Fairy Castle – Dublin Mountains

Discover Fairy Castle on a Guided Day Hike in the Dublin Hills!

Traverse through Two Rock Mountain and into Three Rock Woods. 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.

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, this hike takes around 4 hours to complete.

Equipment

• Good waterproof boots and waterproof clothing are essential.
• Walking trousers are advised or comfortable athletic clothing (no jeans please).
• Spare warm layer; 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.