Category: Trail
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Mount Brandon From Faha
On the brow of Brandon is mist, and rest from the racing sky: the rollers break upon Brandon, Brandon the blessed, and the seagulls cry. – Geoffrey Winthrop Young Mount Brandon (952m/3,123ft) or Cnoc Bréanainn is one of my favourite Irish summits. It is the highest point outside the chain of peaks that dominate the…
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Mullaghcleevaun… with a pitstop at Wicklow’s most remote lake!
If you’re seeking a great escape into the hills; something that feels like a proper adventure into the wilderness (but still accessible), then Mullaghcleevaun is a great option! At 849 metres, it is Wicklow’s second highest peak & the 15th highest peak in Ireland. Despite its’ high ranking in terms of mountain height for Ireland,…
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Prince Williams Seat Loop
Prince William’s Seat… now that’s a noble sounding hill. Some say the origin of its name is attributed to the visit of the English monarch King George IV in 1821 or William III around 130 years earlier. But a huge granite tor around a kilometre-and-a-half to the west of its summit might suggest otherwise. Known…
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Scarr Mountain Trail
Still south I went and west and south again, Through Wicklow from the morning till the night, And far from cities, and the sights of men, Lived with the sunshine, and the moon’s delight. John Millington Synge There are some hills that will surprise you regardless of their stature in height and Wicklow’s Scarr…
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The E8 Trail Day Five (Kildavin to Graiguenamanagh)
Day five opens with departure from Kildavin, I should add that for me, this was my first completely solo day on trail. Until this point I had groups of friends dropping in and out for certain sections to keep me company. With thru hiking, there will always come some semblance of loneliness, for me this…
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The E8 Trail Day Four (Tinahely to Kildavin)
Now, dear reader, a confession. I had scheduled to camp in Mangan’s Wood and be rough and tough, however, as often happens on trail, human kindness appeared when needed. A good friend of mine volunteered to give me a hearty meal, use of a shower and a warm bed for the night. This oasis was…
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The E8 Trail Day Three (Mullacor Hut to Mangan’s Wood/Tinahely)
Day Three The third day on trail begins under the lush blanket of trees at Mullacor Hut. Each one of these huts dotted along this section of the route is a mini haven when compared to wild camping. Once you’ve packed, fed, watered and checked for any treats left behind in the hut lock box…
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The E8 Trail Day Two (Watergate to Mullacor Hut)
E8 (WICKLOW WAY) DAY TWO The second day may arrive with an unwelcome early morning gust rushing toward you from the valley above, most likely coupled with a burst of excitement brought on by the potential contained within the day ahead. Today, if you are following the same schedule as I, you will tackle 34km…
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The E8 Trail Day One (Marlay Park to Watergate)
The official start of the E8 Coast to Coast Trail begins, as you’d imagine at the coast, way out at Poolbeg Lighthouse. I, however, began my journey at the trailhead of the Wicklow Way in Marlay Park. The trail itself is actually a section of a much larger pan-European route stretching from Dursey Island all…
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The Ballyhoura Way
A mountainous trail steeped in history The moderate 90 km point-to-point (Thru-hike) Ballyhoura Way takes you from County Cork to County Tipperary, on a way marked trail that allows hikers to get the most from an escape into the mountains whilst never straying too far from picturesque villages and towns along the way. The Ballyhoura…
