Spinc & Wicklow Way - Glendalough

We done the red route in reverse as we started off just outside the miners village and wanted to hike up the rocky parts of this beautiful walk. It took us about 2 and a half hours to do 11k. There is fabulous views of the lakes from almost anywhere on this trek. Good footwear a must going up or coming down the miners village side as lots of rocks and loose stones. Highly recommended for all

I done this hike today and as the heading says it is very difficult. It is a mixture of gravel, boulders, large rocks, boardwalks and sleepers. I actually done 15k in 3hrs 15mins this is the red marked route but I must have started it wrong. It's well marked once you find the right route. The views are stunning especially at the top of the Spinc mountain looking down over the lakes. I done the walk in a clock wise direction and the 1st 3 klms are uphill on a smooth gravel path then it goes downhill for a couple of klms. Your then onto the sleepers into a forest climbing again alot of steps. You would want to have a good level of fitness to do this walk and to wear a good pair of walking boots. The downhill section from the Spinc leads to a very rocky section where great care is needed.

We walked this on 02/06/18 and the lower portion of the trail, up to the waterfall was quite busy. We set off at about 4pm so passed the waterfall was relatively quiet. The initial climb to the fist viewpoint is a strenuous enough climb up boardwalk steps, through what was once part of the forest. There are great views of the lower lake here. The trail runs along the spine of mountain then, which is relatively flat. There is a steep climb then to the summit but the views along the whole trail are stunning. The back side of the trail is a bit less interesting as it uses the road to the old Miner's village but there are some pretty nice views of the lower lake. The whole trail is covered by a railway sleeper boardwalk that has been freshly replaced.