Dublin & The Wicklow Way Short Break

This is an accessible and easy-to-navigate walking trip suited to anyone with a good level of fitness. Explore Dublin, Ireland's capital and "UNESCO City of Literature" before striding out into the wild Wicklow Mountains. Several days involve ascent and descent with the first walk to Roundwood being more challenging and leaning towards moderate grading. The terrain and scenery are varied, the paths are mostly well-maintained and waymarked, making this trip ideal for regular walkers or beginners looking for a challenge.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Solo Travellers

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This walk is graded easy to moderate and includes daily walks of between 10 and 21km with several ascents and descents along the way. The Wicklow Way trail uses forest paths and sometimes minor roads to avoid walking on private land, this is inevitable because rights of way are non-existent in Ireland. The terrain is mixed with some rocky areas and mixed surfaces underfoot. This itinerary is suitable for regular walkers who are generally fit. Extra nights can be added upon request.

We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses, and B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, offering traditional Irish hospitality and delicious local food.

We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the itinerary, but because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you at an alternative location. Alternative details will be noted on your accommodation sheet.

Single Rooms

We will be happy to accommodate your party with single rooms if requested. This trip is also available to solo walkers.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs or restaurants.

The Wicklow Way is known to be one of the best waymarked and maintained Irish Ways. You will have access to the route information and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone app, so you will have no problem following the route each day.

Recommended Reading

If you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:

• The Dingle Way Rucksack Readers Guide

The Wicklow Way is available from April to October and you can start your trip on any day of the week to suit your travel plans. As the Irish weather is so famously changeable, it is hard for us to indicate the very best time to go. However, we believe that anytime between April and October should offer a wonderful experience. The Irish weather is unpredictable but not often extreme, although it is important to be prepared for any conditions. The Wicklow Way is popular, so it is best to book as far in advance as you can.

Irish weather is typically unpredictable year-round so be prepared for any conditions and you will be pleasantly surprised. No matter what month you choose to travel, being in the Wicklow Mountains means it can get wet and windy at any time of year. It is important that you check the local weather forecast before setting off each day. Wintry conditions may be experienced at the start and towards the end of the season.

Dublin Airport is easily accessible with both international carriers and several low-cost airlines covering the route. From the airport there is a great bus service to Dublin City Centre, departing frequently and taking roughly 20 minutes. 

Irish Ferries also operate from Holyhead to Dublin across the Irish Sea (3 hrs, 15 min) there are usually 4 crossings per day.

You will be transferred from your overnight accommodation in Dublin to the start of your walk at Curtlestown Wood on Day 2 of your itinerary (included).

The nearest railway station to the end of the walk at Glenmalure is Rathdrum (7 miles). The journey from Rathdrum to Dublin Pearse Train Station takes just over an hour (1 hrs, 10 min). There are usually 4 train services per day, it is important to keep this in mind when planning your onward journey. It might be most convenient to get a taxi from your B&B in Glenmalure to Rathdrum Train Station (15 min), phone numbers for local taxi providers will be provided in your trip information pack. A taxi transfer back to Dublin would take roughly 55 minutes. From Dublin, regular buses connect to Dublin Airport for onward travel.

Daily door-to-door luggage transfers are included in the price of your trip, allowing you to set off on each walk carrying a light backpack.

At Macs Adventure we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Ninety-nine percent of the time they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg per bag, depending on the tour you are taking. We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags (including shopping bags or boots) and if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.

On this trip, we ask you to keep your luggage to a maximum weight of 20 kilograms per item, and just one item of luggage per person.