Donard: Fauna Loop and Ogham Heritage

Donard lies in the heart of the Glen of Imaal. For trip planning, the Fauna Loop, trails through the surrounding hills and local cultural sites offer some concrete points of reference. These features differ in scale: the loop starts and ends in the village centre, while the trails mentioned can be explored through the surrounding hills. The village’s history is reflected, among other things, in the fort and the Ogham stone.

The Fauna Loop and its route sections

The Fauna Loop starts and ends in the centre of Donard. From there, the route first follows a narrow country road for 1.8 km to a 4.3 km circular walk through forest trails. The two figures describe different sections: the 1.8 km stretch follows the country road to the circular walk; the forest-trail loop itself is 4.3 km long. This lets you understand the route in terms of its sections without conflating the approach with the loop.

The forest trails of the Fauna Loop offer views across the Glen of Imaal. This route therefore combines the route itself with the surrounding landscape: the first section follows a narrow country road, then the circular walk continues through forest trails. This distinction is useful when comparing the route description with your other plans.

Hill trails and elevations in the Glen of Imaal

From Donard, you can explore trails through the surrounding hills. The named peaks include Table Mountain at 702 m, Church Mountain at 546 m, Lugnaquilla at 924 m and Keadeen at 655 m. Comparing their elevations gives a concrete sense of the range: at 924 m, Lugnaquilla is the highest of the four peaks listed, while Church Mountain, at 546 m, is the lowest. The other elevations are 655 m and 702 m. Together with the views across the Glen of Imaal, these hills shape the landscape around Donard.

The fort’s history and Donard Ogham Stone

The name Donard derives from Dún Ard, meaning “high fort”. Ruins of this fort are still partly visible above the village. The name and the visible remains connect the village’s history to the landscape above it.

The Donard Ogham Stone is another piece of evidence of the past. It is now located on the village green in Donard Village and was moved there from its original site at Avoca Rathdrum. It is one of the few Ogham stones in County Wicklow. Its current location in the village and its original site are two distinct stages in its history. The inscription may read “LAQINI KOI MAQI MUC”; this reading remains uncertain.

The stone circle south of Donard

South of Donard, in Castleruddery Lower, lies the Castleruddery Bronze Age stone circle. Its originally unbroken inner circle comprises 29 large stones. Some stand upright, while others lie flat; a low earthen bank surrounds the circle. The number of stones, their different positions and the bank give an idea of the layout of this archaeological site. Along with the Ogham stone and fort remains, the stone circle offers another distinct perspective on the heritage around Donard.

County Wicklow: wider natural and cultural context

Beyond Donard, County Wicklow offers a regional context of its own. Wicklow Mountains National Park covers 20,000 hectares and is an important recreational area for locals and tourists. The Wicklow Way was Ireland’s first waymarked long-distance trail. County Wicklow also has more than 50 walking trails, which can be selected by length, location, type, theme and difficulty. As the available routes may change, it is worth checking the latest information before planning a specific hike.

Glendalough is also part of the County Wicklow context: Saint Kevin founded a monastery there in the 6th century. The remains of Glendalough’s Monastic City include a round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and decorated crosses. The monastic site adds another chapter of regional heritage to Donard’s local connections.

In Kilmacurragh, Rhododendron Week takes place each year in April. If you are planning a trip for this time, check the event dates in advance. Donard’s trails and heritage, together with the wider County Wicklow themes, can thus be considered at different scales when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Ballinalea, Aughrim, Rathdrum, An Láithreach, Avoca, Woodenbridge, Hollywood, Arklow.

For the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.