This trail is breathtaking on multiple levels. The views are spectacular; the uphill sections (combo of very uneven, rocky terrain and some wooden steps) will skyrocket your heart rate; and the winds on top of the ridge were strong enough to knock me off the wooden boardwalk at times. In short, this my kind of trail run fun! It’s about an hour’s drive from Dublin, so it makes for a good day hike/run. Check weather and plan ahead for wind, rain, cold, etc. I brought my Lifestraw along to drink from the many streams along the way.
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When done clockwise, this hike starts with an aggressive hike up to a ridge line. From there, you hike the ridge line from Derrybawn Mountain to Mullacor. There are steps to walk over a fence, and then you are hiking with sheep. At some point there starts to be a lot of boardwalk hiking surface, which is nice because the ground is squishy there. As you come down from Mullacor, you hike along the edge of a forest and reach some awesome cliffs with epic views down the valley to the lake. This is where I ate lunch. From there i walked back up the hill a bit and entered the valley. You come upon ruins of an old mining village. There are buildings, piles of mining waste rock, and even some big grinding mechanisms. From there, it’s a nice flat hike around the lake through a forest. I skipped the walk over to the cemetery and church, as there were a LOT of tourists going that way. That would have added about two miles to the hike. Parking was 4 euros at the upper lot. They take cards or cash, and there are three food vendors in the upper lot. Arrive early, as lots fill and lines form for parking. Great hike!
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Great moderate incline hike, 500m is almost unnoticeable as it gets spread out over the 12k, views of glendalough valley and lugnacoille from lugduff
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Relentlessly stunning hike through six distinct environments with absolutely stunning views most of the way. Especially on a sunny day it’s hard to imagine a more rewarding hike.
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