Avondale Forest Park – Cairn Walk

2.8km, loop, easy 

If your idea of a great hike is one that weaves through ancient woodlands, then the Cairn Walk will be right up your alley. This trail starts by Avondale House, and leads you over the tree-lined plain known as the Great Ride, where you’ll stroll by Douglas firs, beech, oak, Sitka spruce and pine trees. You get a great view of the Avonmore River and the Valley of Avoca, too. There’s an onsite (paid) car park if you’re coming by car; there’s also a secure bike rack next to the visitor centre if you’re on two wheels.  

Avondale Forest Park – Centenary Trail

2.5km, loop, easy 

Another walk that kicks off at Avondale House, the Centenary Trail takes you past many impressive trees, most of which are over 100 years old (hence the name). While the trail itself makes for a leisurely stroll, you’ll likely spend a bit of time pausing at the 20 stops marked by signposts, which tell you all about the trees in front of you. 

Where to eat and stay around Avondale

You could easily spend a whole day at Avondale Forest Park, between the walking trails and Avondale House itself – this 19th century country pile was the home of the Parnell family, and you can take a guided tour to see where Charles Stewart Parnell used to practice his speeches.  

But the newest attraction is Beyond the Trees, a modernist tree walk set 38m above the ground, where you can look over the forest canopy and whizz back down to the bottom on a 90m long spiral slide. Afterwards, pop into The Seed Café for sourdough sandwiches, sticky cinnamon buns and healthy salads made with fresh local ingredients. And for a place to stay, you’re not too far from BrookLodge & Macreddin Village, a country hotel with a full spa for post-hike soaks.  

The National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh are also a 15-minute drive away, so you can head over and walk through the expansive grounds, complete with a walled garden, wildflower meadow and a collection of 200-year-old rhododendrons, which are most striking in the spring when they’re in full bloom, and the fallen petals create a carpet of colour on the pathway below.  

Crone Woods – Maulin Mountain Loop

6.6km, loop, strenuous 

The Maulin Mountain Loop may not be one of the longest walks in the area, but it sure packs in a lot of top-notch scenery. You’ll start off in Crone Woods, walking through the forest as you start the ascent, which rises to a height of 350m. That means you’ll find increasingly epic views, initially over the glaciated Glencree Valley, then over the Powerscourt Waterfall, out to the Sugar Loaf and even over to Dublin on a clear day. The views are best from Ride Rock, so take a break there to drink in the scenery.  

If you fancy another hike nearby, the Djouce Trail also starts at Crone Woods car park, so you can hike to the top of the mountain for excellent views over the other peaks in the range.  

Where to eat and stay around Enniskerry 

If you want to make a break of it, K2 Cottages and Alpaca Farm is a great place to stay. There are seven self-catering cottages set in the former outbuildings, with exposed beams, original stonework and cosy living rooms where you can hang out after a day of hiking. But the best part? The farm’s resident alpacas, who roam around the grounds, where there are also walking trails – you can even take one of the alpacas on a trek.  

Enniskerry is a 15-minute drive from Crone Woods, and there are loads of places to eat in the village (so quaint that it featured in the Disney movie Disenchanted – you can still see some of the fairytale enhancements made to the buildings). Try The Enniskerry Inn, a 19th-century pub where you can get hearty dishes like local fried brie, Wicklow venison or halloumi burgers. You’re also not far from the Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa, if you want to book into their luxury spa or tuck into a lavish dinner with views out over the Wicklow Mountains.   

Ballinastoe and Lower Vartry Reservoir 

7.6km, loop, easy  

A popular walk with locals, this manageable loop leads you around the edge of the Lower Vartry Reservoir, developed in the 1860s to provide Dublin with clean water. As such, it’s a flat route across country roads and lakeside paths, with beautiful views out over the water throughout. It’s also an ideal walk for those who want to use public transport, as the trail is less than a 10-minute stroll from the village of Roundwood.  

Where to eat and stay around Roundwood 

In the heart of the village, the 17th-century Roundwood Inn is a great spot to recharge the batteries after a long trek, with roaring fires and cosy armchairs. They serve up a menu of pub classics, like chicken in a basket with golden handcut chips, or local game when it’s in season. It’s a similar set up in The Wicklow Heather, about a 10-minute drive from Roundwood. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it’s well worth timing a hike to coincide with their Sunday lunch, so your trek ends with slow roasted Wicklow lamb.  

Nearby, Roundwood Stores is an ideal pitstop for hikers, who flock there for towering focaccia sandwiches filled with porchetta and fennel or pistachio crème-filled buns, all fresh from their in-house bakery. They occasionally serve sourdough pizzas in the evenings, which is great after a day-long hike, and their coffee is excellent.

Blessington Greenway 

5.7km, linear, easy 

You might associate greenways with cycling, but they’re an ideal terrain for a nice walk, too. Blessington Greenway is a pleasant, flat trail that goes from the village of Blessington out along the southern shore of the Poulaphouca Reservoir and Blessington Lakes. You’ll pass through forests, go over a boardwalk and even pass an ancient medieval ringfort. And as the area is a protected wildfowl sanctuary, you may spot some interesting bird life, like goosander or kingfishers.  

Where to eat and stay around Blessington  

The Greenway ends just by Russborough House, so pop in to the tea rooms of this Palladian mansion for a pot of coffee and a slice of cake, or a ham and cheese toastie. They also serve food from 10am, if you fancy a breakfast blaa or French toast, and they do a full breakfast menu on the weekends until 12.30pm.  

To make a break out of it, stay in Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort, set on the Blessington Lakes with great views of both the water and the Wicklow Mountains beyond. They have an 18-hole championship golf course, too.  

Mangan's Loop

3.8km, strenuous, loop 

There are three walking trails that start from Tinahely village – Kyle Loop is a strenuous 12.3km hike; Ballycumber Loop is a more manageable 7.3km; and Mangan's Loop is the shortest of the bunch. However, don’t be fooled by its length – this trail is every bit as impressive in terms of views, and the ascent makes it a fair workout, too. You’ll go through mountain and forest trails, and climb the fairly steep Garryhoe Hill for a great vantage point for the Wicklow Mountains.  

Where to eat and stay around Tinahely 

Whichever of the three loops you do, you’ll find yourself back in Tinahely village, where there are plenty of places to refuel. If you’ve built up a decent appetite, head to O'Connor's Bar and Lounge for massive burgers, steak sandwiches or beer battered haddock. Or pop into the nearby Tinahely Farm for smoked salmon and homemade bread, sausage rolls or a freshly baked scone.  

Kyle Farmhouse is a great guesthouse for walkers – the Wicklow Way passes right through the grounds – and their breakfast features homemade goodies and eggs from the farm.  

Glen Beach Cliff Walk

2.1km, moderate, loop 

Kicking off about 1.5km outside Wicklow town, the Glen Beach Cliff Walk leads you along a beautiful stretch of the Wicklow coastline. And for a relatively short hike, there’s a lot to see – you pass by lime kilns, church remains and a Holy Well before you reach the distinctive Wicklow Head Lighthouse. It’s great for wildlife spotting too, with a colony of grey seals at Lime Kiln Bay and plenty of interesting birds like kittiwake, peregrine falcon and guillemot.  

Where to eat and stay around Wicklow town 

For a really special place to stay, book a night in the Wicklow Head Lighthouse. Run by the Irish Landmark Trust, this octagonal lighthouse is one of the few in Ireland where you sleep in the actual tower itself, with unrivalled views of the Irish Sea. You’ll need to be quick, though – it often books out up to a year in advance.  

In Wicklow town, Fitzpatrick's Bar & Lounge is a traditional pub serving up bar food that you can enjoy inside or out in the beer garden. Just down the road, The Coffee Shop is open for breakfast fare like pancakes, a full Irish or porridge, while the lunchtime menu has soups, salads and toasties. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll be pleased to see their stash of homemade treats like apple tart, lemon muffins and toffee shortbread.  

Avoca Red Kite Loop 

2km, moderate, loop 

Nothing beats a nice walk through the woods, and the Avoca Red Kite Loop is just the ticket for a forest stroll. The loop weaves through Kilmagig Woods, and while the mixed woodland setting makes for a pleasant backdrop, the real draw is for birders – if you’re lucky, you may spot one of the elusive red kites who have made a habitat of the ancient trees. But even if you don’t see one, you’ll still get some great views of the village from the trail.   

Where to eat and stay around Avoca 

You can’t come to Avoca and not pop into the birthplace of the Avoca brand. At their flagship Avoca Mill, you can take a guided tour of the weaving mill, browse the craftsmanship in the shop and, best of all, sit down in their café for a slab of homemade quiche, a bowl of soup or a thick slice of chocolate cake. On a sunny day, you can sit outside on the picnic tables in the garden.  

128.1 km, linear, strenuous 

Now, this isn’t a walk for everyone. But you can’t talk about the county’s hikes without mentioning the Wicklow Way. This long distance hike was the first waymarked trail in Ireland, and takes roughly six days to complete. You can, of course, just walk shorter sections in a linear fashion, rather than tackling the whole thing. For a long-distance hike that you can do in one (long) day, check out St Kevin’s Way – Pilgrim Path, a 34.3km route to Glendalough.