distance: 12 km/7.5 miles, Ascent: 250 m/750 ft, Approximate walking time: 3.5/4 hours
Day 4 - Roundwood to Enniskerry
This is a classic walk taking in views of Lough Dan and Lough Tay. It was in this area where many famous movies were filmed, including Brave Heart, King Arthur, Dancing at Lughnasa and much more. This is also the original home of the Guinness family and their residence is still to be seen at the top of the valley. You will hike over the side of Djouce Mountain and alongside the Powerscourt Estate, where you will have some fantastic views of Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s longest waterfall. Your second last night in Wicklow is spent in one of Wicklow’s most charming villages, Enniskerry.
Distance: 18 km/12 miles, Ascent: 600 m/1800 ft, Approximate walking time: 5/6 hours
Day 5 - Enniskerry to Marlay Park
You are almost done, with just 17 Km left you will have completed part of Ireland’s oldest waymarked walking trail which covers a total distance of 127 km/79 miles. The last section of the Wicklow Way takes you over Prince William’s Seat where you will have stunning views of Dublin City, the Irish Sea and back into the Wicklow Hills. Your trip finishes on a beautiful trail that leads you into Marlay Park. You will spend your last night of this Wicklow Way self-guided walking tour in Ireland’s capital city of Dublin.
Distance: 22 km/13.7 miles, Ascent: 570 m/1710 ft, Approximate walking time: 6/7 hours
Day 6 - Depart
Depart Dublin.
A few words from our customers...
I am a single woman traveller embarking on a self-guided hiking trip.
While it's common for woman to embark on such adventures these days, it's my first time ever to be on a self-navigated hiking trip overseas. This is why I feel so grateful that I have the Footfalls as my backbone! Both Teresa and Chris are prompt in their reply to my questions, they are knowledgeable and will put your safety and well-being as their utmost priority. Their choice of B&Bs for my 3-day Wicklow way hiking trip are clean and comfortable - and I got the uninterrupted rest and great great great breakfast I need for my trip. Teresa and Chris are very honest people and I feel safe and at ease with their planning.
Jac
USA
My husband and I have never done a vacation walking tour. We've done our fair share of hiking, but never like this. All I have to say is that it certainly will not be our last! The crew at Footfalls are extremely organized and know what they're doing. From the moment we first contacted them to our last steps, they were on the ball and extremely responsive. The detailed itinerary, picking us up, delivering of baggage to each B&B (without any effort on our part) was simply amazing. The trails were incredible as were the B&Bs that they chose for us to stay at each night. You can't go wrong by using their services to book the Wicklow Way!
Casey
Italy
