Spinc & Glenealo Valley - Glendalough

Car parking fee of 4 euro per day in Upper Lake Car Park

National Parks and Wildlife Service NOTICE: For essential path improvements, the Spinc and Spink Short Route (blue trail) will be closed from 02/09/24 to 30/11/24. This closure will also affect the Spinc & the Wicklow Way (red arrows) and Spinc & Glenealo Valley (white arrows) walking trails. Please see downloadable map showing closed sections highlighted in BLACK.
For your safety, please follow the diversion - see map for diversion. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. NPWS are sorry for any inconvenience this essential work may have caused.

Walking
County Wicklow
1 review
Grade Strenuous
Length 8.8 km
Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Format Loop
Ascent 380 m
Waymarking White
Start Point
National Park Information Office near the Upper Lake.
Finish Point
National Park Information Office near the Upper Lake.
Nearest Town to Start Laragh
Grid Ref. T 111 961
Lat. and Long. 53.004686, -6.345726
Get Directions

The trail ascends steeply on a path up by Poulanass Waterfall before joining a boardwalk and wooden steps leading to a spectacular viewing point overlooking the Upper Lake. It skirts the top of the cliffs with more breathtaking views before descending through blanket bog and heath into Glenealo Valley

Maps and other information

Closure/detour Notice Sept 2024

External Links

Facilities

In Laragh: Car parking, shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants, accommodation
At trailhead: Car park, toilets and tea/coffee,etc. in Upper Lake Car Park nearby

Map Guides

Map Guides

The Walking Trails of Glendalough

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheet 56
Public Transportation

Public Transportation

St Kevin's Bus Service from Dublin City Centre via Bray has a number of services per day

1 trail reviews Write your own review of this trail
05/15/2016

J from Dublin

May, 14, 2016. My 13-year-old and I walked the trail in the clockwise direction. Bright, gorgeous day. Trail was in great shape The views from the cliffs above the Upper Lake are fantastic.There is boardwalk (two railroad ties side-by-side, wrapped in chicken wire) for the first third of the route. The boardwalk is narrow enough that two hikers can't pass without one stepping off the boardwalk. The ascent from the Upper Lake first the first mile is very steep along boardwalk steps. Depending on whether you prefer to ascend or descend on steps, you may want to walk the trail in the opposite direction. I recommend hiking shoes or boots for this trail. It can be done in trainers, but you are risking an ankle sprain because the lower sections of the trail are quite rocky. We were able to complete the hike in three hours (elapsed time), with about two hours of walking at a good pace.

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