Planning the Wicklow Way
The Wicklow Way runs from Marlay Park in Rathfarnham to Clonegal. It is a linear long-distance walk, with yellow arrows on a black background marking the route. Sport Ireland rates it strenuous. Plan it as a walking journey with overnight stops and onward transport, rather than a circular outing that returns to the same car park.
Forest tracks, quiet roads, narrow lanes and mountain paths over open moorland all form part of the route. Some sections can be wet or muddy. Accommodation often lies away from the trail, so the distance walked on a day can include a village detour as well as the main stage. Start with village bases and accommodation locations and match them to the route before settling a daily schedule.
Stages and walking-day choices
The route portal divides the walk into named sections, which need not become a fixed daily schedule. It gives Marlay Park to Knockree as 21 km and an estimated seven hours, and Knockree to Roundwood as 18 km and an estimated 6.5 hours. The Roundwood description also includes a 2 km detour from the route to the village. Treat the times as planning estimates, allowing separately for breaks, conditions and accommodation access.
Further south, the portal continues through Glenmalure and Moyne, then names sections towards Shillelagh and Clonegal. Choose overnight stops before deciding how many sections to combine. A short-looking day on the main trail may still involve extra road walking to a room or bus stop. Keep the transport plan alongside the walking plan, especially for a partial route.
Other guided ways to explore Wicklow
For a separate guided walking outing, see the Little Sugarloaf group option on the private tours page. It follows a different mountain route from the Wicklow Way.
Drumgoff diversion and accommodation detours
The trail register continues to show a forestry diversion near Drumgoff along Clohernagh Brook, until further notice. Its linked map is dated August 2024. Follow the diversion signs and allow for uneven ground rather than relying entirely on an older downloaded track. Other local storm-damage notices can also affect passages in the wider forest area.
Enniskerry lies east of the Knockree area, while Roundwood and Oldbridge offer different overnight positions around the route. Laragh combines accommodation, shops and food options. Farther south, accommodation near Iron Bridge and Aghavannagh is limited; any collection from an outlying village needs an individual arrangement. The accommodation guide compares these locations without assuming that every room is directly on the trail.
Glendalough
For the separate valley destination, use Glendalough monastery and lakes. Keep that visit distinct from the long-distance walking schedule, particularly if adding time for sightseeing between overnight stages.
Wicklow Mountains hiking
Djouce, Lugnaquilla and Great Sugar Loaf are different mountain objectives rather than interchangeable extensions of a Wicklow Way stage. Djouce Woods provides access to the wider mountain area and the long-distance route, with forest loops separate from summit walks. Local storm-damage signs may restrict passages. The Great Sugar Loaf's restored stepped path opened in May 2025; the Sugarloaf Way is a separate linear route, not another name for a summit circuit.
For Lugnaquilla, the Zig-zags remained closed in the August 2025 access update. The Glen of Imaal walking areas have published closures on 4 to 5, 11 to 13, 16 to 19 and 23 to 26 November 2026. These affect those walking areas, rather than every approach to Lugnaquilla. A red flag or flashing light means no unauthorised access. Use designated routes and respect the military warning system.
The Little Sugarloaf group walking option offers a different mountain outing. Little Sugarloaf is separate from Great Sugar Loaf and from the Wicklow Way. Choose that option for its own route rather than treating it as a guided stage of the long-distance trail.
Equipment, access and arrival
For remote mountain terrain, carry suitable footwear, waterproof clothing, a map and compass, food and drinking water; avoid going alone. In a mountain emergency call 112 or 999 and request Gardaí and Mountain Rescue, explaining the location and problem. Do not rely on phone reception as the only means of navigation.
Bus 181 connects Dublin with Ballinastoe, Roundwood and the Laragh area, while 183 links Arklow with the area through Wicklow Town and Roundwood. Choose a stop for the actual stage, including the walk between transport and trail. Dogs are excluded on the Wicklow Way according to its trail register; the general national park rule about leashing dogs is a different rule for a wider area. Take all rubbish away and leave plants, stones and wildlife undisturbed.
Wicklow Way questions
Must every named section be a separate walking day?
The portal sections are a planning framework. Adapt the schedule to ability, conditions and overnight locations, including village detours.
Is the Drumgoff diversion still part of planning?
The register lists it until further notice, with an August 2024 map. Follow local diversion signs and allow for uneven ground.
Is the Little Sugarloaf outing a Wicklow Way walk?
It follows a different mountain route. Use the linked group walking option for that separate outing and plan the long-distance trail independently.