Stretch those legs…
Sometimes, no matter how much you love a place, it can be good to rise above it all and take a long view, which sounds all very theoretical unless you’re talking about heading down to the Dublin Mountains to stretch your legs and take in the stunning views across the entire city and bay.
The stunning views of Dublin, Wicklow, Louth, Meath, Kildare and Down from the 536-metre summit at the top of
Two Rock Mountain, relatively easy terrain and well-signposted routes make this one of Dublin’s most popular walking spots for visitors and locals alike. The ‘Fairy Castle’ at the top is in fact a neolithic or Bronze Age passage tomb crowned by a pyramid of stones, dating back to between 2500 and 2000BC. There are plenty of similar tombs scattered about the rugged landscape, but this is one of the highest.
To do the 6km Fairy Castle Loop, leave your car at the top of the Ticknock Forest Car Park (you’ll save a little on an uphill walk), and from there follow the green signposts which will guide you along the route and back again.
The route includes road, stone paths and muddy trails, so a sensible pair of shoes is strongly advised, as well as a backpack with some warm clothing as the weather can change quite suddenly. And while it’s a relatively short, easy-to-follow route, there’s a bit of a climb that adds to the exertion. This will simply make that post-walk pint at the legendary Johnny Fox’s ( just down the road) taste all the better.
If you have your own GPS and want to make a little diversion, you could also take in the Ballyedmonduff wedge tomb just under a kilometre away.
Also known as The Giant’s Tomb, this is a wonderful spot featuring a rectangular chamber arranged in a wedge shape which once had a twometre high cairn constructed on top. It has been dated back to around 1700BC and is not the easiest place to find.
To get there, backtrack on the route you took to Fairy Castle and follow your GPS for 1.6km. The site is buried inside the pine forest, so keep your eyes peeled for the path towards it.
And what was that mention of Johnny Fox’s earlier? One of Ireland’s oldest, highest and most famous pubs, this is an unmissable item on any decent Dublin itinerary thanks to the great food, live music and top-notch food. Go on, you’ll have earned it.