Walking the Wicklow Mountains: What to Wear, What to Bring, and What Not to Forget

The Wicklow Mountains are on your doorstep if you're staying near Blessington, and they're worth taking seriously. This isn't gentle country-park walking — these are proper mountains, and Irish weather treats them accordingly.

The forecast in Blessington and the conditions on Lugnaquilla are two different things. Clouds come in fast on the Wicklow plateau. Visibility can drop to near zero in under an hour. You don't need to be a mountaineer — but you do need to be prepared.

Here's what you actually need, from people who've done these trails in everything from blazing June sunshine to October mist so thick you couldn't see ten metres ahead.

What to wear

A genuinely waterproof jacket

Not a soft shell. Not a windbreaker. Not the thing described as "water-resistant" in the shop. A jacket with taped seams and a proper waterproof rating — at least 10,000mm hydrostatic head. You'll be glad of it. Even on days that start dry.

Waterproof hiking jacket on Amazon — what we'd recommend for Wicklow conditions.

Waterproof overtrousers

Optional on low-level greenway walks. Not optional in the mountains. Light enough to pack flat at the bottom of your bag, transformative when you actually need them. Buy a pair that packs down small — you'll leave them in the bag on dry days and not even notice they're there.

Layers

A moisture-wicking base layer, a fleece or light insulating mid-layer, and your waterproof outer. The mountains can be 5–8°C colder than the valley even in summer. The summit of Lugnaquilla in June can feel like November. Layer up.

Walking boots — not trail runners

The ground in Wicklow is often boggy even after a dry spell. Trail runners will soak through in ten minutes on anything off the main paths. Proper waterproof walking boots with ankle support are worth the investment if you're doing anything beyond flat greenway walking.

Waterproof hiking boots on Amazon

Merino wool or synthetic hiking socks

Not cotton. Cotton holds moisture and causes blisters. A merino wool or synthetic hiking sock makes a ridiculous difference to comfort over a full day's walking — one of those small upgrades that feels disproportionately good.

Merino hiking socks on Amazon

What to bring

• A map and compass — or download your route offline on AllTrails before you leave. Phone signal on the Wicklow plateau is unreliable. Don't depend on it for navigation.
• Water — more than you think. At least 1.5–2 litres per person for a full-day mountain walk. There's nowhere to refill.
• Food: sandwiches, snacks, something warm in a flask. There are no cafés above Glendalough. A warm drink on a windy summit is one of life's simple pleasures.
• Basic first aid kit: plasters, blister patches, a foil emergency blanket. Small enough to not matter in your bag, useful enough to matter if you need it.
• Head torch: if there's any chance you'll be out near dark. Days are short in autumn and spring, and descending in darkness without a torch is a bad situation.
• Trekking poles: not essential, but brilliant on steep descents and boggy ground. Your knees will appreciate them on the way down.

Lightweight trekking poles on Amazon

The best walks from Blessington

Blessington Greenway (easy — full loop 22km)

Starts right from the town. Flat, off-road, beautiful lake views throughout. Good for all fitness levels. No special gear needed beyond comfortable footwear.

Spinc Ridge, Glendalough (moderate — 9km loop)

The best walk in Wicklow that most visitors actually do. A boardwalk ridge above the upper lake with views that are particularly extraordinary in autumn when the valley turns gold and red. About 40 minutes from Blessington. Trailhead at the Glendalough Visitor Centre.

Turlough Hill (moderate — 2–3 hours)

Thirty minutes from Blessington and almost nobody goes there. A pumped-storage reservoir sits on top of a mountain — genuinely strange and completely brilliant. Clear days give you views across half of Leinster.

Lugnaquilla (challenging — full day)

The highest point in Leinster at 925m. Best approached from Fenton's pub in Aughavanagh — a long drive from Blessington but worth it on a clear day. Don't attempt it in cloud or poor visibility without navigation skills and proper experience. It's a serious mountain.

One last thing

Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back. Irish Mountain Rescue do serious, important work. Don't make their job harder by heading into the mountains underprepared.

The Wicklow Mountains National Park website has up-to-date trail information and access notices. Check it before you head out, especially in lambing season (spring) when some areas have restricted access.

And if you're staying with us — ask. We'll always know what's walkable this week, what's too boggy, and where to stop for food on the way home.