Two alternative tours, one with far more cross country and hill walking, the other with more of a mix of driving and walking.

Brook Lodge, where the welcome as warm as their real fires. A 40 bedroomed country house hotel in spectacular countryside, with a newly opened luxury spa. A relaxed drink in the charming waterside lounge or a creamy pint in Acton's of Macreddin country pub. Organic and wild foods in the award winning Strawberry Tree Restaurant. Deep baths and luxurious bed with breakfast served until 11am. Golf, horse riding, walks, field and clay shooting. Food, tableware and wine shops in Macreddin Village... perfection.

The Wicklow Mountains are made up of a mass of granite which was forced up to the earth's surface when the ancient continents of Europe and America collided 400 million years ago. The molten granite crushed and baked the surface sedimentary rocks (slates and schists), forming mica - schists, much of which has now been weathered away. The boundary between the granite and mica-schists, holds high concentrations of lead, tin, copper, iron, and zinc, which were mined in various parts of Wicklow including Glendalough.

Most of Ireland's native mammal species occur within the Wicklow Mountains National Park. A large population of deer occupies the open hill area of the park. The native red deer population of Wicklow became extinct probably around the first half of the 18th century. Since then, red deer and sika deer were introduced into the area and hybridised giving rise to a population which now consists of sika or sika-like deer, characteristically found near plantations, but also on the open hill, and red/sika hybrids and red-like deer associated more with the open hills.

Foxes, badgers and hares are all found in the Park uplands. Red squirrels are commonly observed in pine woodlands such as those found around the Upper Lake at Glendalough. Birds of Prey are well represented with peregrine falcons, marlins, kestrels, sparrow-hawks and, rarely, hen carriers, all occurring within the Park. Red grouse, becoming quite rare in parts of Ireland where they were once numerous, are still quite common in parts of the mountains. Small birds, normally associated with mountain moorland, heath and blanket bog such as meadow pipits and skylarks are common. Less common birds such as whinchat, ring ouzel and dipper, also occur in the Park. The fish fauna is typical of Irish uplands, consisting mainly of trout, stickleback and minnow.

There are either two short circular walks (about 6 miles each) one for the morning, followed by lunch in Actons & then another for the afternoon.

An example of the type of detail that we give for our walks is as follows.  Turn left out of the hotel and follow the lane for 8 km, rising slowly but steadily through moorland countryside.   You will come to a small car park (grid ref. T072848) in the upper forested reaches of the Ow River valley some 3 miles  northwest from the hotel. This area is at the southernmost end of the Wicklow Mountains and the view south is superb on days of good visibility.

From the car park locate the clearly signed Wicklow Way and follow the waymarked route north as it heads along the northern banks of Mucklagh Brook. You soon reach a road and this is followed for about 400 metres before the Wicklow Way heads left and begins to climb through a conifer plantation. The ascent is easy and continues for some way to reach the Military Road and open hillside (grid ref. T086870). The climb continues on this scenic but quiet road until you are level with the northern edge of the plantation on your right. Alongside the plantation is a path with climbs steadily across the hillside in an easterly direction to meet a path joining from your left, which comes in from the summit col of the Military Road.

Stay on the main path with the summit of Craoghanmoira Mountain ahead. With all the uphill work almost over you can enjoy the ever improving views as you gain height. At 664m it is the 23rd highest peak in the Wicklow Mountains. The summit is marked by a trig point and is notable for the panoramic view over all the major peaks in the area, which fill a wide northern arc from west to northeast. Like much of the area you are unlikely to see many other walkers and the chances of having the summit to yourself are good.

Having taken in the view the descent follows a path heading almost due south along the eastern boundary of a conifer plantation. This will lead you to a road. Turn right and follow the road back to the car park beside the River Ow and then back down to the hotel. Fortunately traffic is almost non-existent so road walking is a pleasurable pastime in these parts!

A more serious hike involves a short drive to Aughnavanagh and then walking from there along the Wicklow way. For exclusively mountain scenery head North 20 miles will bring you to Roundwood, where a local taxi can be arranged to bring you back to Aughnavanagh.

For open mountain scenery turning into lowland fields and villages head South through Tinahealy & Shillelagh to Clonegal where again a local driver can bring you back to your car.

Enniscorthy	Youghal

Ballymaloe  is a large 500 year old country house on a 400 acre farm near the coast, owned and run by the Allen family. Home and locally grown produce is served in the award winning restaurant. Small golf course, tennis court, outdoor pool, woodlands, gardens and pleasant walks are on the premises, also a craft and kitchen shop.

Day 7   Depart for airport

Day 2  Hike the Ben Baun horseshoe, a walk in the Twelve Bens mountain range. This is a fine summit (730 m) that is steep on all sides with the exception of one fairly gentle ridge. In the valley below there are extensive remains of a time when Ireland was forested. Return to Rosleague

Day 3  After 40-minute ferry-journey from the tiny harbour at Cleggan, set off to walk to the west end of Inishbofin. This remote island, with a population of just 214, has everything from cliff forts and monastic sites to the sandy horseshoe beaches and even a Cromwellian Castle. There's a seal colony to view and a deep sea cave and arch system which you can actually climb into. Regular visitors to Inishbofin over the years include Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, Cecil Day Lewis, Louis McNiece, Nic Cage, and Seamus Heaney Return to Rosleague

Day 4  Walk up the Benchoona Mountain and over to Klemore, finishing at the Kylemore Abbey, the fairy-tale palace of the West. Built long ago by a Manchester business man, this abbey is now a girls' school run by Benedictine nuns. They offer wonderful homemade food in their coffee shop as well as an excellent craft shop. End your day in Letterfrack village for a pint of Guinness and a chance to visit the heritage museum for those interested. .Return to Rosleague.

Day 5   Spend some time in the bustling medieval city of Galway before following the coast of Galway Bay for an easy afternoon stroll along a green road in the Burren. The flowers, views across the bay and the wildlife will all be memorable. Overnight in Ballyvaughan at Gregans Castle

The Burren	Gregans Castle	A Dolmen on the Burren

Day 6   Depart Shannon

Self drive Clients are supplied with a cell phone, local taxi company phone numbers (who are used to calls from our clients), a 1" scale map and a walking guide book to the routes.