Wicklow Way

Ireland's first waymarked trail, the Wicklow Way runs 131 km (81 miles) from the suburbs of Dublin south through the Wicklow Mountains to the village of Clonegal in County Carlow. Opened in 1980, it takes most walkers five to seven days across the granite uplands often called the garden of Ireland.

The scenery blends wild and gentle: high boggy moorland and glacial valleys like Glendalough, with its early-medieval monastic ruins and round tower, then forest tracks, farmland and quiet villages toward the south. The northern half is the most mountainous, crossing exposed shoulders with wide views over Dublin and the Irish Sea.

Difficulty is moderate, with forest roads and boardwalk easing the boggier ground, though several stages climb over open, weather-exposed hill. Villages, hostels, guesthouses and B&Bs support the route, and no permit is required; camping is limited and walkers are asked to use official sites. Waymarking follows the yellow walking-man arrow standard to Ireland's national trails.

The trail helped launch Ireland's national waymarked way network, opening the Wicklow Mountains to walkers and drawing on old drovers' and pilgrims' paths. The best season is April to October; late spring and early autumn bring the driest ground and the heather or gorse in colour, while the exposed tops can be wet, misty and windy even in summer, so waterproofs are essential.