Ticknock Wood boasts up to 10km of mountain and forest walks with some spectacular views of Dublin City, Dublin Bay, Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains.
Taking about 1.75 hours to complete, the Ticknock Fairy Castle Loop is moderate in grade and climbs 210m overall.
The trail traverses forest road and path over 5.5km through Three Rock Wood and boasts superb Dublin views from Three Rock Mountain (444m above sea level) and Two Rock Mountain - also known as Fairy Castle (536m above sea level). The loop then overlaps a little with the Dublin Mountains Way and the Wicklow Way before returning to its start point.
Nearby Sandyford is a great place to stop off after your loop for a welcome cup of tea or a bite to eat.
• Bring a picnic! There are plenty of picnic sites to stop off at in Ticknock Wood.
• The cairn at Fairy Castle, the summit of Two Rock Mountain, offers fantastic views over Dublin and its surrounds.
• As well as a stone cairn, Fairy Castle is also marked by the remains of an ancient passage tomb. Archaeologists believe that the tomb has never been opened and that its interior contains a small burial chamber.
