Dublin Mountains Way

Walking
County Dublin
3.9/5
14 reviews
Grade Strenuous
Length 41.1962 km
Am 12.5 hours
Format Linear
Ascent 895 m
Dogs Allowed On a lead
Waymarking Yellow arrow on black background
Start Point
Tallaght / Shankhill
Finish Point
Tallaght/ Shankhill
Nearest Town to Start Tallaght/Shankill
Grid Ref. O 278 084 / O 253 217
Lat. and Long. 53.23115, -6.12405 / 53.28197, -6.37461

One of the flagship projects of the Dublin Mountains Partnership is the establishment of a long distance trail, the Dublin Mountains Way (DMW), across the mountains from Shankill in the east to Tallaght (Sean Walsh Park) in the west, in all approximately 43 kilometres of trail (plus an additional 12.3km round trip for the Hell Fire/Massy's spur). The DMW has been an objective of the local authorities for close to twenty years and with the formation of the partnership it has been realised.  This project has been achieved through the cooperation of Coillte, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council and some private landowners.  The Dublin Mountains Way was officially opened from Shankill to Tallaght on 31st October 2010. The entire route from Shankill to Tallaght is now fully waymarked. This route will be classified as one of the national waymarked ways and is waymarked with the standard yellow walking man symbol. The sections where the Wicklow Way and Dublin Mountains Way run alongside is signed with DMW and WW to avoid confusion. For more information follow external link to www.dublinmountains.ie

Trail Management

Dublin Mountains Partnership, c/o Coillte, Dublin Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.
Email info@dublinmountains.ie

Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead

Map Guides

Map Guides

Dublin Mountains Way map available in all good bookshops and outdoor stores at RRP of ‚¬9 and EastWest Mapping available from Email: info@eastwestmapping.ie
Web: http://www.eastwestmapping.ie

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheet 50
14 trail reviews
3.9/5
Write your own review of this trail
5/5
06/23/2013

Colm O'Brien from Dublin

A hell of a hike. 43k of full hiking! Took us the best part of 11 hours to complete from Tallaght Luas station to Shankill Dart station. The signposting from Tallaght Luas line to the starting point needs to be reviewed as would some of the signage along the route. Agree with others that the walk from Johnnie Foxes is too dangerous on that narrow road without a path. Needs to be rerouted ASAP!

All in all is a brilliant walk and needs to be marketed better to attract worldwide walkers and hikers. The Spanish did it with the 'Camino', there is no reason why we can't mimic the same with these quality walks in Ireland .
3/5
08/14/2011

Fergus from Dublin

Nice trail in part I've seen from Shankill. Agree the road stretch is dangerous as hell from Kilternan to Johnny Foxes. On one stretch a passing Garda car pulled up to ask us if we needed a lift!
3/5
08/07/2011

Joe from Dublin

The initial section from Shankill to the The Scalp is mostly excellent, although it's peculiar the stretch through Carrickgollogan Wood avoids the Lead Mines chimney and the summit of Carrickgollogan itself. The trail markings descending from the top of The Scalp to the road are confusing, however. The quality of trail after The Scalp deteriorates dramatically - there is far too much walking on TOTALLY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS ROADS between The Scalp and Three Rock, especially just after Kilternan. This part of the trail needs to be rerouted urgently or closed altogether - a walker is going to get killed on this section some day. The section from Three Rock to the Hell Fire Club is superb, except for the area around the summit of Fairy Castle, which is in desperate need of trail remediation. Of course, after Hell Fire, it's back on the roads, although at least they are not as busy as the eastern section. The map board in Cruagh Wood shows the trail leaving Hell Fire and crossing the Piperstown Gap into Featherbed Forest but this is not the route taken on the ground, unfortunately. This section is very badly waymarked: barely a single marker to be found between Viewing Point and St Ann's. The remaining section from St Ann's to Tallaght is a fine walk despite the vile Celtic Tiger housing you pass through near then end. A trail best enjoyed if done in sections - Shankill to Scalp, Three Rock to Hell Fire, St Ann's to Tallaght - skipping the roads in between. Needs a lot of work to be a top class trail.
5/5
05/19/2011

Ross Cremin from Dublin

Walked the Dublin Mountains Way from Masseys to Ticknock last weekend with a few friends..great day out, trail is well marked and its firm underfoot, off road and gives great views of Dublin. We organised a pick up at the end and enjoyed a pint in the Blue Light after !

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