Thanks to David Flanagan for kindly providing this route, complete with turn by turn directions and a Strava route map from where you can obtain the GPX files for this ride.. In his brilliant book, Cycling in Ireland, you will find over 80 great cycling routes with something for everyone, across the whole island.
Lugnaquilla : Distance 72km, Elevation 1570m
A tough circuit of Wicklow’s highest mountain that takes in many of Wicklow’s classic climbs. This route is a real test of the legs and would be a great training ride for the Wicklow 200 with which it shares some ground.
It starts with a long climb before plenty of rolling ground in the middle section and then finishes with two more tough climbs in quick succession.
The route is best done anti-clockwise to get the biggest climb finished early and to take advantage of the prevailing wind on the last two climbs.
From Laragh (53.0084, -6.2974) head west along the R756. The first few kilometres before the turn for Glendalough are flat and a good warm up for the 6.7km climb over Wicklow Gap. It’s a steady 5% gradient along a somewhat busy road which was taken by the Tour de France when it visited
Ireland in 1998. The turn for the hydroelectric station at Turlough Hill marks the finish and it’s a fast descent with some sweeping bends down the other side.
Turning left off the main road onto a small boreen leads through a narrow valley. Turn left at the junction and head south through the village of Donard into the Glen of Imaal. Here the terrain is rolling but the hills get bigger as you head further south.
Swinging east you meet the start of the Military Road in Aghavannagh and start the second big climb over Slieve Mann (3.2km 7.8%). After a fast descent into Glenmalure you immediately start the last climb (3.0km 7.8%) of the day. Known as the Shay Elliot after the memorial stone at the top in honour of Elliot, the first Irish cyclist to make a mark as a professional rider in Europe. From the top a winding descent leads back into Laragh.
COFFEE STOPS
There is a shop and pub in Donard and Glenmalure Lodge at the crossroads in Glenmalure serves food and drink. There is also a café, restaurant and pub in Laragh.
TURN BY TURN DIRECTIONS
0 0 S From Laragh head west on the R756.
1.6 1.6 > Keep right at the fork.
20.5 22.1 < Turn left (signposted “St. Kevin’s Way“). 3.2 25.3 < Turn left at the junction. 2.2 27.5 < Keep left at the fork. 5.0 32.5 < Turn left at the t-junction. 4.2 36.7 > Turn right.
2.1 38.8 ^ Go straight through the crossroads.
0.7 39.5 < Keep left at the fork.
4.3 43.8 < Turn left.
5.3 49.1 < Turn left at the crossroads.
13.9 63.0 ^ Go straight through the crossroads.
7.6 70.6 < Turn left onto the R755.
1.4 72.0 F Arrive back in Laragh.
