As part of a planned trip to Ireland, I wanted to do some hiking on my own. The original trip was to spend a few days in Dublin to see old friends from school and college, and then head off to the Shannon for a week long boat trip arranged by an old friend.But then…
Monday Monday dawned bright and clear, an auspicious start for the trip. I got up and moving and left my friend’s house around 6 a.m. Walking through Dublin was oddly familiar and yet very different. New buildings rising everywhere, busy roads, names with a familiar ring (Kilmacud Road, Sydney Parade) but so many that I…
The Wicklow way slowly climbs its way out of Dublin. As you gain elevation you see the city laid out to the east, and the Irish Sea lapping at the waistline of Ireland. The sections of forest land alternate with windswept hill. After 21 miles of walking, it’s mid afternoon and I’m pretty tired. I’m…
Piles of lumber drying and awaiting hauling. Notice how many of the logs are less than a foot in diameter. The first day of my hike I got to walk through several sections of managed forest land. For the next thirty days, I saw many more. And by the end of the hike, I had…
The first day (July 17) was lovely and sunny for the most part. I walked all day (21 odd miles) and then set up the tent in the afternoon and slept.I awoke to the sound of rain on the tent; and it rained. And rained. And rained.I wasn’t too bothered; I was able to dress…
All geared up for the wettest July in history To be ready for Irish rain, I developed a layering approach like a Christmas tree. Every layer sheds outwards, to the layer below it, until the bottom layer sheds over the tops of my boots.I begin with a hat. A good rain hat requires a full…
So on July 18th I decided to hike off the Wicklow Way at the Crone Woods to walk a couple of miles to a bed and breakfast, I was dry, but my tent wasn’t; it had been raining most of the night. I arrived at the bed and breakfast in the afternoon and hung my…
From Lough Dan I hiked out the next morning on the way to Glendalough The Wicklow Way alternates between paths, tracks across farmers’ fields, and roads. I was pleased to note while walking along a farmer’s road, a water tap with a sign encouraging hikers to help themselves. Just another example of the consistent kindness…
Leaving Glendalough, you hike up the the hill to the south of the monastic city, then straight up along the Poulanass Waterfall, which is lovely. However, you don’t hike eastwards to the Spinc, a hill overlooking the Upper Lake at Glendalough, which means that you miss some great views. Which is one of my problems…
