Glenmalure is a beautiful valley located in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland, and it offers some excellent hiking opportunities. The most popular hikes in Glenmalure are Lugnaquilla and the Wicklow Way long-distance walking route. Most hiking trails in the area focus on long distances and high altitudes, which don’t always suit kids.
Hiking with kids in Glenmalure can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s important to choose a trail that’s appropriate for their age and ability level. Below, are some trails and tips for Kid friendly Hikes in Glenmalure Wicklow:
Hike 1- Shay Elliott Carpark to Cullentragh Little Moutain
We did this great little walk lately with all the kids and they absolutely loved every second of it. Our 6-year-old ran most of it and our 4-year-old tried her best to keep up with her older sister. If you want to bring your buggy be prepared to carry the child for the last section.
Start in the Shay Elliot car park here. It’s not a long walk and the trail is very sheltered from the elements until the very last section.
Hike key points
- 1.6km each way 3.2km total
- 95% buggy friendly- carrier required for the last 300m
- Nice sheltered woodland walk
- Amazing views of the Glendalough and Glenmalure valleys
- Perfect for all ages
- Allow 2 hours to walk this
Hiking route below: The route is not signposted but if you stay on the main path you can’t miss the mountain. This is a great starter walk for Kid friendly Hikes in Glenmalure Wicklow
Hike 2- The 3 waterfalls Glenmalure
The 3 waterfalls are called the Coolalingo Waterfalls. The Coolalingo waterfalls are perfect for kids of all ages to explore. I would give a word of caution, there is no real path to the waterfall and the route to the waterfalls are steep and on a main road. If you are cautious while exploring this should not cause a problem.
Secret waterfall Glenmalure Key points
- 1km down and 1 km return walk
- Small 200m road walk
- No signs
- Spectacular waterfalls
- No crowds even in summer
Step by Step directions to the SECRET waterfall:
Park here
Walk 200m down the road until you see a tree with a small pile of stones.
Enter the wood. The path leads to the left and right. Turn left and down the forest toward the stream. The path zig-zags down until you reach the river bed. Walk back upstream until you see the waterfalls.
Hike 3- Carrawaystick Waterfall
(Unfortunately, this is now closed)
Carrawaystick waterfall is a really nice waterfall to explore with the kids. This is one of the starting points to hike Lugnaquilla but you can still go and only explore this wonderful waterfall and a small walk around the base of the mountain.
We recommend not bringing kids younger than 5 to Lugnaquilla mountain on this route. Walk out to the waterfall and explore the area, the kids will love it.
Key points Carrawaystick Waterfall
- You have to park on the side of the road
- A lovely footbridge underneath the waterfall
- less than 1km walk
Hike 4-Baravore loop walk
The start of Baravore loop walk begins at the end of Glenamlure valley road. The start point has a large car park with lots of space. The loop walk is 6km long with steep sections. This walk is possible for young kids but can be challenging. If you don’t feel your kids are able for the full walk they can do a small section and turn around. There are footbridges and great views of the valley and river from the start of the walk. This is a great place for kids to explore.
Key points for Baravore loop walk
- Starting point here
- Suitable for kids 3-4 years plus
- Section of river walks
- Great views of the valley
- Small steep sections
- 2-3 hours to complete with lots of breaks
- 6km long
- Well signposted
Food Recommendations
Now, to one of the best parts of any hike, snacks and treats. We have a couple of good food recommendations after your hike. We always give the kids treats after a nice family walk. We have eaten in The Glenmalure Lodge after a number of our hikes in Glenmalure and found it to be a very nice family-run pub.
If you are going back to Laragh, the Wicklow Heather serves an amazing lunch or dinner, we highly recommend it for dinner.
