Description of Walk - Circuit of Glendalough
Glendalough Monastic City was founded in honour of St. Kevin; it was a place where pilgrims gathered for over one thousand years, founded in the 5th century it flourished as a place of learning and religion until the late 1500s Much detail on the history of Glendalough is available from a visit to the Glendalough visitors centre and also from the Glendalough education centre at the upper lake.

Today’s walk starts at the Wollenmills at the beginning of the Green road and follows this ancient path the full length of the Glendalough valley; passing through Oak Woodland to the lower lake where you turn right on a board walk to cross a habitat which is considered to be one of the most important “special areas of conservation” in Ireland. Pass through the upper lake car park and look out for the “Spink-Walk” which is indicated by white arrows, the walk follows the route of the Poulanass Waterfalls up a steep track with some steps to make the going a little easier, this is also a section of the Wicklow Way , you will see the familiar yellow walking man, however just remember you are following the white arrows and a short distance ahead the Wicklow way veers to the left and the white arrow points to a series of timber steps which you now take, there now follows a steep assent up the Spink cliffs overlooking the upper lake, the assent is made possible by the 666 steps constructed by the “National Park” staff.
The steps serve two purposes, they prevent erosion caused by two many people attempting to scale this path when conditions were not suitable and secondly they allow you to enjoy the magnificent scenery from the many viewing points ahead, A word of advice here at each resting place please stop, enjoy the view and recover your breath as such a steep climb is not very enjoyable otherwise.
On reaching the first summit you will realise the effort was will worthwhile with the vista, which opens up below you, The entire valley is visible from here with the round tower dominating the ruins of the monastic City, the two lakes and on the opposite side of the lake old mine workings underneath Glendalough’s northern cliffs, these cliffs are now among the finest rock climbing venues in Ireland.

During the 19th and 20th century several hundreds of men worked those mines supplying lead to many industries depending on this materiel, after a series of difficulties in the mining industry and a number of fatal accidents the mines were closed in the 1950s. What is remarkable is in the intervening years the scars of intensive mining activity is slowly disappearing and in a number of years little trace of the activity will remain.

The walk continues along the shoulder of Lugduff Mountain (652m) and descends towards the Glenalo valley which is really the head of the Glendalough valley, it is a compelling sight to look down the tumbling Glenalo river to the upper lake as the entire scene is framed by formidable cliffs. At the footbridge you may take the old mining track back down to the shore of the upper lake and finish your walk at the car park where we will be waiting for you, or if you have decided to make this an extended walk you will head towards the summit of Camaderry Mountain (677m) and back to Glendalough via Glendason, an additional one and half hours to the finish of your walk.,