Guided Walks and Hikes in Ireland.
Upcoming Guided Walks
Scarr and Lough Dan walk - Nov 24th
Scarr and Lough Dan walk
Date: Nov 17th 2024
Meeting: Roundwood at 10:30am.
Walking time: Approx. 3hrs, Distance: 8Km. Ascent: 430m
Type: Moderate
Terrain: Forest tracks, open mountain trails.
Price: €25 – Guided walk with experienced and qualified guide.
Transport Available (Limited Spaces) Maldron Hotel Tallaght: 09:45 or Luas Stop Balally 10am.
About the Scarr and Lough Dan walk
Starting from old bridge we will follow a forest track up towards a small laneway. This will eventually bring us out onto the side of Scarr Mountain. We will then walk out onto a Spur and take this way up to the summit. As we ascend, we will start to see Lough Dan coming into view behind us. Continuing on this trail we will make our way to the top. Once we are the top, we should be able to see into the Wicklow Gap and the Glenmacnass waterfall below us with Tonelagee rising up on its other side.
Depending on conditions we could take another way back by Kanturk hill.
There are excellent views across all of the Dublin Wicklow Mountains and depending on the weather Wales can also be seen from here
What to expect:
Forest track, open mountain top trails.
From the summit we should have 360 views of the Wicklow mountains park, the coastline of Wicklow and Dublin.
How to get to Roundwood:
Take the N11 from Dublin take the turn for Roundwood or Glendalough at Kilmacanogue. Come back over N11 and follow this road all the way to Roundwood.
Allow time for cyclists, tractors etc. Approx. 40 minutes from Dublin city center.
Vartry Lakes and Roundwood walk - Dec 27th
Vartry Lakes and Roundwood walk
Date: Dec 27th 2024 – Christmas Cracker.
Meeting: Roundwood at 10:30am (The Coach House)
Walking time: Approx 3hrs, Distance: 8Km. Ascent: NA
Type: Easy – Moderate
Terrain: Forest tracks, flat lakeside trails,
Price: €25 – Includes: Guided walk with experienced and qualified guide.
Pickup: (Limited Spaces) Maldron Hotel, Tallaght: 9:30am or Luas Balally (Dundrum): 09:45am
About the Vartry Lakes and Roundwood walk
This a Sli na Slainte trail near the town of Roundwood in County Wicklow. It follows the edge of Vartry reservoir for 7.2km along lakeside paths and country roads flanked by trees with fantastic views across the water in all directions, this is a comfortable walk along the water’s edge. The reservoir was developed in the 1860s to provide clean water for the people of Dublin.
We will be stopping for a bite to eat along the way so bring a small packed lunch
What to expect:
Wonderful shoreline trails on forested tracks.
How to get to Roundwood:
Take the N11 from Dublin take the turn for Roundwood or Glendalough at Kilmacanogue. Come back over N11 and follow this road all the way to Roundwood.
Allow time for cyclists, tractors etc. Approx. 40 minutes from Dublin city center.
Guided Walks and Hikes in Ireland with Hilltoptreks.
Guided Walks and Hikes in Ireland with Local Qualified Guides.
As we are based in Dublin, many of our day walks take place in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Anyone is more than welcome to join us on our walks. You don’t have to be a member of the Hilltoptreks walking Club although there are great benefits with becoming a member.
Transport for our Guided walks and hikes.
We have transport available for most if not all our walks with handy pickup locations for most people from Dublin.
About Our Guided Walks and Hikes:
Our guided walks and hikes are generally between 3-4hrs which includes time for a bite to eat and taking in the wonderful scenery. Many of the walks take place based within an hour’s drive or less from Dublin.
The walks take place in places like the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Glendalough, Blessington and the Dublin hills.
We also organise guided walks and hikes further afield like a day trip to the Mountains of Mournes, The Cooleys mountains near Carlingford, or the Slieve Blooms.
Fitness and experience:
On the guided walks and hikes there are generally a mixture of fitness and experience levels. Some people walk with the club regularly and others when they can. We do not split up our groups into different levels. We just walk at a pace that is suitable to the group at the time. This gives everyone a chance to enjoy the day, its not a race, its more a social and relaxing exercise with wonderful scenery.
We do however specify on all our guided walks and hikes the level of walk it will be such as easy, moderate or strenuous.
Easy Walk: Between 5Km – 8Km, Incline not above 200m, 1 – 3hrs, mainly on the flat with some small inclines, (example Coastal walk Bray to Greystones)
Moderate Walk: Between 8Km – 12km, Incline not above 500m, 2– 4hrs, mixed terrain of track and hill. (example Maulin and Powerscourt Waterfall)
Strenuous Walk: Between 8Km – 16km, Incline 400+m, 3– 5hrs, mixed terrain of track and open mountainside, some steep ground (example Lugnaquillia or Carrauntoohil).
Hill Walking is becoming a very popular activity for people in Ireland to do. It is a very social activity and proven to benefit you both physically and mentally. There are also wonderful parts of Ireland to explore by walking and hiking. From the rolling hills of Wicklow to sharp rugged mountains of Kerry.
So, for whatever reason you wish to join us on any of our guided walks and hikes you are more than welcome.
Look forward to seeing you on the hills soon.
Check out our list on what to bring for your walk during the summer and winter months on our Blog
Scarr and Lough Dan walk - Nov 24th
Scarr and Lough Dan walk
Date: Nov 17th 2024
Meeting: Roundwood at 10:30am.
Walking time: Approx. 3hrs, Distance: 8Km. Ascent: 430m
Type: Moderate
Terrain: Forest tracks, open mountain trails.
Price: €25 – Guided walk with experienced and qualified guide.
Transport Available (Limited Spaces) Maldron Hotel Tallaght: 09:45 or Luas Stop Balally 10am.
About the Scarr and Lough Dan walk
Starting from old bridge we will follow a forest track up towards a small laneway. This will eventually bring us out onto the side of Scarr Mountain. We will then walk out onto a Spur and take this way up to the summit. As we ascend, we will start to see Lough Dan coming into view behind us. Continuing on this trail we will make our way to the top. Once we are the top, we should be able to see into the Wicklow Gap and the Glenmacnass waterfall below us with Tonelagee rising up on its other side.
Depending on conditions we could take another way back by Kanturk hill.
There are excellent views across all of the Dublin Wicklow Mountains and depending on the weather Wales can also be seen from here
What to expect:
Forest track, open mountain top trails.
From the summit we should have 360 views of the Wicklow mountains park, the coastline of Wicklow and Dublin.
How to get to Roundwood:
Take the N11 from Dublin take the turn for Roundwood or Glendalough at Kilmacanogue. Come back over N11 and follow this road all the way to Roundwood.
Allow time for cyclists, tractors etc. Approx. 40 minutes from Dublin city center.
Vartry Lakes and Roundwood walk - Dec 27th
Vartry Lakes and Roundwood walk
Date: Dec 27th 2024 – Christmas Cracker.
Meeting: Roundwood at 10:30am (The Coach House)
Walking time: Approx 3hrs, Distance: 8Km. Ascent: NA
Type: Easy – Moderate
Terrain: Forest tracks, flat lakeside trails,
Price: €25 – Includes: Guided walk with experienced and qualified guide.
Pickup: (Limited Spaces) Maldron Hotel, Tallaght: 9:30am or Luas Balally (Dundrum): 09:45am
About the Vartry Lakes and Roundwood walk
This a Sli na Slainte trail near the town of Roundwood in County Wicklow. It follows the edge of Vartry reservoir for 7.2km along lakeside paths and country roads flanked by trees with fantastic views across the water in all directions, this is a comfortable walk along the water’s edge. The reservoir was developed in the 1860s to provide clean water for the people of Dublin.
We will be stopping for a bite to eat along the way so bring a small packed lunch
What to expect:
Wonderful shoreline trails on forested tracks.
How to get to Roundwood:
Take the N11 from Dublin take the turn for Roundwood or Glendalough at Kilmacanogue. Come back over N11 and follow this road all the way to Roundwood.
Allow time for cyclists, tractors etc. Approx. 40 minutes from Dublin city center.
What to Bring for a Day Walk:
Like anything else outdoors do take a look at the weather forecast. Met Eireann Yr.no
Typical list of gear for a day on the Hills.
- Walking Boots
- Walking Trousers (not Jeans, when they get wet, they stay wet and heavy)
- Base Layer – T-shirt, long sleeve (non cotton)
- Mid layer – Fleece
- Outer Layer – Jacket (waterproof, light and breathable)
- Walking socks
- Backpack (25L) 25 litres is generally a good size and should hold all your gear.
- Hat and gloves (winter or cold day)
- Snack and hot drink
- Water
- Small personal first aid kit.
Carrickgollogan walk
Review of Hilltoptreks
Reviewed August 13, 2020
A wonderful evening spend in the hills above Dublin with Terry and team exploring the old lead mine stacks and old graveyards. also very much enjoyed our return journey where Gillian shared all her interesting knowledge of wildflowers and herbs. A great evening
Date of experience: July 2020
