Lough Ouler Hike
This walk visits the "heart-shaped" corrie lake of Lough Ouler in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
The loop walk also visits Glenmacnass Waterfall and climbs to Tonelagee Mountain which lies just to the west of the lake.
You can start the walk from the Glenmacnass Waterfall car park and then pick up a trail along the Glenmacnass River, heading north west. You then turn west along the Lough Brook which will take you to Lough Ouler. It's a a beautiful spot with the small lake surrounded by wonderful mountainous scenery.
From here you can pick up trails heading south west to Tonelagee. The mountain stands at a height of 817 metres (2,680 ft), making it the third highest in the Wicklow Mountains and the 25th–highest peak in Ireland. From here there are some splendid far reaching views over the national park.
To continue your walking in the area head south west to the Wicklow Gap where you can pick up trails to Turlough Hill and visit Ireland's only pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant.
Lough Ouler Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map
Ireland Walking Map - View All the Routes in the Country>>
Lough Ouler Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the west you can pick up the Barrow Way, a 100km walk following the River Barrow from Robertstown, County Kildare to Graiguenamanagh and St Mullins Walk in County Carlow.
The epic Wicklow Way passes through the area. You could pick up this waymarked trail to further explore the Wicklow Mountains.
To the south east there's Avondale Forest Park where you can try the circular woodland trail along the River Avonmore. The park also includes a popular treetop walk where you can enjoy wonderful views over the area from an elevated path through the trees. It is the first of its kind in Ireland.