127 km · 7 official stages · from Marlay Park in Dublin to Clonegal in Carlow. The traditional north-to-south route is the one we recommend — you cross the high mountain stages early while your legs are fresh, then ease through the quiet south Wicklow countryside to the finish. Plan it stage-by-stage below.
Most people walk the Wicklow Way north-to-south — the traditional direction, and the one we recommend. South-to-north is a popular alternative. Here's both, so you can decide.
Marlay Park (Dublin) → Clonegal (Carlow)
Clonegal (Carlow) → Marlay Park (Dublin)
The Wicklow Way is Ireland's first National Waymarked Trail, formally established in 1980. It runs for 127 kilometres with 3,200 m of total ascent, traditionally walked from Marlay Park in Dublin south to Clonegal in County Carlow — an 8-to-10 day experience for a hill-walker of average fitness. All route data on this page is cross-referenced against wicklowway.com.
Most walkers spread the full route over six to nine days. Some do it in sections over several trips. Plenty just walk one or two stages on their own and come back for the rest. There is no wrong way to do it.
Every stage below includes distance, typical walking time, elevation, difficulty, a written summary, GPX download, and accommodation near the stage endpoints.
"The Wicklow Way shows you the county from the inside out. You'll understand why Wicklow is called the Garden of Ireland by the end of day three."
The full 127 km route as one GPX file, plus all 7 individual stage files. Works with Komoot, OS Maps, Garmin, Strava and AllTrails. Drop your email and download instantly.
The traditional, recommended direction: cross the high mountain stages early while your legs are fresh, then ease through the quiet south Wicklow countryside to the finish at Clonegal. Sleep in Tinahely for the southern stages — Madeline's is two minutes off the trail via Mangan's Lane.
Walking south to north instead? Read the south-to-north guide — Clonegal to Marlay Park →
Your Wicklow Way begins at the Marlay Park trailhead in suburban Dublin and climbs almost immediately into the hills — over Kilmashogue and the Fairy Castle ridge, with Dublin Bay falling away behind you, across Prince William's Seat, then the long forest descent to the hamlet of Knockree. A big first day with real height gain; start early.
The signature stage. Up through Crone Wood to the Powerscourt Waterfall viewpoint, onto the Djouce boardwalk and White Hill — the highest point of the whole trail at 630 m — with Lough Tay glittering below. A steady descent brings you down to Roundwood, the highest village in Ireland, for dinner at the Inn.
The short day — and a welcome one after White Hill. Quiet lanes and forest tracks over Paddock Hill and Brusher Gap, then a gentle drop into the Glendalough valley. You'll reach the old monastic city with the afternoon to spare: round tower, two lakes, and the best-known view in Wicklow.
Leave Glendalough by the Poulanass waterfall and climb the stepped path onto the Mullacor shoulder — the Borenacrow crossing, the steepest sustained climb on the Way in this direction. Over the top, then a knee-testing descent into Glenmalure, Ireland's longest glacial valley. Finish at Glenmalure Lodge by the fire.
The long, wild middle of the southern half. Out of Glenmalure over Slieve Maan and the Aghavannagh shoulder, through Wicklow's largest forestry blocks and open moorland. Few facilities and a real sense of remoteness — carry food and water. The waymark stage ends at Moyne, a quiet crossroads.
Out of the mountains and into south Wicklow's softer farming country — hedgerows, small fields, forestry tracks and the old Coollattin estate walls. The trail passes Tinahely, the market town on the Derry River where most walkers spend the night, before ending at the Stranakelly crossroads near Shillelagh. Madeline's on the Square is two minutes off the trail via Mangan's Lane.
The finish. From Shillelagh, forest walking around Stookeen, Moylisha and the Urelands hills, then the long valley of the Derry River down to the Wicklow/Carlow boundary at Wicklow Bridge and into Clonegal. Raise a pint at Osborne's — you've walked the length of the Wicklow Way. Clonegal has no scheduled bus; pre-book a transfer back.
The official Stage 5 ends in Moyne — a rural crossroads with no shops, food or accommodation. We recommend a 2 km variant ending Stage 5 in Tinahely village: full facilities, the Old Courthouse Arts Centre, and Madeline's Accommodation on the Square. Stage 6 then starts in Tinahely and rejoins the official Way at the R747 crossing — total trail length unchanged, official routing fully respected.
See the recommended variant →All 7 official stages of the Wicklow Way, with a local voice in your ear. Listen in the app at AudioToursIreland.ie — free on any device, no sign-up required.
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