Directions from Enniskerry to Knockree Hill

Entering Enniskerrry on the Bray Road (R117) keep straight up the hill passing the Clock-tower on your left. Keep on this road up the hill and keep to the left for Glencree (not right for Glencullen). After this junction look out for a sign for Powerscourt waterfall. Take this road to the left and at the first junction with a sign for Knockree hostel turn right. After the hostel there is a parking area.

There is no on-line map of the area but Google's Satellite image shows the route for the two walks. The parking area is betweem Glaskinny and Lackandarragh Upper. The first stage of the first walk is along the same road you have driven towards Burnamire. Before you reach that destination there is an entrance to a forest on the right. The satellite image shows the forest road as a sharp v. There is a less defined twisted tail to this v which is a trail back to the public road. The forest road that forms the bottom of the v and the trail back to the public road are part of the Wicklow Way.

The route along along the public road has a steady climb with a pleasant view into Glencree valley.

The forest road has a steady upward gradient until you reach the track that leads back to the public road. 

But why not go higher and climb to the top of Knockree hill? 

You will complete the journey in about 2 hours as against 1 hour if you return now.

To do this take the next leg of the v shape forest road. There is a futher climb ahead of you but there is a seat awaiting for you at the top of the v. 
If you go back to the google image there is a less distinct line at right angle to the v leg, this is a trail that will take you to the top of the hill. Nearer the top note (from the surrounding mountains) what direction you are coming from, because it can be confusing when returning.

The scenery that awaits those who venture to the top.

Deer Stalking

Coming down from the hill I was confronted by this inquisitive deer. The incident reminded me of once when I was in Nepal. I was was walking on a track that went down to a stream with stepping stones to get across. Beside the stones there was a pool where two water buffaloes were lazily lying down against the midday heat. The locals were busily crossing on the stones, but when I approached the eyes of those beasts changed from slits to six inch circles and within seconds they were up and up that stream as fast as their legs could carry them. The locals after they had got over their laughing explained to me by sign language that it was my bulk not my colour that frightened them.

Returning to the junction of the two legs of the v there is a track in the same direction of the first leg that will take you back to the public road.

But it is steep and when wet will be slippery.

The second walk is from Lackandarragh Upper to Crone. To view Crone you will slightly have to move the Google map up. The two public roads should be seen on the one frame with the two mentioned locations. The Google image should show a faint outline of a forest road just right of Lackandarragh Upper at approx. 20 degrees. This forest road does straight for a while then curves and finally ends in a right angle at the rivers edge.

Following the Wicklow Way through the forest entrance (which should be where you parked your car). After a while on the forest road a trial to the left is indicated as the Wicklow Way. This way is steep down to the river and if the ground is wet a slightly better route may be to continue along the forest road down almost to the rivers edge then follow a trial along the bushes parallel to the river. This trial will necessitate you keeping your head low but it even gets worse, due to lack of use the trial will end and you will have to blaze your own to reach the fence and the style that should be slightly below you. Maybe it would be better to stick to the official route? Follow the river trial until you come to the bridge and then the forest road will take you to Crone.

Again the outline of this forest road will be seen on the Google image connecting with public road just left of Crone. Connecting these two forest roads the twisty contour of the river should be seen with darker vegetation to the bottom. Unfortunately the return is the same route but the scenery will certainly make up for this.

A nice change from plantation forest is the river and meadow.