Pioneered in 1980 by famous hill walker John James Bernard Malone (J.B. Malone) on a mission to get more young people into the fresh outdoors, the Wicklow Way has now turned 40!

The Wicklow Way is Ireland’s oldest national trail, being the first long-distance route to be waymarked. The entire length of the trail is 130km stretching from Marlay Park in Dublin to Clonegal; striding out from the city and into the wild. The trail crosses a total of 3 counties: County Dublin, County Wicklow and County Carlow.

Malone first proposed for the trail to be recognised in 1966 and spent a bit of time negotiating rights of way with landowners before the Wicklow Way became a reality. Following his death in 1989, the J.B. Memorial Stone plaque was placed overlooking Lough Tay to mark his huge contribution to hillwalking in Ireland and the establishment of the trail.

The Wicklow Way combines the charm of Dublin with its atmospheric streets and music-filled pubs with the remote uplands and silent forests of the east. The route is well-maintained with yellow icons and brown metal signposts, making it very easy to follow. In addition to this, we offer the convenience of having the route in our smartphone App which also allows you to track your progress along the way and gives you that extra bit of peace of mind.

We currently offer a 10 Days & 9 Nights itinerary covering the entire length of the walking trail or there is a 7 Days & 6 Nights alternative which takes in the highlights. Both itineraries start with an overnight stay in the vibrant modern city of Dublin. The Wicklow Way has been graded moderate and is perfect for regular walkers, avid adventurers, and small groups.

One of our Destination & Adventure Specialists, Cara, completed this walk and has shared her Tips to Make the Most of the Wicklow Way.

If you would like to ask our team of specialists any questions about the Wicklow Way or any of our Irish national walking trails, please don't hesitate to contact one of our Destination Specialists, who will be more than happy to help and share their experiences!