Glen Of The Downs Walk
This circular loop walk explores a beautiful glacial valley and nature reserve in the Wicklow Mountains near Dublin.
The area includes lovely woodland trails, pretty streams and lots of wildlife. Look out for red squirrels, sika deer and a variety of woodland birds. You'll also pass the remains of an historic estate while enjoying some wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and countryside.
To continue your walking in the area head east to the nearby village of Delgany where you can try the Delgany Heritage Trail. The waymarked circular loop walk visits some of the interesting historical landmarks in the village.
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Photos
Glen Of The Downs. The valley was formed by the meltwater from a massive ice sheet. The rocks forming the sides of are the same quartzite of the two Sugarloaf hills to the north. The Three Trouts river, actually a stream, flows through the southern end of the Glen before entering the sea south of Greystones.
The octagon, Glen of the Downs. The reserve is now a rare ancient oak wood, but was once part of the Bellevue Estate, a 300 acre demesne established by the La Touche family in the mid eighteenth century. The 18th century octagon was part the estate and originally a banqueting hall. There are some fabulous views over the area from the elevated position of this historic structure.
Pony paddocks beside the N11. Grazing on the thin slither of flat land between the main road and the woods of Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve.
Glen of the Downs greenery. The tree canopy is made up of broadleaf trees such as oak, cherry, rowan and ash. Beneath this canopy grows bilberry, bramble, wild garlic, holly, honeysuckle, ivy, woodrush and wood sage. Birds to look out for include blackcap, chaffinch, jay, robin, sparrowhawk, blue tit, great tit, grey wagtail and wren.