“Contrary to snoozing cartoons, I find counting sheep in the Irish countryside invigorating.” -Old Sean
Departing Dublin
After a couple of days in Dublin, I was given time off of work to do whatever I pleased. My company was doing a series of report submissions and I had stacked up some off days. With some free time available, I started looking south with plans for visiting the Wicklow Mountains.
Wicklow Mountains National Park is a beautiful patch of land I’ve heard a lot about from other trekkers. Over the past few months, I’ve spent an enormous amount of time in cities, so I was eager to enter nature and wilderness.
Shouldering my backpack once more, I started hiking south. My last day in Dublin had me hiking out of the city on foot in the early morning.
A Route Visiting the Wicklow Mountains
Starting in Marlay Park, I began on the Wicklow Way hiking trail, all gear in tow. The entirety of the Wicklow Way hiking trail is a long walk, usually taking three days or so. With only one day set aside for extraneous hiking, I decided I would follow the trail for a while, eventually turn onto a paved road and follow it to my target destination of Roundtree.
Starting at the trailhead in Marlay Park, I depleted my water supply as I billowed up mountain ridges, hopping over white-stone chasms cut into the trail to release absent rain.
Sheep gazed at me with a distant kind of interest and I spent my moments catching my breath near stacked stone walls.
As the trail continued, I begged some water off a pair of French hikers heading the opposite direction on my way to Glencullen.
When I finally arrived at my first little checkpoint, I accidently joined a wake at Johnie Fox’s Pub where I refilled my water bottle and continued my hike, determined to get to the small town of Roundwood.
Entering Roundwood
While traveling, I don’t put much stock in the times estimated by Google Maps.
For example, Google Maps indicated I had four hours left on my hike. But Google Maps doesn’t really have a great grasp on the concepts of hills.
My hike was about 45% uphill, 35% downhill with about 20% level ground. I probably wouldn’t have made it to Roundwood before dark, but I fortunately have very little pride. Halfway up an exceptionally steep rise, I managed to flag down a delightful group of Portuguese travelers (studying in Ireland) who whisked me towards Roundwood.
Since I am endlessly amusing (chatty to the point of befuddling), I was invited for another hike around the extraordinary Lough Dan. After our short time together, the Portuguese group finally dropped me off at Roundwood.
They were very kind folks to pick up a countryside hitchhiker. I hope they enjoyed my yammering as much as I enjoyed their company.
A Rest in Roundwood
My night in Roundwood was uneventful, but the Roundwood Inn makes a splendid Irish stew. I eventually went to bed.
The following day, I took a morning hike to go see the culturally odd Victors Way Sculpture Garden (consisting of a lot of Buddhist and Indian Sculptures). The sculpture garden is unique, with Eastern statues emerging from Irish bogs and clear ponds. I was the only person there that morning, so I was able to explore the place in complete silence.
Finally, I caught a bus back to Dublin before nabbing a second ride taking me to my hostel in Kilkenny, where I would spend the next two days recuperating.
My hike spent visiting the Wicklow Mountains was brief. I only wandered and hitchhiked for about ten hours total. It was a spur-of-the-moment plan, brought on by an unexpected burst of free time.
Going forward, I’ll be heading south towards Kilkenny, where I have some further free time before my company contacts me with further instructions.
Until then,
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
July 7th, 2018
Want to read more about visiting the Wicklow Mountains? Check out the Leftfade Trails Destination Info Page
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