ITINERARY OUTLINE

Day 1
Pickup at Dublin Airport at 1.00pm and transfer to your accommodation, which is in the pictures village of Laragh, nestling in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. It only takes us approximately one-hour drive from Dublin Airport to your accommodation. After settling in and getting some light refreshments, we will do a nice walk in the afternoon, just to get the legs in shape for the week ahead!

Day 2
Our first walk starts from the village of Laragh and follows an old Green Road that takes us along the lower slopes of Derrybawn Mountain, through a forest of Oak and Beach and onto part of Wicklow Way, Ireland's oldest way marked trail. The trail takes us above the monastic settlement of Glendalough and St. Kevin's round tower. We continue on forest tracks before ascending The Spinc and onto the side of Lugduff Mountain, where we will have breathtaking views of the lakes and surrounding countryside. We then descend to the Glenealo Valley following an old minor's track to the deserted Miners Village and back to the lakes.
Distance: 11.5 km/7.2 miles. Ascent: 410m/1230ft

Day 3
After leaving our accommodation in the village we once again join Wicklow Way trail that takes us north into the valley of Glenmacnass and onto the side us Paddock Hill. From here we will have excellent views back over the valleys, Laragh Village and surrounding countryside. A gentle trail then takes us onto the summit of Scarr Mountain, which overlooks Wicklow's largest lake, Lough Dan. Our walk continues down into the valley of Lough Dan, where we will re-join the Wicklow Way that will lead us back to Laragh for some well earned refreshments.
Distance: 15 km/9.4 miles. Ascent: 500m/1500ft

Day 4
Once again our walk starts from the village but this time it takes us south through Ballard Forest and onto Trooperstown Mountain. On our way to the summit and through the town land of Ballard we will have clear evidence of a forgotten farming community that once lived and toiled this land. It was probably the great famine of 1845 to 1849 that put an end to community life, as they knew it, on this incredibly beautiful but remote part of Co. Wicklow. The remains of the potato beds and the outline of the fields and ruined dwellings are still clearly visible today. From the summit and on a clear day it is possible to see almost all the peaks in the Wicklow range and if you are lucky you may be able to see as far as the great Snowdonia Mountain Range in Wales. From Trooperstown the trail takes you down into the Vale of Clara, the smallest village in Ireland. We will have lunch on the banks of the Avonmore River before taking on the final part of our journey, which takes us through an open Oak Forest into the town of Rathdrum.
Distance: 12Km/7.5 miles Height Gain: 240m/ 600ft

Day 5
Today we take a break from the hills and do our walk along one of Irelands finest cost-lines, from Wicklow Town to Greystones. Before starting our walk we will take a short time out to explore the town of Wicklow, pay a short visit to the historical jail, do a little shopping or relax with a coffee in one of the town's fine restaurants. The walk takes you along one of the best costal walks in the country, flanked on the right by the Irish Sea and to the left is one of the largest complex of wetland habitats on the east coast. The entire area is a proposed Special Area of Conservation and National Heritage. This walk has something to suite all tastes, whether you are interested in wild flowers, bird watching or just a relaxing walk, with the Wicklow Mountains as a back drop, it all goes to make a super day out.
Distance: 18Km, 11 miles, Ascent, practically none

Day 6
Our day starts with a drive across the spectacular Wicklow Gap, following part of the route that the world famous cycle race " the Tour de France" travelled in 1998, that will take us to the quaint village of Donard where our walk starts and finishes. Our trail out of the village takes us along a small country road that leads onto the slopes of Church Mountain; from here we will join an old Bog Road and a trail that leads us to the summit. From Church Mountain and on a clear day it is possible to see 9 of Irelands 32 counties.
From Church our journey takes us onto Corriebracks, a small peak that is covered in blanket bog and an area where the local community still harvested peat in the traditional way. Our next summit is Lowbawn and finally Sugarloaf before returning back to Donard for some well-earned and re-energizing refreshments!
This is a long but very rewarding walk, with some breath taking scenery along the way.
Distance: 16.5 Km, 10.5 miles, Ascent 680 Mtrs, 2040 Ft

Day 7
The final day of your tour takes you back onto the Wicklow Way and into the valley of Glendalough for a visit to its famous Monastic City. The monastic city was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and very quickly became on of the most important monastic settlements in Europe, it was known as the teaching capital of Europe or the Rome of the western world. We will visit some of the ruined churches and its impressive round tower that overlooks a scene of tranquil beauty.
In the afternoon we will visit the Vale of Avoca and the Avoca Woollen Mills, which are the oldest working woollen mills in the country. We will spend some time exploring the village, which was the setting for the series "Ballykisangel", and of course drop into Fitzgerald's Pub for a pint!
Distance, approximately 10Km, 6 miles, Ascent, little to none

Day 8
Depart from Dublin at 12.30pm