Glendalough Circuit via the Spinc – (Glendalough – County Wicklow, Ireland)

Glendalough and the nearby Wicklow Mountains offer some of the finest hiking in all of Ireland. Vast open spaces and kilometers of trails await the keen rambler in these parts. This loop, done in this direction showcases Glendalough’s highlights and allows for easy climbing up the Miner’s Road to the incredible viewpoints of the lakes from high above on the Spinc Trail.

The scenery is almost unreal, the colours, especially the shades of green are vivid, varied and cannot fully be captured in photographs. The entire trail here is well built, maintained and signposted. It’s a first-class setup as far as health and safety is concerned and there is little to no exposure to heights if one sticks to the path. The trail does cover some distance and entails a fair amount of elevation gain but with the path so well built it should be manageable for most hikers in good health and of an adequate fitness level. Weather conditions can change quickly so it’s worth being prepared with proper gear and clothing. We found both sunscreen and raingear useful during our hike here so it’s best to plan and take the necessary precautions.

This trail starts at the large parking area near the upper lake. Here one may have to pay for parking, during our visit it was 5 Euros for the day, this may change over time. Leaving the parking lot the trail starts at the Lake; the views are already magnificent from this point. The trail then follows the Northern Edge of the upper lake under tall old pines offering views through to the lake. Only a few hundred meters in you should keep a lookout for St Kevins bed on the other side of the lake. St Kevin was an Irish Saint, Abbot and founder of Glendalough Monastery in about 550AD, his church is still standing and forms part of the later sections of this recording. For a part of his life, Saint Kevin lived as a hermit and spent time in this cave located on a cliff face above the lake. You will need to keep your eyes peeled to see it, but it can be spotted. I have marked the place to view it as a waypoint on this recording with photos. During his years of solitude Saint Kevin carved out additional space and made a primitive bed consisting of two slabs of stone.

Soon thereafter the old Glendalough miner’s village is reached. The mines date back to the 1790’s and for 150 years they served as a source of Zinc, Lead and Silver. Now in ruins and handed back to nature, the scars on the landscape remain but it does seem to be recovering, and their influence dwindles just as quickly as it arrived walking along here. Leaving the mines the path begins to climb on the old miner’s road, the road isn’t too steep but it’s a long ascent and this will likely test the unfit. From here the views open as you climb and look back over the lake below.

A few small waterfalls and a bridge later, then the trail is on the Southern side of the stream and it’s a planked boardwalk with nails for grip as you continue to climb up the Spinc. Here the views keep getting even better as you make your way to the Glendalough viewpoint; this is a short way past the trail’s highpoint but its directly above the upper lake providing a remarkable vista. After the viewpoint the trail begins it descent and after gradually winding down the gravel road Poulanass Waterfall is reached. The waterfall is under dense forest canopy and has multiple steps and cascades. Its right next to the boardwalk and well worth spending some time at.

After the waterfall it’s a short way back to the upper lake parking area where you could end your day’s walking. We opted to take the green road walk down past the lower lake to see St Kevin’s church and the infamous round tower of Glendalough. The priests house and the old cathedral ruins are nearby, the whole area has a fascinating history to it, so it’s worth reading up on it before you arrive. We headed back to the upper lake parking area on the opposite side of the lower lake which concluded our hike.

There is plenty to do in the nearby area around Glendalough so a drive to nearby attractions is worthwhile after walking here.

As a disclaimer, please note that I am not qualified to be giving local driving, hiking or walking recommendations as I am not a trained guide or even knowledgeable about the routes, difficulty, weather or safety conditions in this area. These trails, like all my recorded activities on Wikiloc, are merely a journal or recollection of my experiences with some information which I personally would consider interesting. The information provided about this hiking or walking trail and its associated GPX recording is for the purpose of entertainment or reading and review only, the information presented may not be up to date or comprehensive enough. Trail and safety conditions, routes, difficulties and weather-related risks can change over time and vary from individual to individual. Any activity undertaken is therefore done at your own risk and requires you to verify information with local authorities, guides or experts in the field or local area before embarking on any such activity that may pose risks. As per the terms agreed to when signing up for this application or website, I or Wikiloc assume no responsibility for damages that may arise from using this information in any way, shape or form.