The Wicklow Way - 10 Days & 9 Nights

10 Days & 9 Nights 4.4 Read 20 reviews

Exploring the amazing ruins of Glendalough’s 6th century Monastic City
Walking through the majestic Glenmalure Glacial Valley
Experiencing the famous Irish hospitality at friendly hand-picked B&B’s
Taking a rest to soak in some of the best views Ireland has to offer
Sipping a pint of the ‘black stuff’ to reward your achievement

The Wicklow Way is Ireland’s oldest way-marked trail and stretches from just south of Dublin, through the Wicklow Mountains and on to County Carlow, to reveal some of the most spectacular views in the Emerald Isle. Hike past Ireland’s highest waterfall and discover why the tranquil Lough Tay has gained the name ‘Guinness Lake’. The Wicklow Way combines easy accessibility with a wide variety of scenic experiences, some of them in truly remote upland areas. They include mountains, upland lakes, steep-sided glacial valleys, fast-flowing mountain streams, forests and farmland.

What To Expect

Travel Restrictions

A 10-day walking itinerary covering the full Way from Marlay Park to Clonegal, including a stay in Dublin before the start of the walk

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveller this holiday would be suitable for is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails
National Parks

Grade & Terrain

This walk is graded moderate and includes daily of walks of between 12-21km following footpaths and some road walking and several ascents and descents along the way. You should have a good level of walking fitness to get the most from this tour.

Navigation

The Wicklow Way is well waymarked and relatively easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation on this tour will be made simple and you cannot get lost.

You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.

Accommodation Information

We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food.

Accommodation Location

We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the itinerary, but because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you at an alternative location. Alternative details will be noted in your accommodation details. Due to the route taken by the Wicklow Way, it is sometimes necessary to accommodate you up to a few kilometres walk away from the trail itself, as there is not always suitable accommodation close to the trail. Please take this into consideration when working out your daily walking distances.

Iron Bridge:
Due to the remoteness of Iron Bridge and the lack of phone signal in this particular area of the route, we will provide private transfers. This means that you will be collected on the morning of day 6 (10-day itinerary) or day 5 (7-day itinerary) and transferred to Iron Bridge. From here you will then walk back to Glenmalure (in reverse). You will spend two nights in Glenmalure.

The next morning on day 7 (10-day itinerary) or day 6 (7-day itinerary) you will be transferred back to Iron Bridge to continue your walk to Tinahely.

Shillelagh:
This only applies to the 10-day itinerary of the Wicklow Way. Due to the remote setting of Shillelagh and the lack of suitable accommodations in this area, you will be spending two nights in Tinahely. Walk to Shillelagh on day 8 as per the itinerary, then get transferred back to Tinahely in the late afternoon. On the morning of day 9 you will be picked up by a private transfer and taken back to Shillelagh to continue your walk as usual.

You can rest assured that you are still walking the entire length of the trail, but due to the remote nature of the area, we have added these private transfers to improve your experience along the route.

Single Rooms

We will be happy to accommodate your party with single rooms if requested, and a single supplement applies. This trip is also available to solo walkers, and a supplement is again payable (as some costs are not shared). Please note that singles may not be of the same standard as twins/doubles.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs or restaurants.

Included

Accommodation in hand-picked B&B's, Guest Houses and small hotels
Breakfast
Door-to-door baggage transfers
Transfers as detailed in the standard itinerary
A detailed information pack, guidebook, and route notes
Access to the GPS tracks via the Macs Adventure smartphone app
24/7 Emergency telephone support

Excluded

Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk.
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.
Travel Insurance
Personal Equipment
Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage.

Extras

Extra nights before, after or during your walk.
Transfer from Dublin city centre to Marlay Park.

When To Go

This walking tour is best enjoyed between April and October. You have the flexibility to start on any date, subject to availability. Both Dublin and the Wicklow Way are particularly busy over the summer months, so if you are planning on traveling between June and August, we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment, especially when traveling in a group.

In our opinion, one of the best times to visit this region is in spring when colourful wildflowers are in bloom. This area is known as the Garden of Ireland for good reason and the Powerscourt Gardens look incredible at this time of year. July and August are the busiest months and accommodations tend to fill up fast, but you're also more likely to encounter a local festival in Dublin and you can appreciate long hours of daylight. For a quieter experience, September is an ideal month and it has the advantage of the crowds beginning to thin.

Weather and Climate

Irish weather is typically unpredictable year-round so be prepared for any conditions and you will be pleasantly surprised. No matter what month you choose to travel, being in the Wicklow Mountains means it can get wet and windy at any time of year. It is important that you check the local weather forecast before setting off each day. Wintry conditions may be experienced at the start and towards the end of the season.

Getting to the Start

Dublin Airport is easily accessible from the UK with several low-cost airlines covering the route as well as scheduled international carriers. Irish Ferries also operate from Holyhead to Dublin.

From the airport, there is a great bus service to Dublin city centre. To get from Dublin city centre to the start of the walk at Marlay Park you take a 20-mins bus journey.

Getting from the End

Getting from Wicklow is relatively simple, taking either a bus or train to Dublin. A twice-daily Bus Eireann Expressway service runs from Bunclody to Dublin's city-centre bus station (Busáras) at Store Street.

A Wicklow Way Bus Service also operates along the route, transporting walkers from (amongst other locations) Tinahely to the nearest train station at Rathdrum, with Dublin then a 1h30 train ride away. See Irish Rail for timetables.

Baggage Transfer

Daily door-to-door luggage transfers are included in the price of your trip, allowing you to set off on each walk carrying a light backpack.

At Macs Adventure we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Ninety-nine percent of the time they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg per bag, depending on the tour you are taking. We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags (including shopping bags or boots) and if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.

On this trip, we ask you to keep your luggage to a maximum weight of 15 kilograms per item, and just one item of luggage per person.

General Information

The distances and ascent / descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants) sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

Are there facilities/places for eating in each village?

How far in advance do I need to book?

What personal equipment do I need?

When is the best time of year?

Am I able to take my dog?

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Dublin and overnight Day 2 Bus to Marlay Park to Enniskerry (Knockree) 13 miles / 22 km Day 3 Enniskerry to Roundwood 16.5 miles / 26.5 km Day 4 Roundwood to Glendalough/Laragh 5.5 miles / 9 km Day 5 Glendalough/Laragh to Glenmalure 11 miles / 17.5 km Day 6 Transfer to Iron Bridge. Walk to Glenmalure (in reverse) 8 miles / 13 km Day 7 Transfer to Iron Bridge. Walk to Tinahely 12 miles / 19.5 km Day 8 Walk to Shillelagh. Transfer to Tinahely 16 miles / 25 km Day 9 Transfer to Shillelagh. Walk to Clonegal and Transfer to Bunclody 12 miles / 20 km Day 10 Onward Travel

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