11.5km (7.2 miles)
Distance
Easy
Grade
360m (1180 ft)
Height gain
Wicklow Mountains
Mountain range
Dublin
Nearest town

Fairy Castle – Dublin mountains

Hiking grades

Two Rock mountain and Three Rock woods – day hike (Easy)

Our Fairy Castle guided hike is up forest track and well made hill paths to the large Neolithic cairn at Fairy Castle in the Dublin mountains. From here there are great views over Dublin city and the coast. The route then descends via a hill path before following forest tracks back to the start point. There is an option to visit nearby Marlay Park with its’ pleasant gardens and café.

About Fairy Castle guided day hike in the Dublin Hills

The hike starts on the outskirts of Dublin, where we walk up through the Kilmashogue forest on a well made track , as we ascend we will get a fine view across Dublin to Howth Head and the coast, and on a fine day can see as far as the Mourne Mountains to the north. We continue uphill on the Wicklow Way, a good mountain path, and as we approach Fairy Castle there are far reaching views of the Wicklow mountains to the south.

Fairy Castle is a Bronze Age cairn on the summit of Two Rock mountain, dating from 2000 – 2500BC, it has never been excavated but is known to be a collapsed passage tomb. The original cairn is now topped by a much more recent one and the top of our climb. From here we descend south on a stony path, a little tricky in places, until we reach an entrance to a conifer plantation. We then take a forest track that contours around the hill until we reach the telecommunication masts at Three Rock.

The track continues until we rejoin our upward route and descend to the car park.

 HIKE TIME Approx. 4 hours
EQUIPMENT Hiking boots or good shoes and waterproof clothing are essential. Walking trousers are advised or comfortable athletic clothing, (no jeans please); spare warm layer e.g. fleece; hat and gloves; lunch and/or snacks; water or juice drink, (1.5 litres); small rucksack to carry it all in. Walking poles are optional.
TRANSPORT
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Professional mountain leader with first aid certification and full insurance.
Insights into the history, flora and fauna of the Dublin hills.
Specialist hiking clothing.
Food and drink.

How to get to the start:  The hike starts at 11.00 am. To get to Kilmashogue from Dublin city centre head out past St. Patrick’s Cathedral to Clanbrassil St. and the Harold’s Cross Rd. (R137). Carry on to Terenure, (R114), and onto Rathfarnham, where you turn left at the Yellow House to the R115, shortly after wards turn left into Whitechurch Rd. Continue ahead until you pass under the motorway and then turn left into Kilmashogue Lane, the car park is about 1 km up the lane on your left.

 




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OSI Sheet: 56

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Below you’ll find dates for this hike for the next 4 months, for more events and further dates for this event view the full calendar.

FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS TO BOOKING FORM

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Fairy Castle guided hike