Ireland's first long-distance walking route crosses the Wicklow Mountains through wild moorland, mountain passes, and wooded valleys. Day sections can be done independently, but the full route rewards those who walk it end to end.
The Wicklow Way begins at Marlay Park in Rathfarnham on the southern edge of Dublin, reachable by Dublin Bus, and runs 127km south to the village of Clonegal in County Carlow; the trailhead has no parking fee and no permit is required to walk any section. The full route has around 3500m of cumulative elevation gain across its five to seven day span, with individual day stages typically covering 15-25km and 300-600m of gain. Surfaces vary widely: forest tracks and boardwalk across boggy sections near Glencree and Glenmalure, open moorland with looser stone underfoot over the higher passes such as Ballinagee Bridge, and quiet country lanes on the southern stages near Tinahely and Shillelagh; shade is intermittent, heaviest in the forested sections and absent on the exposed mountain passes. Landmarks along the way include the Sally Gap and Glenmacnass waterfall, the deep glacial trench of Glenmalure valley, the ancient oak and pine forests around Aughavannagh, and long stretches of remote blanket bog on the higher stages. Waymarked accommodation towns along the route, including Roundwood, Glendalough, Glenmalure, Aughavannagh, and Tinahely, provide guesthouses, hostels, and small shops roughly a day's walk apart, so multi-day hikers do not need to carry camping gear or several days of food. Individual day sections can be walked independently as out-and-back or point-to-point day hikes using local buses.
Trail facts
- Trail area
- County Wicklow (Rathfarnham to Clonegal)
- Best season
- April to October, when trail towns' guesthouses are open and bog sections are driest
Highlights
- Wicklow Mountains panoramas
- Glenmalure valley
- Ancient forest sections
- Remote mountain bog landscapes
Tips for visiting
- Book accommodation in trail towns like Glendalough and Glenmalure well ahead in summer, as options are limited
- Waterproof boots are worthwhile, as several sections cross boggy ground even on boardwalk-protected stretches
- The high passes near Sally Gap and Ballinagee Bridge have no shelter, so check weather before those stages
- Individual day sections can be walked using local bus services without committing to the full multi-day route
- A guidebook or GPS track is useful for the less-populated southern stages where waymarking is sparser
When to visit
Starting each day's stage in the morning allows enough daylight to reach accommodation before evening, particularly on the longer mountain sections.
Accessibility
The route as a whole is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible, though some boardwalk sections near Glencree and short stretches near trail towns are relatively level and firm underfoot.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to walk the full Wicklow Way?
Most through-hikers complete the 127km route in five to seven days, walking 15-25km per day.
Can I walk just one section of the Wicklow Way?
Yes, day sections between towns such as Roundwood, Glendalough, and Glenmalure can be walked independently, often using local bus services to return.
Is camping necessary to walk the Wicklow Way?
No, guesthouses and hostels in trail towns are spaced roughly a day's walk apart, so most hikers stay indoors rather than camping.
What is the terrain like along the route?
It varies from forest track and boardwalk over bog to open, stony moorland on the higher mountain passes and quiet country lanes on the southern stages.