Guided Ireland Hiking tour

Tour description

Day 1 Arrive airport

Day 2 9 km “The Garden of Ireland” is renowned worldwide for its charming beau- - St Kevin’s ty. Wicklow is a hiker’s paradise and is home to the , Ireland’s oldest way- marked walking trail. Day 3 17 km Paddock Hill This popular guided walking holiday takes you through Ireland’s largest National Park in central Wicklow, part of Ireland’s Ancient East. Wicklow Mountains National Park man- Day 4 9 km ages and protects some of Europe’s oldest lands, heather covered mountains, Vale of Clara & Avoca broad-leafed and coniferous woodlands. It offers a vast diversity of scenery; from wood- Day 5 8 km lands and rolling hills to lush green valleys, streams and lakes. The area provides Cliff Walk & Powerscourt for native species including sika and red hybrid , foxes, badgers, hares and birds of prey. Day 6 To Dublin Airport A highlight in the area is a visit to Glendalough, certainly a famous and important monas- tic settlement where we will walk in the footsteps of St. Kevin. The imposing round tow- Tour Details 2020 er overlooks a scene of exceptional natural beauty. Glendalough, meaning a valley of two lakes (Gleann Da Loch) is a landscape imbued with the spirituality of its illustrious Departures: May 24 past. June 14 September 6 Staying in one central location gives you maximum flexibility; join the walk or stay be- hind and visit the spa. Staying at an award winning lodge, you can take a day off and Cost: $1795 per person enjoy the local services, perhaps a massage or simply relax and enjoy the scenery. This the perfect blend of being active and indulgent. Single Room Upgrade: limited

Length: 7 days / 6 nights Fast Facts Grade: Moderate Includes:  5 nights accommodations with  Transfers to/from walks Starts: Dublin airport breakfasts Ends: Dublin airport  Pickup /return from Dublin airport  4 packed lunches  Entry fees to Powerscourt  Experienced local guide services

Acve Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email: info@acvejourneys.com ITINERARY

Day 1 Dublin to Wicklow 5 km Pick-up at Dublin Airport at 13.00 and transfer to the Brook Lodge Hotel. After settling in and light refreshments, we will take a nice walk around the village of Aughrim just to get the legs ready for the days ahead! Aughrim is known locally as “The City” because of its many buildings constructed from locally quarried Wicklow Granite.

Day 2 Glendolough Valley & St. Kevin’s 9 km ↑190m Our first walk starts in the valley of Glendalough, in Irish, (Gleann Dá Loch, meaning "Valley of two lakes"). Our journey takes us into the 6th Century Monastic Settlement, where we will do a short tour of some of the monuments and ruined churches that exist there. From here we will continue along to explore the glacier moulded valley and it’s two lakes, before starting a short ascent to Pollanass Waterfall and into Derrybawn Woods. Here we will be offered stunning views down over the Glendalough Valley and surrounding countryside.

Day 3 Trooperstown & Paddock Hill 17km ↑350m Today’s walk takes us south through Ballard Forest, We will pass evidence of a forgotten farming community that once lived and toiled the land. We follow a local’s path up the heather covered Trooperstown Hill that will lead to magnificent views in all direc- tions including rolling hills, the Irish Sea, the Wicklow Mountains, and the Round Tower of Glendalough. Our walking trail gently descends into Trooperstown Forest, over the and up Paddock Hill where we will join another part of the Wick- low Way.

Day 4 The Vale of Clara & Avoca 9km ↑220m Our walking trail today takes us to the magical Vale of Clara, a nature reserve containing the largest area of natural hardwood woodlands in the country. The serenity of this ancient oak wood- land is contagious and is ideally followed by lunch on the banks of the babbling Avonmore River beside the charming church of Clara (1799). We will then visit the famous Avoca Woollen Mills for an exploration of their historical and operational mill and will finish off the day with a bit of shopping and perhaps a treat.

Day 5 The Cliff Walk & 8km ↑240m We will enjoy a walk with a difference today as our walking trail takes us along the coast from to Bray. We will pass the remains of a cottage whose residents used to collect a toll from users of the Cliff Walk on behalf of the Brabazon family who owned the land. The rocky crags of are home to millions of birds and the inaccessible coves along the coast are breeding sites for grey seals. There is also a huge variety of flora along the trail including species of orchid found in the dry grass. Afterwards, we will visit the beautiful Powerscourt Estate. Pow- erscourt is one of Europe’s great treasures and Ireland’s most famous House and Gardens.

Day 6 Departure Depart for Dublin Airport after our final hearty Irish breakfast, arriving at 12 noon. What to Expect Getting There  Fly to Dublin, there is a group pick up What will the weather be like? The daytime temperature will be around 15 to mid-20 degrees C ( 60’s to 70’s F), at 13:00. with moderate rainfall. It often rains in Ireland, making the countryside lush and  Returning to Dublin airport at 12:00. green. It is usually misty and not torrential downpours, but rain gear is still nec-  Private airport transfers can be ar- essary, both a jacket and a pair of pants. ranged through our office.

How many hours of hiking a day? Be prepared to hike between 4 to 6 hours daily. This is a supported tour, so there is back up service throughout the holiday. If you need to take a day off and rest, you can easily do so.

How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, so you will be able to enjoy this active holiday. There are some hills and some level terrain, rolling hills rather than any steep pitches.

What is the food like? We have included a full Irish breakfast each day. There will be packed lunches on some days, and organized dinners on some nights as well. Please advise in advance of any dietary requirements.

What is the hotel like? This multi-award winning property is sure to have exactly what you need. Ideally located in a picturesque Wicklow Valley, it is the perfect spot for our centre based tour. Country house style and state-of the-art facilities combine to deliver a unique experience. Luxuriate at The Wells Spa, a designated ‘Resort Spa’. Dine at The Strawberry Tree, Ireland’s first certified Organic restaurant, or La Taverna Armento, a Southern Italian style bistro .

How to book your holiday

 Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire process.

 Download the reservation form from our site and send in the completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and pre-departure packet will be sent.

 A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is re- quired 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & conditions are outlined in our Reservation Form.

 Plan your air travel as soon as possible.

 We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through us or a travel insurance provider directly.

 Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and fitness requirements.