Walk 5053 - printer friendly version

Derrybawn & Mullacor from Glendalough Walk

Author - Paul Gasson

Length - 11.5 miles / 18.7 km

Ascent - 2245 feet / 680 metres

Grade - moderate

The village of Glendalough is a popular place with visitors having a wealth of ecclesiastical history. The visitor centre is located near the centre of the village and has adequate parking.

From the Centre, cross the footbridge and turn right on a well made track along the South side of the Lower Lake, turning left again beyond the Information Office to Pollanass waterfall.

Beyond the falls, turn left on the forest road and cross two bridges, then take the right fork, and look for a very vague path on the right, climbing diagonally up the hillside. Sadly timber operations have destroyed the upper part of this path so care is needed to maintain direction to gain another forest road.

Reaching this next road, turn left and look for a clear path on the right climbing to the summit of Derrybawn Mountain. This forms the start of the easy Derrybawn Ridge. At the end of this, descend slightly and take an obvious track rising up to a fence. Follow the fence right to a stile and on to the summit of Mullacor.

Beyond the summit the path descends steeply with forest to the right to join the Wicklow Way at a boardwalk. Go right here for a few metres, then left onto another boardwalk which climbs towards Lugduff East.

At the end of the boardwalk contour right on the clear path to join another path. This descends right to the top of the Spink Cliffs. Here 2 km. of boardwalk takes you high above the Upper Lake and eventually descends on seemingly endless steps to a forest road close to the two bridges crossed earlier. Go left, then left again to return past the waterfall, and your outward route.

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