South West Wicklow
The South West Wicklow Heritage Trail follows a path through time from ancient burials and early settlements to the wealthy landed estates and armed rebellion.
The trail begins in Baltinglass, a heritage town set in what some call the hillfort capital of Ireland, which boasts the remains of a 12th century abbey, an old courthouse, the Sam McAllister statue and a fine
19th century streetscape.
From there it’s off to the Haroldstown Dolmen – an impressive portal tomb built around 2500BC and located by the Dereen River, close to the Acaun bridge – before a stop at Rathgall Hillfort. Often referred to as ‘The Ring of Rath’, the fort dates from 800BC and still has its impressive ramparts in place.
The next stop along the trail is the site of one of Ireland’s earliest monasteries, which was founded in the sixth century. Aghowle Church is a fantastic structure dating from the 12th century and one of the finest examples of Gaelic-Romanesque architecture in Ireland.
The trail then continues through some of south west Wicklow’s attractive and interesting villages. First up is the architectural gem that is Shillelagh. Laid out by Lord Fitzwilliam in the 19th century as an estate village, it lies just 2km from ‘the big house’ at Coollattin.
From there it’s onto the market town of Carnew, which has its roots in medieval times and was once a Norman stronghold with the castle a central part of its history.
Just like Shillelagh and Carnew before it, Tinahely has the marks of the Coollattin Estate all over it. It was largely rebuilt by the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam after it was burnt during the 1798 rebellion and its scenic landscape draws walkers from far and near.
The final destination on the South West Wicklow Heritage Trail before continuing back to Baltinglass is the picturesque village of Kiltegan. With the entrance to Humewood Castle located in the village, it’s no surprise that the graveyard surrounding St Peter’s Church includes the mausoleums of the Humes of Humewood and the Westbys of High Park.
The trail is 80km long and, passing through areas with looped walks, coffee shops and the Tomnafinogue Woods Special Area of Conservation, it should take a day to complete.