Hike the WICKLOW WAY - Dublin to Clonegal over the Wicklow Mountains - Part One
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- The Wicklow Way was the first long distance trail in Ireland spanning a 132 km / 82 miles with a total ascent of 3,770 m / 12,370 feet. The trail was first conceived by JB Malone a writer for the newspaper the Evening Herald but it was not until 1981 before it was officially opened. The majority of the trail is in the county of Wicklow, however it does start in the county of Dublin and finishes in the county of Carlow, following a relatively straight route between Marlay Park in South Dublin to Clonegal.
This video is part one of a two part series and covers the first two days of a five day hike. In this video we wild camp for the first two nights, the first night we camp along the river that eventually tumbles over the Powerscourt waterfall and the following night finds us on the mountain top of Mullacor.
Although, there is an official start place within Marlay Park we are unable to gain access to this spot as a festival has boarded up the official start. We are therefore, restricted to walking the outskirts of the park but none the less enjoy the parts of the park we can experience.
Next we are on the moors passing the frog zone and then moving through the spruce fir woods. Eventually, we arrive at the Knockree Youth Hostel to discover that it is closed. However, we meet a person cutting the lawn who offers to fill our water bottles. Sufficiently refreshed, we push on to Crone Car Park where we are able to gain coffee and cake before we read the notice board. This notice alerts us to the fact that wild camping is permitted in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
We now arrive at the stream that feeds the Powerscourt Waterfall and decide to join the other tents alongside the stream for our first wild cam p of the trip.
We meet some bike packers and admire the set up they have for their wild camping trip. The following morning we head across the lee of the highest mountain on the route and witness others who have based their camp higher in the hills than we had done. Eventually, we come across the memorial to JB Malone overlooking Lough Tay.
Eventually, down from the mountains we are walking through open land and spot a wild deer bounding across our path. Further along the trail we come across a sign for Oldbridge and we note the increase in traffic on the route which we recognise as festival traffic which we believe has come from the festival ' Beyond the Pale'.
There is only one official camp site on the route and not surprising this is call ed 'Wicklow Way Camping'. as it's only mid day we decide to push on. Along one of the next tracks we come across a fairy garden with lots of figurines placed around the flowers of the garden. But better news for us is the nearby tap for drinking water. On the sign for the water, we discover lots of thanks and praise for the availability of water including a Canadian flag badge.
One of the unique features of the Wicklow Way the availability of Mountain Huts in the forest. So we discover our first hut, Brushers Gap Hut. However, the time of day dictates we move along the trail as we have time to cover more Irish miles.
We arrive at the village of Glendalough and partake of lovely food at the local cafe. Then we move on to one of Irelands most famous tourist places, The Monastic City. ~This was founded in the 6th century by St Kevin and contains a 100 foot high round tower built in the 10/11 th centuries.
Following our tourist endeavour, we now head away from the crowds up into the mountains and finally settle on the mountain of Mullacor for our next wild camp adventure. here we are blessed with a glorious rad and orange sky as the setting sun displays all it's charms mixed in with a cloud inversion.
This provides a beautiful conclusion to this part of the journey and a calming conclusion to the video.
😖Typical Ireland, NO DOGS!
Its a shame about those conifer plantations..horrible..
Totally agree, the trail would be significantly better without them!
Beautifully crafted. Thank you!
Glad you appreciate it. Thanks. Nigel.
Absolutely amazing nice sound. Guys I recommended you visit the himalayan mountains k2 and Nangaparbat view point from one place moses peak Gilgit-Baltistan Barah Valley. Add this sound in your bucket list. Moses peak is open zone family trek.
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it it. Another one for my list.
Lovely video thanks. Glad you managed to get good weather. I'm just about to start backpacking and the Wicklow Way is definitely on my to do list. Looking forward to part 2
Glad you enjoyed and I hope you get chance to do it. Have fun with the backpacking. Cheers
@@AmblingTrails I have no excuse - I live in Ireland..
@suegillett2173 😂 indeed!
Hi Nigel! Home from my own Irish Adventure! I tried to paste some photos on this comment to help you locate that wild camping spot toward the end of the Pennine Way, near Windy Gyle. It won’t allow me to. If you have the Trailblazer guide book by Stuart Greig, it is on Map 128; turn onto Clennell Street, and bear left about 1 mile down.
Hey, thanks for the info, really appreciate the thought. As it happens Trailblazer guide books are my preferred choice, so that’s great. Not sure when I’ll get to do the PW as early as I hoped but that will give me time to plan and hopefully identify the spot. Hope you guys enjoyed your Irish adventure. ATB, Nigel
From what i know the hostel was used for ukraine 🇺🇦 housing but is now back open as a hostel for hikers etc.
Thanks Brian for this interesting piece of info. Cheers
Great photography!
Cheers!
Beautiful hills and mountains, especially the sunset and cloud inversion near the end. Liked the choice of music too. Wish a could persuade any of my kids to walk and camp with me!
Thanks Catherine, yes I’m very lucky that the kids(!) will accompany me on these adventures. Appreciate the comment and the nod to the music is helpful as well. Cheers, Nigel
Nigel,
Woke up to this little gem in my subscriptions list this morning and was surprised as I'd not expected another video from you so soon after the last, even though you'd mentioned Ireland was next. Watching this was a nice way to start my day, and certainly more scenic than my current training walks (mostly on local roads) here in NZ. Loved the ruined buildings of the Monastic City, and appreciated the written explanation you provided. I have a few walks in Ireland on my "if I ever get there, but probably never will" list. My anticipation for next year's U.K. adventure is ramping up, and this video helped crank that another notch or two.
Thanks Ryk, glad you enjoyed it as much as I did! Enjoyed the comment and thanks for the continued support. Cheers, Nigel
same!
What beautiful scenery. I’m enjoying the start of your latest adventure. Looking forward to the next chapter
Thanks, glad you’re enjoying the Irish adventure. Cheers
You can blame Hozier for the Marley park situation
Thanks for the info.