Church Mountain
Church Mountain — Slieve Gad — is the westernmost of the Wicklow hills, and its summit is one of the most interesting in the county: a big Neolithic cairn with the ruins of a small medieval church built into it, and a holy well that drew Lughnasa pilgrims for centuries. The walk up from Donard is short, roughly 5.5 km there and back, climbing a forest firebreak onto open ground. It isn't waymarked and the approach crosses a working farmyard, so go with respect and a map.
Where this walk goes
Start point shown — click the marker to get directions. Zoom in to explore the area.
Highlights of this walk
- A summit with real history — a prehistoric cairn, a ruined 12th-century church and St Gad's holy well
- Panoramas west to the midlands, north to the Blessington lakes, south to Keadeen
- Short enough for a half-day, with most of the effort in one firebreak climb
- A quiet west-Wicklow hill, well off the Glendalough trail
How to walk it
Start in Donard village and walk in along the track that passes through a working farmyard onto flat ground — leave gates as you find them and give livestock space.
Beyond the farm you reach a forest gate, and from there the route climbs the firebreak — a wide cleared strip straight up through the plantation. Above the trees you turn onto open mountain for the final pull to the top at 544 m. The summit is the reward: a robbed-out cairn around 25 m across, the rectangular outline of a small medieval church set into it, and the holy well that was the focus of Lammas-Day pilgrimages recorded as far back as 1808. Come back down the same firebreak. It's a short day — allow about two hours — but it's open hill with no waymarks, and the firebreak is steep and can be greasy. Boots, a map and decent visibility make it straightforward.
Local tips
- The route goes through a working farmyard — keep dogs on leads and gates shut
- Not a marked trail; bring a map and don't go up in thick cloud
- The firebreak is steep and can be slippery after rain
- Park considerately in Donard village — there's no mountain car park
- Donard has a pub and shop for afterwards