Wicklow Way Walking Holiday 9 Days (Moderate, Full Trail)

Travel to Bunclody — a small county town in Co. Wexford is the natural gateway to the southern Wicklow Way. An evening to settle in. Light dinner options include Kavanagh's or Fisher's on Main Street.

We provide full public transport details on how to get there in our travel guide or ask us about our private transfer service.

Morning transfer Bunclody → Clonegal, the southern terminus of the Wicklow Way. The trail heads north through the Wexford–Wicklow border country: farm tracks, forest paths and the first proper Wicklow uplands. The walk finishes at Tallon's Pub on the Shillelagh road — a traditional roadside pub, cold pint waiting.

Transfer at the finish to your overnight in Shillelagh (Tinahely as a fallback if Shillelagh is unavailable).

Morning transfer from Shillelagh back to Tallon's Pub — walk from where you finished yesterday. The route climbs into the Iron Mountains country past Tinahely and Muskeagh Hill, finishing at Shielstown Forest on the ridge – one of the loneliest and quietest stretches of the whole trail.

Transfer at the finish to your overnight in Moyne (Tinahely as a fallback).

Morning transfer to Shielstown. The trail rises up onto the shoulder of Slieve Maan (a trail on the flank, not the summit) with wide views back over the country you've walked. The long descent brings you into the Avonbeg Valley and Glenmalure — the deepest glacial valley in Ireland, steep-sided and wooded.

Overnight: Glenmalure

The big Wicklow ridge crossing. The trail climbs steeply out of Glenmalure onto the Mullacor ridge with sweeping views west to the Comeragh Mountains and east to the sea. The descent drops through Glendalough — Kevin's 6th-century monastic city, with round tower, cathedral ruins, and the two glacial lakes — before the final stroll into Laragh village.

Overnight: Laragh

North from Laragh through the Vartry catchment — forest tracks, open moorland on Paddock Hill, and the first proper views of the Wicklow reservoirs and Roundwood village below. Roundwood is Ireland's highest village and a classic overnight destination for walkers.

Overnight: Roundwood

The Djouce Mountain crossing — for many walkers, the single best day on the whole Wicklow Way. The trail climbs onto the Djouce Woodland boardwalk with the extraordinary view down onto Lough Tay ("the Guinness lake") — dark water in a granite bowl, a Guinness family estate on the shore. The high point crosses the shoulder of Djouce Mountain (trail on the flank, not the summit) with the Sugar Loaf ahead. Long forest descent into Crone Wood above Enniskerry.

Overnight: Enniskerry area

The final walking day follows the Wicklow Way north via the Powerscourt Waterfall (Ireland's highest at 121 m, right on the trail), Knockree Youth Hostel, and then the long climb over Fairy Castle and Two Rock Mountain, with the whole of Dublin opening below. Descent into Marlay Park — the northern terminus of the Wicklow Way, marked by a stone finish marker.

Transfer from Marlay Park to Dublin city centre, then check into your hotel in Ballsbridge for a well-earned dinner.
Premium accommodation included in the tour price.

Hotel to Dublin Airport (20 min by taxi) or Dublin city rail and bus stations. If your flight allows, spend an afternoon in Dublin: Trinity College and the Book of Kells are ten minutes from your hotel and the National Gallery is around the corner.