Welcome to the WAY BADGE Dublin Mountains Having completed your walk on the , you may request our special Dublin Mountains Way badge by emailing a request to the Dublin Mountains Partnership Manager giving your full postal address. CONTACT US Dublin Mountains Partnership Manager, c/o Coillte Dublin Road Co. Tel: 01 201 1187 Email: [email protected] Volunteer DMP Rangers www.dublinmountains.ie WALKING THE DUBLIN MOUNTAINS WAY

One of the flagship projects of the Dublin Mountains Partnership is the long distance trail, the Dublin Mountains Way, that crosses the Dublin Mountains from Shankill in the east to (Sean Walsh Park) in the west, in all approximately 42 kilometers of trail from end to end.

This wonderful trail on the edge of our capital has been achieved through the cooperation of Coillte (the State company), Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dublin Initiative and some private landowners.

The Dublin Mountains Way can be walked in one go or in sections of 6-10 km. To walk the complete Dublin Mountains Way it would take a good fit walker 9/10 hours. This is a serious undertaking and should only be done in good weather and ideally in summer with long daylight hours. Alternatively, one could walk the trail in two days giving the hiker a pleasant challenge and affording the walker time to enjoy the many sights on the route.

VOLUNTEER RANGER SERVICE

The Dublin Mountains Partnership operates a Volunteer Ranger Service that acts in a stewardship role and patrols different areas of the mountains at weekends and when events are taking place in the area. They are there to enhance your visit – giving advice and assistance. They also lead walks and special activities – see our web site www.dublinmountains.ie for details. They are recognisable by their dark green uniform. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Where possible stay on designated trails and walk on the durable surface. Leave water OTHER ACTIVITIES TO drains clear and avoid removing brash or ENJOY IN THE DUBLIN similar put there to aid regeneration of MOUNTAINS AREA vegetation and limit . BE PREPARED – WHAT DO YOU NEED? Leave What You Find Our heritage, both natural and man-made is ORIENTEERING important – leave it as you find it – don’t add to Orienteering is a popular outdoor Walkers should be aware that there are limited facilities on that cairn or damage that national monument! sport for all the family and the Irish the route to obtain refreshments so make sure you carry food Dispose of Waste Properly and water for your walk. Walkers will also need to have good Pack it out, pack it home. There are no bin Orienteering Association have regular footwear, rain proof clothing and a warm fleece or sweater. collections along the trail so please take your events in the Dublin Mountains. You should ideally carry a map and compass and if walking rubbish home. There are also permanent orienteering in winter, a torch. Be aware that mobile phone coverage may Minimise the Impacts of Fire courses at Hell Fire Club, Massy's not always be available in the mountains, advise someone of Fires should only be lit in designated areas. your route and expected return time. Estate, , and . Visit our website Prepare to Go on Mountains WAY MARKING Permits are needed for activities such as camping, mountain or www.coillteoutdoors.ie to access biking (off designated trails) horse riding etc. on Dublin The Dublin Mountains Way is waymarked a map and download details. Mountains Partnership lands. Contact the DMP manager to with the standard yellow walking man symbol obtain a permit. Where possible travel by public transport or at all junctions. However walkers are advised HIKING AND WALKING to carry a map for navigation. share cars. There are many other trails and walks ALTERNATE ROUTES in the Dublin Mountains to suit all skill LEAVE NO TRACE levels. Visit www.dublinmountains.ie The Dublin Mountains Way also links up with for details of trails and walks in the area, When walking the Dublin Mountains Way on and or visit www.coillteoutdoors.ie or visiting the mountains in general please walkers can link up with this trail thereby practice Leave No Trace according to the enabling walkers to take alternative routes and following principles: walk to different destinations. The Wicklow MOUNTAIN RUNNING A little like orienteering, but without Plan Ahead and Prepare Way is a 127-kilometre long-distance trail that Despite the fact that these “mountains” are not very high runs from in the southern suburbs the map reading, mountain running of Dublin through and ends - our highest summit, Fairy castle is 537m, you need to be is another popular outdoor sport in in the village of in prepared to experience different types of weather, good the Dublin mountains and the Irish and bad, in this area even on the one day. You should wear TRANSPORT Mountain Running Association have the proper mountain clothes, warm and rain proof and regular events in the Dublin mountains proper footwear is essential if you want to enjoy the walks. The Dublin Mountains Way is linked at both see www.imra.ie for details. Ensure you have the skills and equipment needed for your ends to public transport. The city centre is activity and to cope with emergencies that could arise. linked by the tramway system to MOUNTAIN BIKING Tallaght and the start is just a short five minute Some of our trails will bring users into remote locations The Dublin Mountains Partnership and walk to Sean Walsh Park from the Luas stop. where outdoor skills, such as map reading, are essential. Shankill is linked by the Dart rail system Coillte opened the first 8km section of Check the weather forecast and always be prepared for (southwards) getting off at Shankill. The Start mountain bike trail at Ticknock on 8th changing weather conditions. is at Brady’s pub in the main street, a ten May 2011. For more information see Be Considerate of Others minute walk from the Dart station. www.dublinmountains.ie For environmental and safety reasons, and to minimise your also have routes that link to impact on other users, keep group numbers to less than 8, if various points on or near the trail. These BOULDERING possible and consider others when parking. Respect any signs, include routes 44 (, Stepaside and This is climbing without a rope on regulations and special instructions for the area that you wish ); 44B ( and Kilternan); to visit. Permits are needed for activities such as camping, large outcrops and boulders – it is 47,63,118 (Stepaside and Kilternan); and 185 possible to do so in two areas of the mountain biking (off designated trails) horse riding etc. (Enniskerry). Tallaght and Shankill have Dublin Mountains Partnership - Three Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife numerous routes serving them. Rock and The Scalp. Keep all dogs on leads and respect no dog signs. See www.dublinbus.ie for full schedules. Distance scale bar - 1 km takes approximately 20 minutes Featherbed Sean Walsh Bohernabreena Reservoir Forest Tibradden Fairy Castle Wedge Glencullen Kilternan The Scalp Wood Shankill Park (Luas) Car Park Exit Entrance Entrance Car Park Summit Tomb Crossroads Village View Entrance (DART) 0 3 8 14 16 19 24 28 30 32 36 39 42

42 39 34 28 26 23 18 14 12 10 6 3 0

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1. Tallaght - Glenasmole 2. Glenasmole - Cruagh 3. Massy's Estate - Hell Fire 4. Tibradden - Fairy Castle 5. Fairy Castle - Barnaslingan 6. Barnaslingan - Shankill

The Dublin Mountains Way starts in Sean The route travels along the road to the Here there is an optional spur route through The route continues along the forest road The DMW now heads downhill northwards The DMW enters Barnaslingan Wood just Walsh Park, close to the LUAS . Piperstown Gap, passing the entrance to Massy’s Estate leading over to Hell Fire. beside the Owenthrasna River to exit onto to another viewing point near Three Rock. south of the Kilternan Hotel and ski training It passes through the suburbs of Tallaght and St. Ann’s Chapel (ruin and graveyard) on the The trail follows the Glendoo Brook down and cross the R116, into the car park in Pine The route then follows the forest road slopes. The route now follows a forest road continues onto Kiltipper Park. From there it west side of the road. The route now climbs through the estate passing wonderful stone Forest at Tibradden. The DMW now follows southwards with new views opening up and trail until it leads off up onto the crosses Fort Bridge into the Bohernabreena up towards Piperstown skirting by Annmount bridges, an old icehouse and walled gardens. a forest road where it leads onto a trail up of the and . viewing point of the Scalp with a fantastic reservoir car park. Bohernabreena supplies Spink. It then enters Featherbed Forest with onto Tibradden Mountain. The DMW It then leads off east through a privately panorama all around. The trail continues 18.2 million litres of water per day to views of the Wicklow Uplands, including There are also many wonderful specimen travels across the open mountain to a cairn owned wood (where you can see the down westwards to exit the wood for a Dublin. This is only a small contribution to and Corrig Mountains. Here a new trees to see in Massy’s estate including giant on top of Tibradden Mountain. This offers Ballyedmonduff Wedge Tomb) and private short walk on narrow road until it enters the overall 410 million litres that Dublin uses section of trail has recently been opened redwood, coastal redwood, , lime, walkers excellent walking on a robust trail farm land. Having crossed the private land, Carrickgollogan Wood. Close to here there daily, in times of severe drought, its value is through the Featherbeds (October 2011). cedar, monkey puzzle, western hemlock, constructed to best international practice (respect the farm animals) head south along are amazing views from Carrickgollogan hill. appreciated. The scheme began in 1883 The DMW exits the forest onto a public road , Monterey pine and grand fir. (modified for Irish conditions) and has Ballyedmonduff road to the cross roads using local in its construction. leading down to a viewing point at Killakee. already become hugely popular with at Glencullen. As you continue on the DMW a detour here The DMW itself continues along the road to Exiting Massy’s Estate the route crosses over walkers. It includes bridge, reversal along the Lead Mines Way (orange discs) The supplies this reservoir. the western edge of Cruagh Wood and enters to the Hell Fire Club and follows the forest trail, robust stone stair case and water With the option of a rest break at Johnnie gives you a close up view of the Lead Mines It has a long history of supplying water both the wood at the bridge over Glendoo Brook. road up to the Hell Fire Club on Montpelier management features. Fox’s pub in Glencullen, the route continues chimney. The DMW heads down towards for drinking water purposes and for powering (You can divert onto Walks in Massy’s and Hill. The route does a loop of the Hell Fire along the R116 (take care on this narrow Puck’s Castle golf course. It then enters into mills. The peaty water from the upper slopes Hell Fire at this point). and then back up through Massy’s Estate to Heading up to Fairy Castle the DMW joins section of road) towards the village of Rathmichael Wood, passing a standing stone was used to supply the mills further down the entrance to Cruagh Wood where you the Wicklow Way for a small section before Kilternan where it turns south again along beside the trail. After another short walk the Dodder (the lower reservoir). The lower Nearing the top of the forest road in Cruagh can continue on the DMW via the Wood. the DMW heads northeast towards its the R117 to reach the entrance to along the public road and crossing over the non-peaty slopes are used for drinking water there is another pleasant diversion route – highest point, Fairy Castle summit at 537m. Barnaslingan Wood. M50 we are back into suburbs of Shankill supply (the upper reservoir – with pipes the Cruagh Mountain Access Route. From here the views over Dublin City and village where the DMW finishes on the leading to works for treatment). It includes a 400m bog bridge that brings bay can be spectacular. main street in Shankill beside Brady’s pub. The DMW traverses the eastern boundary of you up to the open mountain where you the lake and exits the reservoir at the will be rewarded with great views of southern end onto public road, crossing Dublin city. Castlekelly Bridge.