On a fine summer's day, FRANCIS BRADLEYseizes the moment to take advantage of the good weather by heading for Luggala in Co Wicklow, and is rewarded with some breathtaking views
SOMETIMES you just have to seize the moment and the evening before my son started his Junior Cert was one of those times. The weather had been fantastic, as it often seems to be in the run-up to exams, and I planned to take advantage of this and go for a walk during the day.
However, events conspired against me, and between one thing and another the day passed and it wasn’t until 5pm that I was able to make a quick dash for the hills. I dragged my son along, judging that it would be good for his well-being, having spent the lead-up to his exams with his nose stuck in books.
I didn’t have a route planned, so my decisions were made on the hoof. Sugar Loaf? Too short. Ballinastoe Wood? Too recent. Djouce? Too long. What to do? I was on the R755 on the way to Roundwood when I had a divine inspiration: Luggala from the west. I swung onto the R759 and headed for one of the lesser-visited viewing platforms in Co Wicklow.
The spectacle begins about half a kilometre further on from the pier gates with the road clinging onto the sides of Djouce and White Mountain on the right while the escarpment drops steeply on the left into Lough Tay. Added to that there are the cliffs of Luggala or Fancy Mountain on the far side of the lake. We continued on to Sally Gap and turned left onto the R115, which would lead you to the Glenmacnass Waterfall and Laragh. We stopped at a car park on the right, known as the Oasis, approx- imately two and a half kilometres from Sally Gap.
Unfortunately, the Dublin and Wicklow mountains have seen their unfair share of theft from cars, and the area we were in has a bad reputation. The advice is to leave nothing in your car, leave the glovebox open and any underseat drawers in full view – and empty – and, if you can, leave the boot exposed. Even though this won’t discourage the most determined thief, you will have done as much as you can.
Now for the walk. Go back along the road for a few mettres until you encounter an obvious track on the right. Take this and head out east and then south-east on the raised bogland on the left. Luggala doesn’t have a defined top from this side, but sticking to the high ground will lead you to it. The going is good and there is plenty of evidence of the many Vibrams that have passed this way. You may have to navigate around some of the drainage ditches, but you will always be able to pick up another trail.
After just two kilometres you arrive at the top of Luggala, where you can drink in views that no coachload of tourists will ever see. Lough Tay and Luggala Lodge – also known as the Guinness estate and home to Garech de Brún – is at your feet, the aforementioned R759 is across the valley, and White Mountain and Djouce, with the JB Malone memorial stone, are visible. There are great views in all directions – Knocknacloghoge and Scar to the south, Tonelagee to the southwest, Mullaghcleevaun to the west and Kippure to the northwest. Your return route is exactly the reverse of the outward journey.
We were blessed with the weather – a warm evening sun on our backs on the outward journey and still enough heat on our return to necessitate only T-shirts. The going could prove to be quite soft in inclement weather.
Start and finishOasis car park, two and a half kilometres from Sally Gap on the R115.
DistanceAbout four-and-a-half kilometres.
TimeOne and a half hours (two with a picnic on top of Luggala).
MapsOS56
SuitabilityFor all ages, however younger ones may find the going tough through the heather. Know how to read a map and use a compass. Dress appropriately and bring along drinks and snacks – and don't litter.
RefreshmentsAt Roundwood.