Dublin & The Wicklow Way In Style

This 7 day self-guided tour is a chance to discover not only the city of Dublin, but also to walk some of the best sections of Ireland’s Wicklow Way. The walks are graded moderate and involve some ascents, however it’s always worth it for the views over mountains, lakes and even the sea on a good day. Stay in superb accommodations, in the centre of Dublin, on the Powerscourt Estate and in the middle of the Wicklow countryside.

In Style | After a day of exciting adventures and soaking up unbeatable scenery, retreat to stylish accommodations and unwind with fine food and wine. This trip type is for those who like sophisticated places to stay and are looking for active routes but still want the holiday to feel special.

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

Solo Travellers

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

We have created this itinerary to showcase the best walks in the area and create the perfect balance of hiking and sightseeing. Graded moderate, the walking distances are manageable for those with a good level of fitness. We suggest that you take walks similar in distance to what you will be doing on this holiday in order to make the most of your time in Ireland. There are moderate elevation gains and losses with a maximum ascent of 450m, and maximum descent of 608m. The daily distance ranges from 13 to 18km with an optional walk of 8 to 10 km on your free day in the countryside. 

You will walk on a mixture of old bog roads and forest trails as well as country roads, winding lanes of farmland, and the heather-clad Wicklow Mountains. Road walking is mainly along narrow lanes with little traffic and it reflects the fact that public “rights of way” are almost nonexistent in Ireland. There may be some busier stretches where you will need to be cautious of traffic. En route, you can explore monastic ruins, lush gardens, and 18th-century mansions.

Please note that depending on the time of year and recent weather, the trail may be boggy in places which could reduce your average walking speed. 

We have hand-picked superior hotels in each location on this tour and the choice of accommodation is truly one of the highlights. The hotels mentioned in the day-by-day itinerary are subject to availability, and early booking is highly recommended for June-September as this is a very popular time of year.

For the first two nights in Dublin, you will stay in comfortable en suite rooms in elegant hotels of superior 3-star or 4-star standard. You will spend the following two nights in the 5-star Powerscourt Hotel at the renowned Powerscourt Estate & Gardens. Your final two nights will be in the remote Wicklow countryside at Brook Lodge & Macreddin Village, a 4-star resort.

Unfortunately, due to limited accommodation options and to ensure the rooms we book are of 'In Style' standard, we are unable to book twin rooms on this tour. Of course, we will be more than happy to accommodate your party with single rooms if requested (subject to availability), and this trip is also available to solo walkers. If you are thinking of travelling solo, please consider that mobile phone coverage may be patchy in remote areas along the trail. We also welcome small groups on the trail, ideally no bigger than 10 travellers due to accommodation limitations. Booking in advance is a must.

Meals

A hearty, cooked breakfast is served each morning. A typical breakfast would include eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, cheese, yogurt, and coffee/tea with traditional Irish favorites such as black pudding and porridge. Fresh fruits, juices, bread, pastries, and muesli will be served too. Lunch and 5 dinners are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. A very special dinner in the Strawberry Tree is included on your final night. The chef celebrates food that is certified organic, locally sourced, and gourmet. Suggestions for lunch will be outlined in your notes and if you prefer your accommodation may be able to provide a picnic lunch to take with you.

Should you have any special dietary requirements please let us know. We try to accommodate all requirements where possible.

The route is well-waymarked for the most part and 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 will be simple, and you can’t get lost.

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

This walking tour is best enjoyed between April and October. Unfortunately, due to the restricted opening times of The Strawberry Tree Restaurant at BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, this tour is not available to start on a Wednesday or Thursday. 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.

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.

We recommend using the website www.rome2rio.com as a handy tool for any travel planning. 

It is easiest to fly directly into Dublin and many international airlines connect to Dublin Airport from both the UK and the US. Traveling from the airport to the city centre is easy using the excellent bus service (duration: 25 min) or taking a local taxi (duration: 35 min). For general travel information for Ireland check the Transport for Ireland website.

On Day 3 you will be transferred from your accommodation in Dublin to the start of your walk into the Wicklow Mountains. 

A private transfer is included from your final hotel to either Dublin Centre or Dublin Airport, you can then make your onward journey from here.

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 20 kilograms per item, and just one item of luggage per person.