A stunning fantastic must do hike is the Glendalough hike which allows you to really immerse yourself and be one with nature. There are nine way-stamped strolling trails in the valley of Glendalough. The strolls fluctuate from a short half hour walk around a long four-hour hill walk. Enormous maps of the strolls are shown outside the National Park Information Office and at the OPW Visitor Center next to the Monastic City. All the strolls start and finish at the National Park Information Office close to the Upper Lake. Each trail is signposted with shading coded bolts. Staff at the Information Office can assist you with picking an appropriate course.
There are 9 different hikes layer out in Glendalough and each have their own difficulty level which can be found on the map which you may purchase at the tourist office near the carpark. Below are the routes you can take when completing this hike.
Miners' Road Walk (Purple Route)
Evaluation: Easy
Distance: 5km
Time: 1hr 10 mins
Climb: 20m
This walk skirts one side of the Upper Lake. The path goes through Scots pine forest before arriving at the demolished Miners' Village. Most of the way along the path, the cavern known as St. Kevin's Bed can be seen over the lake. Non domesticated goats are normal on this walk. Peregrine Falcons may once in a while be seen high in the sky taking off and calling to one another with a piercing cry.
Walkers on the Miners' Road Walk may likewise need to download a Nature Trails handout to go with this walk. Both the Bird Walk and the Mammal Walk follow this course.
Poulanass and ST. Kevin’s Cell (Bronze Route)
Grade: Moderate
Distance: 1km
Time: 30mins
Climb: 85m
This path rises steeply close by the Poulanass Waterfall, driving you through the Glendalough oak forests. It at that point twists tenderly down to the site of St. Kevin's Cell. Now there is a grand perspective ignoring the Upper Lake, which is a decent spot to birdwatch. A visit to Reefert Church is beneficial before consummation your walk.
Green Road Walk (Green Route)
Evaluation: Easy
Distance: 3km
Time: 50 mins
Climb: 20m
The Green Road is a simple walk around generally level ground. This walk goes through the Glendalough oak forests before dropping down onto the Lower Lake wetland edge. Perspectives up the valley from the footpath here are fantastic. Reptiles and dragonflies are regularly observed sunning themselves on the wooden trackway. The wetlands are an important reproducing place for frogs.
Walkers on the Green Road Walk may likewise need to download a Nature Trails handout to go with this walk. The Flower Walk follows this course.
Derrybawn Woodland Trail (Orange Route)
Grade: Ramble
Distance: 8km
Time: 2hrs
Climb: 160m
This path ascends steeply up close by the Poulanass Waterfall before driving you to the upper compasses of Derrybawn Mountain. Flanked by larch and pine trees, the course offers radiant perspectives in general Glendalough Valley. Red squirrels and winged animals, for example, tree creepers are regularly observed here. In late-spring, wood roan, bluebells and wood anemones add shading to the forest floor.
Poulanass (Pink Route)
Grade: Moderate
Distance: 1.6 km
Time: 40 mins
Climb: 100m
This path starts with a short however soak move up by the Poulanass Waterfall and plunge pools. (The name Poulanass is taken from the Irish 'Survey an Eas' which signifies 'gap of the cascade'). The path crosses over the cascade to drop down through blended forests to the valley floor. Tune in out for forest feathered creatures, specifically jays, which can be very loud.
Woodland Road (Silver Route)
Grade: Ramble
Distance: 4km
Time: 1hr 15 mins
Climb: 90 m
This is a wonderful stroll through one of the more clandestine regions of Glendalough. It meshes through blended forests into neighboring Glendasan Valley. The path follows the Glendasan River back towards Glendalough, where it at that point gets together with the promenade which goes through the Lower Lake wetlands.
Spinc and Glenealo Valley (White Route)
Grade: Hill walk
Separation: 9km
Time: 3hr
Climb: 380 m
This well-known walk drives you through the absolute most tremendous view in Co. Wicklow. (The name Spinc originates from the Irish 'A Spinc' and signifies 'pointed slope'). The path climbs steeply up by the Poulanass Waterfall before joining a footpath. In excess of 600 wooden advances lead you to a survey point ignoring the Upper Lake. The promenade skirts the highest point of the precipices before sliding through cover marsh and heath into the pleasant Glenealo Valley, home to a huge crowd of deer. An unpleasant track at that point drives you down into Glendalough Valley.
Spinc and the Wicklow Way (Red Route)
Grade: Hill walk
Distance: 11km
Time: 4hrs
Climb: 490m
This walk follows a similar course as the other Spinc trails up onto the promenade. It remains on this promenade for 1.7km before killing toward Lugduff Mountain. This Section of the path is a decent spot to spot deer and winged animals, for example, Raven, Merlin and Kestrel. At long last the path connects up with the Wicklow Way track to lead you back to the Information Office.
Spinc (short course) (Blue Route)
Grade: Hill walk
Distance: 5km
Time: 2hrs
Climb: 300m
Despite the fact that this walk is short in contrast with the other Spinc courses, it despite everything drives you into rugged landscape where navigational experience is fundamental. The walk follows the Poulanass Waterfall before entering the Lugduff Valley. From that point, a precarious move up steps brings you onto the promenade which embraces the bluff of the Spinc, before chopping down through woods to lead back towards the Information Office.