Bray to Loughlinstown
Distance 8 miles / 13 Kms
Map: Discovery Series 50 + 56
Our walk begins on Bray Bridge at the bottom of Main Street. We enter the peoples Park and follow the north bank of the Dargle through to the parks far end. The old Bray Road leads from here to the Dual Carriageway (now motorway). This we must follow (cross over and follow southbound lane north..) until we come to the right turn onto Enniskerry Road. We take the first left turn on this road after about 200 metres turn, by taking the pathway on your left, into Dargle valley.
In the middle of our journey through the valley, we get a good view from “Lovers Leap”- a large rock at the edge of the precipice, overlooking the large deciduous forest. This path leads us out of the Dargle valley onto a roadway where we turn right. This road passes the gates of the Powerscourt estate (click for further info.) and into Enniskerry(click for further info).
We pass through the village, passing the clock on our left, and continue over the bridge. Continuing through this wooded glen brings us to Ballyman Road on the right. Half a mile up Ballyman Road, we turn left onto Ballyman Lane towards Carrickgollogan. When we reach the pine woods, we keep to the left along Murphys Lane until we reach a cottage ruin on the left. Just beyond this we take a narrow rocky pathway on the right which leads us up into the woods.
The path brings us to the foot of a bare hill which we climb by way of a steep and rocky path. Almost immediately, we are able to see out over the treetops and soon reach Carrickgollogan summit (grid ref. 231 201). The view from Carrickgollogan (or Kitty Gallogher as it is sometimes known) is panoramic and covers Dublin City, Bray, the Sugarloaves and much of North County Wicklow. Returning to the foot of the hill, the path leads through the woods in a north-westerly direction through the woods.
Returning to Murphys lane via the Car Park, we contnue until we reach a rough path on our right leading up to the Leadmines Chimney.
The chimney itself, standing 25 metres tall, was built in 1862 to release toxic fumes from Ballycorus smelters. Just below it is a perfect place to stop for lunch, or even a BBQ and the area is ideal for activities or Wide Games. We rejoin the path to the left of the chimney and follow it downhill (Pucks Castle Par 3 on the left) to a junction with Pucks Castle lane. Here we turn downhill towards Loughlinstown.
On our right are the ruins of Pucks Castle (on Private Property). This was originally about 40ft tall and 25ft square. Its chief claim to fame was that James II used it in his retreat from the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, his army camping for some days in Lehaunstown (now Loughlinstown). It was built in 1537 as a lookout station for raiding parties from Wicklow!!
We turn right at the T-junction onto Ballycorus Road and keep left at the fork in the road, heading down into Brides Glen. At the end of this road we come onto Cherrywood road and meet the imposing Viaduct. It was built between 1846 and 1854. It was used for the Dublin-Dundrum-Shankill train line which closed in 1958.
A little further down the road we come to the Silver Tassie Pub which marks the end of the Hike.
The 45 and 84 buses run regularly from here to the City Centre or back to Bray from the opposite side of the Dual Carriageway.