The Murrough - Co. Wicklow

The Murrough extends for about 15Km along the Wicklow coast from the pier at Wicklow harbour, up to Newtownmountkennedy. It is classed as a coastal wetland. However it is perfectly cycleable. it is more sandy than boggy. It is very popular for walkers, but because of its length the walkers tend to turn back at about the 3Km mark. After that you have it to yourself and the birds. I say the birds because this area is a Special area of conservation, so please stick to the trail, so as not to disturb wildlife. The trail itself is single track and extends on and on around the coast. It is a mixture of sand and shingle with grassy overgrowth. It is as flat as a pancake with a few undulations so you do get an off-road feel. 

Now you may be thinking. There is no mountain - no hill - no forrest, and this is a mountain bike trail?Yes, but there are two reasons that I mention it here. The first reason is that we often meet people that want to start mountain biking, but really have not cycled in about 20years. For them it is perfect because it is not technically difficult to cycle and the Murrough still gives the rider an off road feel, so it will warm up the springs on their new Specialized FSR XC. The other reason is that sometimes you just want an easy spin to clear your head and you don't want to have to contend with traffic.

The Murrough offers beautiful views of Wicklow bay and the fresh sea air. I like to cycle it best in the early morning and late evening. It's a good idea to go with someone else because this area becomes very remote as you travel north. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to cycle from the car park at north and back. Try to do it on a calm day because it can be quite windy. It's no fun if you are cycling 15Km into a head wind when you are on your way back. The final word of warning is that swimming is not recommended along the more northerly stretch because of a steep shoreline. So if you feel like jumping off the bike and diving in, wait until you get back to the harbour area.

Note: The Murrough is an area under attack from the sea and is currently eroding at a rate of 0.3m per annum. So enjoy it while you can. 

Find your way to Wicklow town. From the Dublin Road continue on to the main street in the town, there is a triangular memorial in the centre of the road. Take the fork on the left and continue straight over a bridge, keep left and continue north for about 2Km. The car park to the bay is on your right, and the murrough continues left to the north.