Francis Bradleyrevisits one of his first hillwalks, now a Co Wicklow gem
MORE THAN 30 years ago, shod with liberally dubbined boots and carrying a spine-breaker of a backpack, I embarked on one of my earliest hillwalks, at Ballinastoe Wood. There were no trailmarkers, and all you had was your map and compass.
Some things have changed a lot since then and some haven't. I still carry too much gear, but Ballinastoe has become one of those little gems on the Co Wicklow landscape. Besides offering a variety of trails - which can link up with the Wicklow Way, more of which later - the wood offers graded cycle trails, and praise should be heaped on Coillte for its efforts in developing this facility. This development brings new risks, however, and walkers should be alert to the presence of cyclists in the area.
Another change is that a lot more people are out in the hills nowadays. On this occasion, even before I started out, a coach arrived with 20 or so transition-year students and their teachers.
Starting from the car park, head up the forest trail and, after a short distance, turn right at stone gateposts, continuing on an equally good trail. Take note of an electric wire on wooden poles crossing overhead; turn left here. Continue up this rough track, following the poles and crossing other trails, until a corner of the forest meets open country.
Cross the fence and follow the trail along the right-hand boundary of the forest. This is the most taxing part of the walk, but you are on good ground, and it continues for only about a kilometre.
If Djouce Mountain is on your itinerary don't be tempted to cut the corner and head cross-country, as the ground is very rough, and a fool and his energy will be soon parted. Instead, when you reach the shoulder of White Hill you will encounter the Wicklow Way, which stretches 127km from Dublin to Clonegal, in Co Carlow.
The route, devised by the hillwalker JB Malone over 40 years, opened up the Dublin and Wicklow mountains to thousands of walkers.
One of the negative aspects of this popularity is that there has been huge erosion on several parts of the way, so the National Parks & Wildlife Service has laid a path of wooden sleepers in selected areas, to allow nature to regenerate.
Purists may not be happy, but you can cover a lot of ground very quickly on this path. So when you reach the Wicklow Way track turn right - and off you go.
After little more than a kilometre the Wicklow Way breaks right and contours around Djouce. Leave the way here and continue uphill on a well- defined stony track passing old metal fence posts on the way.
Sticking to this track will lead you to the top of Djouce. Unfortunately, erosion is all too evident on this popular summit, and perhaps it was best that I couldn't see more than 100m because of cloud.
Making an about-turn, follow the track back down to the Wicklow Way and continue on this trail as it passes the point where you joined it. After a few minutes the trail drops down to reveal magnificent views of Lough Tay, Luggala, Lough Dan, flat-topped Turlough Hill in the distance and, if clear, Lugnaquillia, farther afield. Only a few metres farther on you will encounter JB Malone's memorial, under a large boulder.
After soaking in the views continue along the Wicklow Way as it descends into a dark forest. Farther on a signpost directs you right to a stile and on to a forest trail. At this point you leave the way and go left; about 500m farther on fork right. You are now on your way back to the car park.
Ballinastoe Wood, Co Wicklow
Start/finishBallinastoe Wood car park, Co Wicklow.
How to get thereBy car or bike. Coming from Dublin on the Roundwood road (R755), turn right at Ballinastoe crossroads (Djouce Golf Club). Continue for 1,500m; turn left at the T-junction. Ballinastoe Wood is up a few metres on the right.
DistanceAbout 10km.
TimeAbout three hours.
MapOrdnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series 56.
SuitabilityFor all ages. Know how to read a map and use a compass. Dress appropriately, bring drinks and snacks - and don't litter.
RefreshmentsRoundwood and Kilmacanogue.