2 nights · Most popular

A Perfect Weekend in Wicklow

The ideal two-night Wicklow trip — the Spinc on Saturday, Powerscourt Waterfall on Sunday, Irish stew at the Wicklow Heather in between. This is the itinerary we email to most new visitors.

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14 km walking
Walking
2 nights
Length
Moderate
Grade
Day by day

The plan

Day 1 — Friday: Arrive Glendalough

  • Late-afternoon arrival in Glendalough. Check in at your accommodation by 5pm. If you're driving from Dublin, the Sally Gap route is more scenic than the N11 and only 20 minutes slower.
  • Settle in, then walk the short Poulanass Waterfall loop — 40 minutes, round trip from your car, gentle warm-up for tomorrow.
  • Dinner at The Wicklow Heather in Laragh — the Irish stew is not to be missed. Book ahead.
  • Early night. Saturday is the big day.

Day 2 — Saturday: The Spinc (9 km)

  • Breakfast at 8am sharp. You want to be on the trail by 9.
  • Drive five minutes to the Upper Lake car park. Arrive early — the car park fills by 10am in summer.
  • The Spinc loop: 4 hours, six hundred steps up, the finest ridge walk in Leinster, and down through the lead-mining ruins of Van Diemen's Land. Bring layers.
  • Lunch at the Glendalough Hotel café or, if you're still hungry at the bottom, Lynham's of Laragh.
  • Afternoon: Glendalough monastic city and the round tower. Free, 1-2 hours, flat, finishes at the visitor centre.
  • Evening: dinner in Laragh again — try Mickey Finn's for traditional music sessions.

Day 3 — Sunday: Powerscourt & home

  • Drive 40 minutes north to Powerscourt Waterfall. Arrive by 10am.
  • Walk the waterfall loop (30 min) and the optional steep path up the east side (another 30 min if you're game).
  • Lunch at the Powerscourt shop (wood-fired pizza, estate ice cream) or drive 10 minutes to Enniskerry village for The Powerscourt Arms.
  • Afternoon: Powerscourt Gardens — allow 2 hours. The Japanese Garden, the Italian Garden, Pepperpot Tower. Close by 5pm Oct-Feb, 5.30pm Mar-Sep.
  • Home via the M50, or extend by one night and add Mount Usher Gardens or Glendalough Distillery Monday morning.
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