Ireland (Republic of Ireland)

Languages: English, Irish

Currencies: EUR · Euro (€)

Capitol: Dublin

Continents: Europe

Borders: United Kingdom

More useful information

Area: 70,273km2

Population: 4,994,724

Traffic/driving side: left

Landlocked country: No

Independent country: Yes

United Nations member: Yes

IDD Prefix: +353

Timezones: UTC

Last updated on July 14, 2023

Glendalough hike trail is the most popular route in Wicklow Mountains, leading above the glacial valley it will treat you with panoramic, breathtaking mountain views. Over the last few years I hiked most of the trails in Wicklow Mountains National Park. Glendalough is a fantastic starting point for a number of walking routes in the valley at all levels of difficulty.

How long is a Glendalough hike?

First of all there are two loops: Glendalough Upper and Lower Lake Loop. The lower Loop is a convenient walk for everyone, it takes about 1.15h and it’s only 4.5km. It’s a very popular tourist destination, so don’t be surprised by weekend crowds. Bring rainproof cloth with you, wetaher changes rapidly around the mountain area. 

Glendalough hike - Upper loop walk in Wicklow Mountains.

Drive to Glendalough Visitor Car park or Glendalough Upper Lake Car Park. One of the most spectacular trails is a loop around Glendalough Upper lake through Miners Village. Hiking up is rewarded by stunning views of the Glenealo Valley. I highly recommend hiking the full loop which is around 10 km (takes about 2 – 4 hours) depending on weather coditions and your fitness level. The weather can be very ungreateful in the valley, it is often rainy with a limited visibility. This walk is suitable for dogs but on other routs in Wicklow Mountains you will not be able to take your friend, so pay attention to signs ‘No dogs allowed’. 

From the Glendalough Upper Lake Car Park there are number of marked trails, which start from half an hour walks up to the 10 km full loop. Remember that weather conditions may be slightly different (or even very different) from the starting point. I experienced heavy rain and wind while hiking the full loop. Keep in mind to wear warm clothes, rain and windproof coat and good hiking shoes.

If you are considering hiking the highest peak in Wicklow Mountains – Lugnaquilla, here is some good advice (I’ve done it in tough winter conditions and mild spring): https://freestyletraveling.com/lugnaquilla-highest-mountain-in-wicklow/

View na Wicklow Mountains from Glendalough loop
Sassari Sardinia

Hey - I'm Eva!

Hiker, adventurous traveler and the author of this blog. My biggest joy is mountaineering and writing reportage travel stories here on this blog, to help you create a unique travel experience. Traveling is freedom, allows you seeing the world truly, meet communities, grow. Taste it!
Connect:
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x