wicklowcountywalks A pictorial guide to walks in the beautiful Irish county of Wicklow Djouce Woods

A pictorial guide to walks in the beautiful Irish county of Wicklow
And a pleasant chat along the way

Djouce Woods

Homepage Map of Djouce Woods
Google Map
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Road Directions from Enniskerry to Djouce Woods Entering Enniskerrry on the Bray Road (R117) turn left before the Clock-tower onto the R760. Turn right at the first T junction and turn left at the second T Junction keeping to the main road on both occasions. Turn right after the second T Junction up Old Long Hill towards Roundwood. The Woods will be on your right, 5.5Km from Enniskerry.

	Djouce Woods is a conifer forest with almost no other types of trees. You will be rewarded with the singing of birds, a fine view of the mountains, Powercourt Waterfall, small streams in the forest, wild flowers and sometimes deer.
There are two official walks listed for Djouce Woods. The larger is just an extension of the smaller. If there has not been too much rain in recent days I would suggest a third walk. Park in the lower car park that is the first that you come to when travelling from Enniskerry. Take the forest road which is at right angle to the public road (above photo) and continue down the hill. This forest road forms the start of the two official forest walks (Deerpark Trail and the Short Trail). You will pass a small branch track on the left.(Photo left) This trail is the return for the both official walks and this suggested walk you are now on.
At the lowest point of the forest road on the right there is an entrance to two smaller tracks. Take the one on the left hand that goes almost in the same direction that you have been travelling in. You are now leaving the two official walks. (Photo below)	If you feel that you that you have had enough, and do not wish to descend any further, then continue on the forest road up the hill. Almost at the top there is a track on the left hand with a short very steep climb.(Photo below) It is worth taking this track as the rest of the track is almost all downhill and you are rewarded with a fine view of Powercourt Waterfall. Avoid any side tracks to the right and you will arrive back at the forest road near to the car park. If you do this walk you would have completed the official Short Trail.

Continue downhill until you meet a T junction, turn left and the new track will shortly start to climb. You will be rewarded by the sound of a small stream and later the sight of a small waterfall. (Photo left)

(Above Two Photos)

This track will end in a turning area for logging trucks but before it does look out for a very rough track leading down to the stream indicated by a red arrow on a stump.
The stream you will have to cross and ascend the short steep track on the other side.

If it has been raining hard the steam can be swollen and the track muddy, but if you can make it it is worthwhile.

At the top of the short incline take the left hand. The right will take you down to the Powercourt Waterfall, but if you go a short distance you will meet the ghostly residents of this former Powercourt estate - the dead standing trunks of broad leaf trees . You are now on a zig- zag

bridle path

(Photo right) that pre-dates the forest and you will be thankful to Sir Richard Wingfield (who obviously had a concerned for his horses) for the gradient is small and you will not loose a foot, going downhill again, until you reach the top and pass “The Deerpark Cave” on your right

The Deerpark Cave.

Don't be deceived by the humble appearance of this small cave.
It is not just a rusty old tunnel for transporting water under the road.
It has been surveyed and it's ancent origins discussed in a scientific paper of 2004.

For more information click

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
Micah chapter 5 verse 2

	Continue up to the juction, keep to the flat avoiding the turn to the right, (Photo left) unless you want to climb again and continue on the official Deerpark trail. If you had been on that walk, you would have continued up the the forest road, at the top turned right and entered this photo from the left.
At the next junction turn right and circle the Paddock Ponds (Photo right) that once fed the famous Powercourt fountains. The now defunct pounds were the product of the above named gentleman. They were in existence up until Hurricane Charlie in 1986. This hurricane bounced off America and crossed Ireland bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The retaining mud wall were breached and one or two road bridges were washed away downstream in the flood that followed.


On the way to the end of the pounds you will met a brick boathouse on the left hand. At the end of the pounds you again meet the Deerpark trail coming from your right. Once again you will have to cross over a stream to continue on your journey. Continue and you will meet the forest road head on and now take the already mentioned side track with a short steep gradient (now on your right hand) back to the car park


A view of Powercourt Waterfall from Djouce Woods Powerscourt Waterfall is Ireland's highest at 398 feet. It has been a tourist attraction for over 200 years. The foreground has recently been de-forested but natural regrowth and organised planting will soon hide the landscape scares.
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