Festival Outline

The Festival will be based in the Glenmalure Lodge with many of the walks taking us through Wicklow Mountains National Park.

The Glenmalure Lodge is situated in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains and offers some of Ireland’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. The Glenmalure Valley, remote and wild, is longest of its kind in Ireland and Britain. Eircode A67 WF65.

All walks are led by experienced walking leaders who will enhance your day with information on local history flora and fauna.

The National Park is an ideal location for a fun-filled festival weekend covering approximately 90,000 hectares! The park protects some of Europe’s oldest peat boglands, heather-covered mountains, and woodlands. Large herds of sika and red/sika hybrid deer, foxes, badgers, hares and birds of prey are frequently spotted on walks so don’t forget your camera!

The weekend offers a selection of walking choices which you can mix, match, or just choose one:

– Climb Leinster’s highest peak, Lugnaquilla (925 m).

– A night walk on Friday the 25th  promising to be a unique and adventurous experience.

– A selection of day walks from challenging, moderate and easy on Saturday and Sunday.

Please note: Free parking is available at Glenmalure Lodge. Footfalls will be supplying one complimentary return taxi service from Glendalough Hotel Carpark, Lynhams of Laragh Carpark and Parnell Square in Rathdrum. Please let us know if you require a pickup as spaces are limited. Read below for pickup times.

Please note: Walks may be changed on the day depending on weather conditions or the fitness level of the group at the leader’s discretion.

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Telephone: +353 404 45152; Mobile: 00353 87 2698659
E-mail: info@walkinghikingireland.com

Friday Walk

Friday Night Hike: Carriglineen Loop

Level: Moderate (9.5 km – 360 m ascent)

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 6.40pm sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 6.50pm
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 7.10pm

Regestration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65.) at 7.30 pm, departing at 8.00 pm sharp.

Route: Leaving from the Glenmalure Lodge the walk takes us on a short section of the Wicklow Way, into Ballyboy Forest where we join at old Military Road, better known as the Burma Road. This road will lead us out to the Shay Elliot Monument. The route then begins its descent along the side of Carriglineen Mountain and back to the Glenmalure Lodge for some light refreshments. Shay Elliot, a legend in his own right, was the first international rider, with a record comparable only to Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. He was the first Irish person to ride the Tour de France and win a stage.

• Important: All participants in this walk must carry a torch or flashlight; failing to do so will prevent them from participating in the walk.

Saturday Walks

A Walk: Lugnaquilla (Please Note: This Walk Is Limited To A Max of 20 Participants)

Level: Strenuous (25 km – 1150 m of total ascent for the day)

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 7.40am sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 7.50am
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 8.10am

Registration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65.) at 08.30 am, depart centre at 09.00 am sharp.

From the Glenmalure Lodge, you will be transported by bus a short distance to the beginning of your walk.

Route: Todays’ walk will boast some very beautiful views down the valley. The walk begins in the Baravore car park and takes us up through the Fraughan Rock Glen to Cannow Mountain (712 m) and onto Lugnaquilla, the highest mountain in Leinster (925 m). The descent route takes us down via Carrawaystick Mountain (728 m), into Clohernagh Forest where we link up with the Wicklow Way trail to finish the day at the lively Glenmalure Lodge.

B Walk: The Wicklow Way & Croaghanmoira

Level: Moderate (17 km – 690 m ascent) 

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 8.40am sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 8.50am
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 09.10am

Regestration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65.) at 09.30 am, departing at 10 am sharp. 

Route: Another day of fantastic scenery, our walk starts from the Glenmalure Lodge and follows the Wicklow Way south through Slieve Maan Forest to the saddle at Drumgoff.  Here we cross the old Military Road and continue to on Croaghanmoira (597 m) before turning north and back along the Fananirin Ridge. From here we drop down and cross the old Military Road once again to rejoin the Wicklow Way that will guide us back to the Glenmalure Lodge.

C Walk: The Old Military Road & Table Mountain

Level: Easy  (10 km – 365 m ascent)

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 8.40am sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 8.50am
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 09.10am

Registration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65) at 10 am, departing at 10.30am sharp, by bus for the short journey to Baravore Carpark.

Route: Our walk starts and finishes in the Baravore Carpark and will takes us along the old Military Road that was constructed between August 1800 and October 1809, in the wake of the 1798 rebellion. The objective of the road was to open up the Wicklow Mountains to the British Army to assist them in putting down insurgents who were hiding out in the mountains.
We will follow the old road to the base of Table Mountain and return via Baravore Forest to the carpark and bus back to the Glenmalure Lodge.

Sunday Walks

B Walk: Mullacor Mountain and the Wicklow Way 

Level: Moderate (16 km – 595m ascent)

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 8.40am sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 8.50am
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 09.10am

Regestration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65) at 09.30 am, departing at 10 am sharp. 

Route: The walk begins with a short section of the Wicklow Way and then continues on to the Old Coach Road. This was the original road that once linked Glenmalure to Laragh. The walk follows the old coach road to the head of the valley. before turning left to reach our first peak of the day, Cullentragh Mountain (510 m).
From there we journey on to Mullacor Mountain (660 m) which it our high point of the day. Weather permitting we will have some fantastic views from there, of the Wicklow Mountains and across to the Irish Sea.
Our return journey takes us along the Wicklow Way, back to the Glenmalure Lodge.

C Walk: Derrybawn Forest and the Old Coach Road

Level: Easy  (11 km –390m ascent)

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 8.40am sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 8.50am
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 09.10am

Regestration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65) at 10 am, depart centre at 10.30 am.

From Glenmalure, we will be bussed the short distance to Derrybawn, just outside of Laragh Village, the beginning of your walk.

Route: Our journey takes us onto the Derrybawn Woodland Trail. A scenic trail that is located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, including lush woodlands, and mountains.
From here, we will join the old coach road contouring Cullentragh Mountain. The picturesqueus through Ballyboy Forest path will take  before returning you to the ever-welcoming Glenmalure Lodge.

Monday Walk

B Walk: The Wicklow Way 

Level: Moderate (18 km – 625m ascent)

Pickup times:

• Glendalough Hotel Carpark: 8.40am sharp 
• Lynhams of Laragh: 8.50am
• Parnell Square, Rathdrum: 09.10am

Regestration: The Glenmalure Lodge (A67 WF65) at 09.30 am, departing at 10 am sharp. 

From Glenmalure, we will be bussed to the beginning of your walk, at Shielstown Forest.

Route: The whole route offers an ever-changing landscape, with wonderful views of mountains, valleys and open countryside.

From Shielstown Forest, the trail steadily takes us Maan Forest and Clohernagh Ballycurragh, down to Ballyteigue Bridge, and into the OW Valley, before starting another steady ascent up to the Drumgoff Gap. We will pass the Mucklagh Hut, a shelter built by Mountain Meitheal to provide shelter for weary walkers. It is a good spot for us to stop and take on some refreshments and soak up the views of the OW Valley and surrounding countryside. The descent into Glenmalure takes us through Slieve Maan Forest and Clohernagh Forest back to the Glenmalure Lodge

 Prices & Booking

• Night Walk; €25
• A Walks; €30 per walk
• B Walks €25 per walk
• C Walks; €25 per walk

Rules

• Every walker must have submitted an entry form and paid the fee.
• Please register online 
• It is forbidden to light matches or discard litter along the routes.
• DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON ANY OF THE WALKS
• Participants on moderate and strenuous walks must be 16 years or older. An adult, who will assume complete liability, must accompany participants under 16 years of age on easy walks.
• Walkers must be fully equipped and capable of undertaking their chosen walk. The committee will not accept responsibility for any accident however it may arise.

If you need to cancel a walk that you have already paid for, please contact us before Friday 18th of October 2024, 5% bank fees and handling charge will apply. After that date (NO REFUND)

Equipment

• Good waterproof walking boots, with good ankle support, especially if you are doing some of the high level walks.
• Good rain jacket & over-trousers
• Warm clothing, dress with layers rather than one heavy sweat-shirt
• BackPack, lined with a plastic bag to contain some extra clothing
• Hat and Gloves
• Head Torch/Flashlight for the night walks
• Walking poles and gaiters (Optional)
• Lunch pack & water
• A good sense of adventure & fun!

It is the responsibility of the participants to ensure they are suitably equipped for the walks.

Jeans and trainers/runners are not suitable for mountain walking.

Please note: Free parking is available at Glenmalure Lodge. Footfalls will be supplying complimentary taxi services from the Glendalough Hotel Carpark, Lynhams of Laragh Carpark and Parnell Square in Rathdrum. Please let us know if you require a pickup as spaces are limited!

Unless walkers are wearing suitable walking boots and clothing, they will not be allowed to participate in their chosen walk!