The plan this weekend was to visit Glendalough. I had a weekend with no plans, an itch to be outside, and for once, the weather forecast was looking good.
Unfortunately, the van’s rear brakes had other ideas. They sprang a leak and I was grounded.
Fortunately, living in a van at home means I still have people and resources to fall back on, so I have been on a couch for the past few days. Not ideal, but manageable. Being my stubborn self, instead of giving up on the weekend altogether, I decided to find another walk nearby and still go for a sunrise hike.
I grew up on the border of the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, exploring the Dublin side. The usual haunts like Hell Fire Club, Ticknock, Cruagh, and Tibradden, but not what I would consider the bigger Wicklow hikes like Djouce, the Sugarloaf, or Glendalough.
I have apparently hiked Glendalough before on a school trip, but I must have missed that day because I have no real memory of it. As an adult, I have been there once, but again I remember very little beyond climbing a boulder and helping a goat that had been chased by an off leash dog and got stuck in the rocks.
The original plan was to head to Glendalough on Friday evening before the car park closed, stay overnight, and get up early to hike the Spinc Loop for sunrise. After that I wanted to come down for breakfast, wander around the lower lake, and maybe stay on for sunset somewhere else in Wicklow.
Since Glendalough was off the table without the van, I decided to go to the Sugarloaf instead.
Why The Sugarloaf?
The decision was simple. It was only about a 30 minute drive from where I was staying and it is not a particularly difficult hike. Most of my proper hiking gear is in the van, which is currently in the mechanic. What was meant to be a one day situation has now turned into four nights.
The car park is quite large and would easily fit some campervans along with the cars. There is a section near the entrance that has been blocked off with boulders, which suggests that taller vehicles may have been allowed in the past. Now it is only accessible to cars and vehicles that can fit under the very low entry arch.
The area itself is easy to get to as it is quite close to the motorway. You can also approach it through the Wicklow Mountains, but arriving near dusk means you miss most of the views along the way. The mountain is surrounded by rolling hills and fields, with dense housing on one side and scattered homes in between. You can hear the motorway the whole time you are up there.
The Sugarloaf Routes
There are two main trails on the Sugarloaf. I chose the shorter, more direct route straight up and down rather than the longer loop. You can find details on both on The Irish Road Trip website which I found very helpful while planning. I also came across a third option on Strava, the Sugarloaf to Bray walk. It is a 15-16km hike from the Great Sugarloaf to Bray Head and seafront over approx. five to six hours. Definitely one to add to the list.
Hike Time
I arrived at 5:50am with sunrise set for 6:24am and started walking at 5:55am, reaching the summit at 6:18am. I was cutting it close so I jogged up some bits at the start and put up a fierce pace. It’s about a 30-minute leisurely ascent. The climb is steep and the path gets very rocky, especially towards the top. I am afraid of heights, but overall, it was very manageable. It was really only the final stretch near the summit where the fear crept in for a moment.
After starting the year with Mount Errigal, this felt far less intense. By staying focused on my footing, I pushed through that last section. The path looks hard to see when looking up, but it is easier to find up close.
I used my hands on the rocks in a couple of spots to steady myself and keep moving comfortably. I was one of the last up. If I had arrived earlier and been climbing alongside others, that final stretch would have felt easier.
This was my third sunrise hike of the year and, aside from Errigal, it was the busiest so far. There were around 20 people and 3 dogs at the summit as the sun came up over the clouds.
Both Windy and Yr.no had forecast clear skies with no low, medium, or high cloud. However, the sun stayed hidden from the horizon until it had climbed high enough above the clouds to properly appear. It first lit the sky in lilacs and pinks before turning into a deep red orb behind the thick cloud, then finally cresting over in warm golden hues. It was absolutely lovely to watch.
There were a few birds around, but not much other wildlife. A couple of seagulls made an appearance as I was heading back down to the car park.
All in all, it was a lovely short hike. It gave me just enough of a fix for both the sunrise and my urge to be outdoors.
Leave a Reply