From Breathtaking Natural Landscapes to The Nation’s Historic Capital: Our 8-Day Wicklow Way & Dublin Tour
Footfalls offer a unique opportunity for this self-guided walking and sight-seeing holiday, combining the beauty and tranquillity of the Wicklow Mountains with the culture, history, and vitality of Dublin City.
At Footfalls, we offer a variety of holiday packages on the Wicklow Way to cater for all types of outdoor and fitness enthusiasts. This walking vacation will take you over 70 km through the stunning beauty of the county known as The Garden of Ireland. The Wicklow Way is Ireland’s oldest waymarked walking trail. The walk will take you over rolling, domed granite hills that are covered in a carpet of peat and heather, and through deep green glens, small villages and the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough.
Your last two days will be spent exploring Irelands capital, Dublin City, an ever-moving city of culture and charm.
Prices / Dates
Price: €789 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€350
Solo Traveller Supplement: +€120
Tour Dates: 15 March to 31 October
Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse & Hotel
Included / Excluded
- 7 nights bed & breakfast
- All accommodation is pre-booked in approved family-run guesthouses with all rooms en-suite.
- Wicklow Way Trail Map 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
Arrive at Dublin Airport and take the train or bus to County Wicklow. You will be picked up at Rathdrum Train Station and transported to your first accommodation on the Wicklow Way, which is in the beautiful village of Aughrim. Aughrim is known locally as “The Granite City” because of its many buildings constructed from locally quarried Wicklow Granite.
“That little spot in Wicklow where the air breathes sweet content.” — from To Aughrim, a poem by Desmond L. Morley.
For your first day of walking on the Wicklow Way, you have an option of two hiking trails. You can stay on the Wicklow Way or make your day a little more adventurous by hiking over Croghanmoira Mountain (664 m/2000 ft) and across the Fananierin Ridge.
Route 1 - The Wicklow Way Trail: This section of the Wicklow Way is mainly on forest track and country roads. Along the way, you will have sweeping views over the plains of the adjacent county of Carlow and across to Wicklow’s highest mountain, Lugnaquilla (925 m/1039 ft).
Route 2 - Croghanmoira Mountain: This walk takes you on a somewhat more challenging trail, but your efforts will be well rewarded with views on one side across a patchwork of farmland to the Irish Sea. On the other side, you will see most of the peaks in the southern aspect of the Wicklow Mountains. Both walks finish in the beautiful valley of Glenmalure, the longest glacial valley in both Ireland and England.
The Wicklow Way - Distance: 14 km/8.75 miles. Ascent: 520 m/1560 ft, Approximate walking distance: 4 hours
Croghanmoira Mountain - Distance: 15.8 km/9.7 miles, Ascent: 840 m/2520 ft, Approximate walking time: 5.5 hours
The first half of today's trail leads you steadily up out of Glenmalure along some forest trails. As you start your ascent of the valley, the surrounding countryside will open up before you to reveal some spectacular views of a picturesque landscape, which is made up of rolling hills, green pastures and an impressive waterfall that plunges down into the valley. The second part of your walk takes you across the saddle between Lugduff and Mullacor Mountains where you will start your descent down into the magnificent valley of Glendalough. “Gleann Dá Loch” translated means “The Valley of The Two Lakes”. The trail leads you down to the valley floor where you will have a chance to explore both lakes and visit Glendalough’s most cherished possession, its 6th-century Monastic City. You will stay overnight in Glendalough or nearby Laragh. Distance: 17 km/8.75 miles, Ascent: 520 m/1560 ft, Approximate walking time: 4/5 hours
Once again, we will give you the opportunity to stay on the Wicklow Way or take a more strenuous (though very rewarding) trail across Scarr Mountain. The Wicklow Way takes you on a low-level path across the side of Paddock Hill, where you will have lovely views back over Glendalough and the village of Laragh. On this walk, we will also give you an option to walk around one of Roundwood’s reservoirs which are part of Dublin’s water supply system. The alternative trail across Scarr Mountain (641 m/1950 ft) is spectacular, but, of course, a little more challenging. The views from the summit are magnificent, and if the day is clear you will be able to see across the Irish Sea to the mountains of Wales! Both trails finish in the small, but lively, village of Roundwood, one of the highest villages in Ireland. You will stay overnight in Roundwood. Wicklow Way - Distance: 10 km/6 miles, Ascent: 250 m/750 ft, Approximate walking time: 3 hours Scarr Mountain - Distance: 15 km/9 miles, Ascent: 520 m/1560 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 hours
This classic walk is one of the longest walks of your tour. The trail takes you back into the hills where you will overlook the village of Roundwood and its glittering reservoirs, alongside the famous Guinness Estate and Lough Tay. It was here that many famous movies were made, including Braveheart and Excalibur.From here, the trail swings North to take you across the side of Djouce Mountain and down into Crone Forest. You will have stunning aerial views down over the Powerscourt Waterfall (Ireland’s highest waterfall) and part of the Powerscourt Estate. The final leg of your journey takes you down into the valley of Lackandarragh, where you will walk along by a beautiful section of the Glencree River. Your tour ends just outside the picturesque village of Enniskerry, which is situated on the door-step of Dublin. You will stay overnight in Enniskerry. Distance: 18 km/11.5 miles, Ascent: 600 m/1800 ft, Approximate walking time: 5 hours
The last section of the Wicklow Way takes you over Prince William’s Seat where you will have stunning views over most of Dublin City, the Irish Sea and your final views back into the Wicklow Mountains. Your tour finishes in Marlay Park, one of the finest small public parks in Ireland. The trail takes in a delightful mixture of mixed woodlands, small ponds and a variety of wildflowers. After finishing your celebrations in one of the fabulous coffee shops within the park, you can take public transport from right outside the Park entrance to Dublin City Centre, which is to be your accommodation for the next two nights. Distance: 22 km/13.7 miles, Ascent: 570 m/1710 ft, Approximate walking time: 6/7 hours
Spend the day exploring Ireland’s capital city, check out some of the fantastic sites like Kilmainham Gaol, Trinity College, Guinness Storehouse and much, much more.
After a hearty breakfast, you can take a bus from just outside of your accommodation for the 20/30 minute journey back to Dublin Airport.
