Sugar Loaf Way
Walking Trail · Wicklow
Sugar Loaf Way is a 4.5 km strenuous waymarked linear route in Wicklow, starting near Kilmacanogue.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Kilmacanogue 1916 Commemorative Garden, near Kilmacanogue.
Finishes at Red Lane Car Park.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.16782, -6.13762
- Irish Grid reference
- O 245 146
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 56
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
Bus - 3 buses pass through Kilmacanogue
About the trail
This walk winds its way through charming little country roads, greenways, narrow lanes bordered with old stone walls, then open mountain and finishes on a well-used path. It takes the walker along the foothills of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain on what was an original coach road, then climbing through open mountain grazing. As it climbs wonderfully spectacular views open up of Little Sugar Loaf, Bray Head, Carrigoona, Djouce and Maulin as well as the Powerscourt Estate and the Deerpark.
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Wicklow Uplands Council
Wicklow Uplands Council Office, Tel: 01 2818406, email [email protected]
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Belmont Ground Control Loop 2.6 km away · 1 km trail
- Belmont Hike and Bike Loop (Full) 2.6 km away · 2.6 km trail
- Belmont Hike and Bike Loop (Medium) 2.6 km away · 2.2 km trail
- Belmont Hike and Bike Loop (Short) 2.6 km away · 1.7 km trail
- Belmont Live Wire Loop (Full) 2.6 km away · 2.8 km trail
- Belmont Live Wire Loop (Medium) 2.6 km away · 2.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Sugar Loaf Way?
4.5 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 295 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
How hard is the Sugar Loaf Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Strenuous, with an overall difficulty of Challenging. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Sugar Loaf Way start?
Starts at Kilmacanogue 1916 Commemorative Garden, near Kilmacanogue. The trailhead is at 53.16782, -6.13762 (Irish Grid O 245 146).
Can you bring a dog on the Sugar Loaf Way?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Can you get to the Sugar Loaf Way without a car?
Bus - 3 buses pass through Kilmacanogue.
Who manages the Sugar Loaf Way?
Wicklow Uplands Council. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Wicklow
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.