Looped Walks

County Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland and Crone Woods is situated on the southern side of the Glencree Valley in the heart of the garden! The valley is one of a series of glaciated valleys that run in an east-west direction along the eastern side of the Wicklow Mountains. Records show that as early as 13th century the steep sides of Crone in the Glencree valley were set aside as a Royal Hunting Park. Documents from nearby Powerscourt Estate reveal that the name Crone was in use as far back as 1757 and may derive from ‘cruasdhne’ (Gaelic for ‘hard ground’). This area became a hideout following the 1798 rebellion for bands of rebels and insurgents. The British Military built the Military Road with a barracks at the top of the valley to open up the area following the 1798 rising. During the ensuing centuries the value of the oak in the area was recognised and the woodland exploited for timber.
Today the forest is sustainably managed to produce quality saw log and tree species include Scots pine, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Larch and Corsican pine. The forest is home to a variety of animals including deer, foxes, badgers and red squirrels. The first section of this loop overlaps with the Wicklow Way – a long-distance waymarked route that extends from Dublin City, through County Wicklow and into County Carlow. The Way and Loop part company at a magnificent viewing point at Ride Rock - overlooking Powerscourt Waterfall. The loop is one of a national network of trails developed by Coillte (the Forestry Board) as part of the Coillte Outdoors Recreation Programme.

A-B. Starting from the top of the car park, follow the arrows on the red disc (with footprints) to reach the mapboard where you turn left. Follow the red arrows (and also the yellow arrows for the Wicklow Way) along forestry road for 1.5km to reach Ride Rock on a sharp right bend. From here enjoy the spectacular view of Powerscourt Waterfall before turning right onto a narrower trail and leaving the Wicklow Way.

B-C. Follow this woodland trail as it makes its way gently uphill through new forestry. The final 200m of this section climbs steeply to reach a wider path and somewhat more level ground on the upper shoulder of Maulin Mountain.

C-D. The loop continues for a further 1km along a path at the top edge of forestry to reach a sandy forestry road where it turns right and downhill.

D-A. Now the loop uses some of the extensive network of forestry roads in this area to descend to the trailhead. Keep a close lookout for the directional arrows on the red discs – some of them are affixed to trees.