Five Days Solo Hiking The Wicklow Way

Walking 132km through the Garden of Ireland. Hiking the Wicklow Way from south to north is, in my opinion, the best way to experience this iconic Irish trail. The journey begins with two days of easier lowland walking, making for a gentle start before the scenery really opens up. From there, the route comes into its own, revealing some of Ireland’s most stunning landscapes with mountains, valleys, lakes, and waterfalls along the way. The final stretch through the Dublin Mountains is especially memorable, with vibrant furze and heather lining the trail. Reaching Dublin with weary legs, you’re rewarded not just with a sense of achievement, but with easy access to transport, food, and accommodation. My journey was broken into five stages: Clonegal - Dying Cow Pub (25km) Dying Cow Pub - Iron Bridge (30km) Iron Bridge - Glendalough (28km) Glendalough - River Dargle (Glensoulan valley above Powerscourt) (23km) River Dargle - Dublin (26km) *** MY GEAR LIST *** Backpack: Osprey Exos 58 and cheap raincover. (Bin liner used in backpack as a drysack) Tent: Snugpak Ionosphere. Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Neoair Xtherm (large).. and Flextail tiny pump (which is also a lantern). Sleeping Bag: Vango Ultralite 600. Pillow: Trekology Aluft 2.0 Earplugs. Trespass walking poles. Rab Kangri GTX Gore-Tex rain jacket. Trespass waterproof trousers. Eastwest Mapping - Wicklow Way Guide (south to north version - available at oas.ie) Petzl Tikka headtorch (not necessary - not walking in darkness, and torch on phone). Boonie type hat, gloves, sunglasses, small sit pad. Toilet kit: toilet paper, lighter, small pack handwipes. Wash kit: Travel toothbrush and paste, small pack of wipes, travel soap, small towel. Sawyer mini filter, Lifesystems purification tablets, 1 litre water bottle x 2 (purification tablets are per 1L of water). Lifesystems insect repellent. Small bin bag. Small first aid kit; a few small plasters, compeed, sun cream (in small travel vial), chapstick, tick tool, tweezers, anti-histamine tablets, small novalast compression bandage (in case of knee/ankle injury), Lifeventure travel mirror (handy if you get something in your eye), and personal medication. Dehydrated breakfasts, dinners, and desserts. (Adventure Food and Tactical Foodpack). Tortilla wraps, pepperoni, salami, grated cheddar, and mayonnaise sachets for lunches. Snickers bars, protein bars, flapjacks, and energy gels. (2 bars per day) BRS 3000T stove, small gas canister, ferro rod, 750ml Tomshoo titanium cup, 600ml Wildocup, spork, and an Opinel number 8 pocket knife. Clothing: Revolution Race: RVRC Pro trousers and "Hike and Dive" shorts. Rab Cirrus Flex 2.0 jacket. Rab Nexus light fleece. Polyester boxers and t-shirts (no cotton). Bridgedale socks. Merrell Moab 2 shoes (first part of trip) and Altra Lone Peak shoes/runners (second part of trip) iPhone 13, DJI Osmo Pocket, DJI Mini 2, powerbank, and charging leads... all kept in a dry bag. Recorded summer of 2024.