Saint Kevin’s Way, Hollywood Village to Glendalough

What: This ancient route follows in the footsteps of the medieval pilgrims who walked through the Wicklow Mountains to visit Saint Kevin’s tomb in the monastic city of Glendalough. From the village of Hollywood, the route contours around Slievecorragh Hill, passing through a narrow pass known as the Scalp before following the meandering course of the King’s River upstream to the highest point of the route, the desolate pass known as Wicklow Gap. You then begin to descend passing Lough Nahanagan, the site of the Turlough Hill power station, before dropping down a steep stone path into the Glendasan valley where you follow the stream into Glendalough. If you fancy a guided walk, Irish Pilgrim Paths will walk this route on August 24, all welcome. For details, pilgrimpath.ie

Start/Finish: Hollywood village, Co Wicklow Glendalough, Co Wicklow.

Get there: Take the N81 south out of Dublin, pass through Blessington and 3km after Poulaphouca take the left for Hollywood.

Level: A long, hard walk crossing exposed mountainside with rough and boggy ground.

Length/Time to walk: 30km/one day.

Pack: Ordnance Survey Ireland OSI Discovery Series map 56 or you can download detailed route maps from irishtrails.ie.

Refuel: Treat yourself with a big feed in the excellent Wicklow Heather restaurant (wicklowheather.ie) in Laragh.