Wicklow Way — Glenmalure Valley Dispersed Camp

Glenmalure is the longest glacial valley in Ireland and one of the most isolated corners of Wicklow. The valley floor runs along the Avonbeg River, and dispersed camping is practiced along the river flats and forestry margins under Ireland’s open-access land ethic — Leave No Trace principles apply strictly. The Military Road (R115) drops into the valley head at Drumgoff, where a small car park and the ruins of a British garrison barracks sit quietly. No facilities. No services. Just a surreal green valley that feels far more remote than its 50km distance from Dublin suggests.

Access into the valley bottom is via a narrow, steep descent from the Military Road junction — high-clearance is recommended for the rougher forestry tracks. The tarmac approach is manageable in any vehicle but can be slick in wet weather. Bring all your water filtration — the Avonbeg flows clear and cold but should always be treated. The valley road is a dead end; you come back the same way you went in.

Ireland's deepest glacial valley. No crowds.