“For an outdoor adventure, I flew to Dublin and joined up with SouthWestWalks Ireland, a company that has been leading small groups of eager hikers over the glorious, green landscape for some 16 years. Following our trusty guide, Liam Murphy, our international group of eight — consisting of Irish, Dutch, American and me — followed some of the famous Wicklow Way that begins on the outskirts of Dublin. On this six-day “ramble” we trekked 12 to 18 km a day gaining elevation of between 600 to 900 metres on trails that crisscross forests, bogs and alpine regions before slipping down into picturesque villages in this area known as the Garden of Ireland.
Hiking Ireland
The highlights and challenges were many, including the weather which ever-cheerful Liam described as “soft” — read “rain.” However, even thought the idiosyncratic Irish weather toyed with us, we all thrived on the sights.
Hiking Ireland
You can’t visit Ireland without being enchanted by the history. One day we walked into Glendalough where, in the 6th century, St. Kevin founded a monastery. Today visitors stroll remnants of the 10th and 12th centuries — a superb, round tower, stone churches, and faded Celtic crosses and gravestones, amid tangles of greenery and wild rhododendrons.
Once we explored the monastic site, we headed uphill to Lugduff Mountain. We climbed 1 1/2 hours, past waterfalls and through forest to emerge above the tree line and follow a ridge that looked out upon the ruins and two brilliant blue lakes far, far below. In the hiking world, it doesn’t get much better than this. (www.southwestwalksireland.com).”
