One of my French friends is visiting Wicklow this summer and is looking for a three dayish backpack route; he's a strong walker.
I have no experience of this area and wondered if anyone had spent time backpacking there and if they might provide some information; the web yields little and I would prefer 'feet-on' feedback anyway?
We had a OM meet in that neck of the woods 2 weekends ago, I am in transit to the US at the moment but will dig out the guide book as soon as the container arrives.
Get the Harvey's Map of Wicklow, then maybe spend a night down in the glen to avail of all its facilities, and get a bit of shopping done. After that, provided the weather is good, head for any of the high moorland ridges around the glen or further afield, and camp wild. If there's no need to return to Glendalough, then a route that stays high, but bails out to a bus service, will be easy to plot. Basically, anything goes on high ground, and the only limit is your stamina. Bail out eastwards to hit St Kevin's Bus (Dublin-Glendalough), or head northwards to hit the more extreme limits of the Dublin Bus routes.
I was on the OM meet 2 weeks ago, we used routes from Joss Lynham's book.
Most are summer day walks, but can be linked together by either, crossing into next valley, or using The Wicklow Way.
If not camping, hostels, etc. are easily found. Glenmaloure, next vally to Glendalough, has a hostel at start of route up to Luganquellia, highist mtn. in Wicklow range. Rooms only, no camping at hostel.
Parts of the area are milatery ranges, so warn him to avoid these if red flags are 'flying', means they are in use. Wouldn't want getting hit by a 155mm cannon shell
Lovely part of Ireland to see, some stunning sceanery.
If you take that option... walking from Glendalough over to Glenmalure, to climb Lugnaquillia, then it's highly likely that you'd have to return to Glendalough if relying on a bus to leave the area. I can't think of a half-decent route off the mountain that would get you to any other useful bus route in a day. The military only fire at one side of Lugnaquillia (Glen of Imaal), so the other side (Glenmalure) is always available, and the summit can always be reached.
I can see 3 possible routes from Glendalough that may be of interest.
From Information Office head N onto track going W Camaderry SW and NW tops. On to the lakes if time and return by same route or slightly S by Seven Churches.
Same start. Follow track W on N side of Upper lake, follow Glenealo River. After 2k depending on ground strike towards Conavalla. Pick your own route back. According to map, if you go for S side of river @ 350m there's a track that follows the rim of valley bck to start.
Same start. Follow track along S rim of valley to 093 956. Follow left track on to Lugduff, backtrack and then head to Mullacor, Cullentragh and Derrybawn. Cut back W then N to start, passing waterfall if wanted.
Cheers All...will have a look at the suggestions, bus timetables, maps etc etc....should be something there for him; although I suspect he will be after something reasonably well marked - you don't need nav skills on French GRs
And a reminder that it is a three-day route we are looking for; a backpack, carrying a tent.
