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From our experience, once you go off-road, you’ll find it very hard to return to roadside running. Trail running is just a whole other level of fun, better scenery, more obstacles, ascents and descents, and more things to distract you from counting your breaths. There is no comparison. So, whether you are new to the world of running off-road or are a trail-running aficionado, here are some sweet trails in Dublin and Wicklow to pound around.
The Outsider Trail Community is an amazing resource for finding trail inspiration and getting answers to your questions. With hundreds of runners ready and willing to help out, it’s a great place to connect! IMRA and Trail Running Ireland are also two great resources for trail running events in Ireland if you get hooked!
1. Howth Peninsula Trail, Co Dublin
Distance: 12km
Climb: 239m
Howth is a bit of a gem of an area on the outskirts of Dublin. The fishing village has great restaurants and bars to wine and dine in, but more importantly, it has plenty of hidden beaches and cliffs to swim and scale and routes galore to bike, walk or trail run on. This particular trail will bring you on a loop around a good chunk of Howth, encompassing the top of Howth Head and overlooking Irish Sea Coastline, Dublin Bay and the Wicklow Mountains. A light trail shoe is perfect for the trails around Howth.
2. Ticknock, Co Dublin
Fairy Castle Short Loop (from Ticknock):
Distance: 6km
Climb: 250m
Run The Line Long Course (from the G.A.P)
Distance: 26km
Climb: 1000m
This is one of Dublin’s most popular hills, and for good reason. The views over Dublin and the Irish Sea are stunning. Ticknock offers a great network of mountain and forest walks just a stone’s throw away from Dublin. There are loads of trails all over the hill and with both the Dublin Mountain Way and the Wicklow Way passing over the hill, Ticknock is a gateway to a long day on the trails. Nestled in the hills just beyond Sandyford in south Dublin, you can drive to Ticknock from the city centre in around half an hour but the walk will make you feel like you’re lost in the wilderness.
Things to do in Dublin: The Complete Guide for Outdoor Lovers
3. Crone Woods and Djouce, Co Wicklow
Maulin Loop:
Distance: 8km
Climb: 410m
Djouce Climb:
Distance: 18km
Climb: 670m
The car park at Crone Woods is a prime spot for exploring The Wicklow Way and the Wicklow Mountains. A great option for a trail run, there is the 8km over Maulin, to 17km to the top of Djouce Mountain and on to the JB Malone Memorial. The views are stunning throughout the routes and include highlights like Powerscourt Waterfall, the Vartry Lakes and Lough Tay. This route is inclusive of a couple of kilometres of boardwalk as well as established trail.
4. A Lap Of Glencullen
Distance: 21km
Climb: 690m
If you’re looking for a blend of everything this is the route for you. With about half being on hard-packed trails and half being on muddy mountain tracks this route is so much fun. You can start the route at the G.A.P or at Tibbradden car park and complete it both clockwise and counterclockwise depending on if you wish to begin or finish with the muck! This is a favourite route of ours but during wet periods the ground on the mountains can hold a lot of water so watch your step! Choosing shoes for this is difficult due to the varied to rain but we would advise something with extra grip such as an Inov8 X-Talon or Dynafit Feline SL.
5. The Dublin Mountains Way
Distance: 42km
Climb: 895m
The Dublin Mountains Way is a brilliant challenge for an experienced runner. The route traverses across from Shankill in the east to Tallaght. The marathon distance route is fully waymarked (yellow walking man symbol) so no navigation skills are required. This route is a great training route for ultra-distance trail races.
You could do it as one long effort, or in three stages from Shankill to Three Rock Mountain, from there to the Hellfire Club and from there to the Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght. From Tallaght, you can get a Luas or a bus back into the city.
The route runs past forests, mountains, valleys, and the Glenasmole Reservoir and will give great views over Dublin City to the north and into the wilds of the Wicklow Mountains in the south. The Wicklow Way runs alongside the Dublin Mountains Way at times. The signs read DMW and WW to avoid confusion. The terrain is a mix of hardpacked trails and country roads so a pair of light trail shoes are ideal.
6. Glendalough Exploration
Distance: 16km
Climb: 600m
This 16km route takes in a wide variety of terrain. It ranges from country roads to steep mountain tracks. We used this exact route on our Summer in Speedgoats Adventure where we tested out the HOKA Speedgoat 6. The route begins at the IMC hut, that we rented, and follows the riverside St Kevin’s Way to the early Christian monastic settlement in Glendalough that was established by St Kevin over 1,000 years ago. The centrepiece of this settlement is the 30m-tall round tower. Built in the 10th century, the tower was likely used as a bell tower, a place of refuge during Viking raids, and a storage area for valuable religious items.
Leaving the valley floor we made our way through green forests, zig-zagging our way towards the summit of Derrybawn. The trails got gradually rougher and less travelled as we neared the final steep climb. You will feel immersed in the mountains when you reach the summit!
The trails get gradually wider and busier as you descend the mountain. The gradually increasing sound of the rush of the Poulonass Waterfall indicates that you are close to the famous view of Glendalough’s Upper Lake.
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