Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the Visitor Centre car park, walk through the Monastic City, where the round tower, St Kevin's Church and the old gateway stand among the graves; admission is free. Then follow the footpath and wooden boardwalk beside the Lower Lake, with woods rising on both sides, to the Upper Lake car park at the head of the valley road, a short stroll from the lake itself. Return by the same path.
It is 3.9 km round with 22 m of ascent; allow about 1 hour. The grade is Easy: surfaced paths and boardwalk, almost level.
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in the national park. The boardwalk can be slippery when wet. The Poulanass waterfall loop is closed after storm damage and is not part of this walk.
The Visitor Centre car park, beside the Monastic City, is the OPW's, managed by APCOA, and charged: pay by coin or card at the machine; the National Parks and Wildlife Service gives its hours as 8am to 8pm. The Upper Lake car park is charged at the entrance, and the car park at Laragh, 3 km away along the Green Road, is free. The nearest railway station, Rathdrum, is about 11 km away.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Glendalough is Gleann Dá Loch, 'the valley of two lakes', and the monastery in it was founded by St Kevin in the 6th century.
- The round tower beside the Monastic City is about 30 m high, with its doorway 3.5 m above the ground.
- St Kevin's Church is nicknamed St Kevin's Kitchen because its bell tower looks like a kitchen chimney, though no food was cooked there.
- The Wicklow Way, Ireland's first waymarked long-distance trail, runs through the valley, and part of this walk follows it.
Getting there
Start: Glendalough Visitor Centre car park · Pay and display. 53.01028, -6.32225
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Rathdrum: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.