80 km / 50 miles / Full Day

The county of Wicklow is naturally divided by the granite expanse of the Wicklow Mountains, the largest continuous upland region in Ireland which occupies much of the centre of the county. West of the mountains, owing in part to its topography and remoteness, there survives a highly scenic natural landscape which contains a wealth of archaeological and historical sites, towns and villages.

Using Baltinglass as the central point, two heritage trails have been developed to the north and to the South of the town as suggested driving and/or cycling routes to explore this area.  For West Wicklow, highlights include the prehistoric hillforts centred around Baltinglass (the largest such complex in Ireland), the Piper Stones, Castleruddery Stone Circle, The Cistercian Abbey of Baltinglass, 1798 associations at Kilranelagh Graveyard and Dwyer McAllister Cottage as well as the rich biodiversity of the River Slaney Special Area of Conservation and the remote flanks of Wicklow Mountains National Park at the Glen of Imaal making this a fascinating part of Wicklow to visit and discover. If you enjoy this guide, pick up the South West Wicklow Heritage Trail and the Blessington Lakeside Heritage Trail and continue exploring West Wicklow.

For more about our Wicklow heritage visit www.countywicklowheritage.org