Dark stone interior looking out through a circular opening at a rocky path and distant hills.
View from the Ballycorus old Lead Mines Tower on the Dublin Mountains Way. Courtesy Paola Floris, Failte Ireland

Dublin Mountains Way – Shankill to Tallaght

📍 Dublin, Dublin

🏛️ Attraction

Last updated: 29 June 2026

Overview

The Dublin Mountains Way (DMW) is a 42.6 km national way-marked trail that cuts across the eastern edge of the Dublin Mountains, running from the seaside village of Shankill to Sean Walsh Memorial Park in Tallaght. Classified by Sport Ireland as a strenuous route, the trail combines quiet forest tracks, exposed granite ridges, historic lanes and low-traffic county roads. While the full line takes roughly 12.5 hours to complete, the route is deliberately split into eight manageable stages, allowing walkers to tackle a single valley, a weekend ridge-hop, or the entire crossing at their own pace.

The trail is fully way-marked with a yellow walking-man symbol on a black background. Where it shares a path with the Wicklow Way, dual plaques read “DMW / WW”. Dogs are welcome provided they are kept on a lead, and the route is free to use. The only likely cost is parking at your chosen trailhead.

If you have a single half-day rather than a long-distance plan, start at the Shankill end. The first 6 km through Rathmichael and Carrickgollogan woods give you the ruined Lead Mines chimney and broad views over the bay for a fraction of the effort the high granite ridges demand, and you finish back near the DART. Save Three Rock and Two Rock for a clear day; in low cloud the exposed tops are just wind and bog.

Trail Stages & Highlights

The DMW is designed to be walked in sections, each offering distinct scenery and historical context:

  • Shankill to Rathmichael: Begins beside Brady’s Pub and follows a historic lane past the 12th-century Fassaroe Cross. Walkers cross the M11 via a pedestrian bridge before entering woodland.
  • Carrickgollogan & Barnaslingan: Features the narrow glacial overflow known as The Scalp and the stone ruin of the Ballycorus lead-mines chimney, a reminder of the area’s 19th-century industrial past.
  • Kilternan & Glencullen: Passes through a village built from local granite (much of which was used in Dublin’s GPO). Stops include Johnnie Fox’s Pub (est. 1798), a Carnegie library and old church ruins.
  • Three Rock & Two Rock (Fairy Castle): Climbs to the trail’s highest point (537 m). The summit offers panoramic views and hosts remnants of a passage tomb, Bronze-age cairns and a trig pillar.
  • Tibradden Mountain: Home to a chambered cairn with a distinctive spiral-pattern stone. The nearby Zip-it Adventure Centre provides a seasonal break for families.
  • Cruagh Wood: A mixed coniferous plantation with a memorial to botanist H.C. Hart. An optional spur leads to Massy’s Estate and the Hell Fire Club ruins.
  • Glenasmole Valley: A Special Area of Conservation known for orchid-rich grasslands and quiet river paths. The valley floor supports rare species like the Green-winged Orchid and Yellow Archangel.
  • Bohernabreena Waterworks & Tallaght: Winds past the Upper and Lower reservoirs (built 1883-87), important habitats for whooper swans and little grebes, before finishing at Sean Walsh Park near the Luas Red Line.

History & Development

The concept of a cross-mountain trail originated in the 1980s, but progress stalled after a 1988 Department of Energy veto. Momentum returned in May 2008 when the Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) – a coalition of Coillte, South Dublin County Council, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Dublin Mountains Initiative – revived the project.

Volunteers played a crucial role in the build, including staff from Google and members of the Irish Ramblers Club, who upgraded paths, installed way-marks and constructed features like the sleepered bog bridge on Tibradden Mountain. The first official opening took place on 19 June 2009 (Tibradden to Cruagh Wood) by Minister Éamon Ó Cuív. The complete east-to-west route was inaugurated on 31 October 2010 at a ceremony in Ticknock Forest. The trail has since received a Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award (2011) and a European Ramblers’ Association Eco Award for its environmental management.

Practical Information & Transport

  • Start / End Points:
    • East – Shankill village, Main Street beside Brady’s Pub. Parking is available at the Shankill DART station car-park (€3 per day).
    • West – Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght. Multiple car-parks serve the area, including the Square Shopping Centre.
  • Public Transport:
    • Shankill – DART (Connolly → Shankill) and Dublin Bus E1 or 44.
    • Barnaslingan – Dublin Bus 44.
    • Glencullen – Dublin Bus 44b (weekdays only; stops at Johnnie Fox’s).
    • Tibradden/Cruagh – Local Link SD4 (Saturday service, expanded in September 2024).
    • Bohernabreena – Local Link SD03 (Saturday service).
    • Tallaght – Luas Red Line and numerous Dublin Bus routes.
  • Facilities: Johnnie Fox’s Pub (open 7 days) and the GAP Kitchen at Glencullen Adventure Park (Wed-Sun), the Zip-it café (Tibradden), and the Glenasmole Community Centre (coffee and toilets, Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00).
  • Current Diversions: Following Storm Darragh, Barnaslingan Wood remains closed. A signed detour via Barnaslingan Lane is in place. Temporary diversions also operate in Rathmichael Wood and near the Tallaght finish due to housing developments.
  • Maps: Download the official PDF brochure from the DMP website or request a paper copy by emailing info@dublinmountains.ie. Detailed stage maps and GPX files are available online.

Seasonal Walking & Wildlife

The DMW changes character with the seasons. Spring brings a carpet of wildflowers to Glenasmole Valley, where the Green-winged Orchid and Small-white Orchid peak between April and June. Birdwatchers visiting the Bohernabreena reservoirs during this period can often spot migrating whooper swans. Summer offers the clearest visibility from the exposed ridges of Three Rock and Two Rock, while the Zip-it centre operates at full capacity. Autumn colours the mixed woodlands of Cruagh and Tibradden, and the cooling air makes the steep climbs more manageable. Winter requires caution; exposed mountain sections and the bog bridge on Tibradden can become icy, so sturdy boots and gaiters are strongly recommended.

Safety & Leave No Trace

Over 40% of the route follows quiet county roads. High-visibility clothing is advised for these sections, and walkers should stick to the right-hand side of the road, using footpaths where available. The trail’s way-marking is reliable, but dual signage on Two Rock and painted tree markers in Barnaslingan require extra attention. Carry a paper map (OS Discovery Series 50 14) or a downloaded GPX file as a backup to mobile navigation apps.

Leave No Trace principles apply throughout. Pack out all litter, stay on way-marked paths to protect fragile peat and orchid habitats, and keep dogs on a lead to safeguard livestock and nesting birds. In an emergency, dial 999 and reference the nearest landmark (e.g., “near The Scalp, Barnaslingan”). Mobile coverage is generally strong, though it can drop on the highest ridges.

Walkers who complete all eight stages can email their postal address to info@dublinmountains.ie and the Partnership will post out an official Dublin Mountains Way badge.