From Rathdrum to Bray: Four Days walking the Wicklow Mountains

Published by Editor on 13 October 2021

In September 2021, freelance journalist Rachel Broomhead was sent by ‘Country Walking Magazine’ in the UK to walk the Wicklow Mountains. Rachel’s trip was commissioned and organised by the Ireland/Wales Celtic Routes project.

Low Carbon Experience: This itinerary was designed to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible using public transport for all journeys.

‘The Wicklow Way is full of surprises: from the lush woodland and ancient history secreted in its southern foothills to the dramatic mountain skylines of the north, every day delivers a different insight into this special landscape.’
Rachel Broomhead

See below Rachel’s itinerary and photos:

Read Rachel's Article on Country Walking Mag - May 22 Issue

Day 1: From Dublin to Wicklow

Rachel arrived in the afternoon to Dublin with the Ferry coming from Wales. After a short transfer to Connolly Station, she boarded a train going South, heading to the village of Rathdrum, where we will spend the night.

The journey from Dublin to Rathdrum is probably one of the most scenic train trip in Ireland, following the South coast of the Dublin Bay then along the Wicklow coastline from Bray to Wicklow Town.

In Rathdrum, Rachel spent the night at Stirabout Lane B&B

Day 2 – Rathdrum to Glendalough:

The first day of walking started from Rathdrum and followed the Avonmore Way. The Avonmore Way is a 13km stretch that follows a mixture of minor road, forest road and track through the beautiful Claraval Nature Reserve alongside the peaceful Avonmore River and skirts around Trooperstown Hill to reach Laragh.

Trail info: Avonmore Way
Luggage Transfer was organised everyday by Wicklow Way Baggage from Rathdrum all the way to Bray

In Laragh, Rachel spent the night and dinner at the Wicklow Heather

Day 3 – Laragh, Glendalough and Roundwood along the Wicklow Way:

Today’s routes gets deep into the Glendalough Valley and its sixth century monastic city. The Glendalough Valley offers a wide variety of trails to suit all distances and level of fitness. The most scenic walk there is the Spinc trail that follow the ridge 200 meters above the upper lake.

From Glendalough Monastic Site, we follow the Wicklow Way going North, to reach our next destination: Roundwood

Trail Info: Spinc & Wicklow Way
Rachel was joined by local tour guide Dairine Nuttall

In Roundwood, Rachel spent the night at the Wicklow Way Lodge

Day 4 – Roundwood to Enniskerry along the Wicklow Way

Today’s walk follows the Wicklow Way to the heights of the Wicklow Mountain, passing by Lough Tay, the famous Guinness Lake, over Djouce Mountain and by Powerscourt Waterfall. The route finishes near the village of Enniskerry.

Trail info: Wicklow Way (Note that Rachel diverted on the Sugarloaf Way at Djouce Woods to reach her accommodation)

In Enniskerry, Rachel spent the night at Coolakay House B&B

Day 5 – Enniskerry to Bray along the Sugarloaf Way

The last stretch of the journey is along the new Sugarloaf Way, that makes the link between the Wicklow Way and Bray. this stretch passes by the iconic Sugarloaf, into the village of Kilmacanogue, over the Little Sugarloaf, through Belmont Demesne, over Bray Head and finally reaches the sea at Bray. The seaside resort of Bray is the ideal finish of our itinerary offering a great variety of places to eat and stay with connection back to Dublin and beyond.