TAKE a look at this magical forest with beautiful walking trails, tall trees and incredible views – and it’s just an hour away from Dublin.
The Ballinastoe Woods Walk is situated in Sraghmore, Co Wicklow and it’s close to the popular Wicklow Way – a 131km long-distance trail that crosses the famous Wicklow Mountains.
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The woodlands look like they could easily be ‘The Forbidden Forest’ in the popular Harry Potter franchise – an ominous wooded area with tall greens that is situated on the edges of Hogwarts.
Ballinastoe Woods Walk has an ominous atmosphere as there are plenty of dark shaded areas and high trees which are perfectly lined up with the slightly beaten trails.
And there is an incredible trail with wooden planks that leads into the deep of the forest, and it looks magical on any day, even if the weather is great or miserable – the vibes are out of this world.
The boardwalk trails look like they jumped straight out of the Harry Potter movies, and you may fully expect to see some mystical creatures that roam in the forest.
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However, you will likely have a better chance of seeing deers instead.
As you continue the trail, it eventually leads up to the top of the mountains, where it boasts incredible views of the Wicklow Mountains, a valley of serval woodlands and natural water bodies, including the famous Lough Tay.
There are several types of walks available at the woodlands, varying lengths, and they range from 30 minutes to 3.5 hours.
And it’s a popular spot for mountain biking due to the perfect terrain for it.
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There are three main car parks for the trails; the Pier Gates Car park only opens at the weekend from 9am to 7:20pm – more information about the opening hours is on the notice board in the area.
The second one is the Ballinastoe Mountain Bike Trail car park which features the Sli an Slainte trail and doesn’t include the famous wooden planks trail.
The third and main car park is the Ballinastoe Car Park, which is positioned at the top of the hill and is the perfect destination to start your walk.
The gorgeous Irish town of Roundwood is just a stone’s throw from the magical forest.
It provides many types of fantastic shops, cafes and restaurants, providing a great stop after your long walk.
Popular attractions nearby
For those looking for more after your adventure at the woodlands, there is another walking trail with a gorgeous lake shaped like a heart.
Lough Tay boasts gorgeous mountain views and a beach with bright white sands, making it a perfect relaxing spot for a picnic.
Due to the white sand at the top of the lake, it looks like the iconic Guinness pint, making it a popular landmark destination for tourists all over the world.
And for those who are driving and have plenty of time on their hands, the Sally Gap drive would be gorgeous to try out.
It would take you at least an hour to drive through without any stops and an hour and a half to two with stops.
The Sally Gap is a much more scenic route than the Wicklow Gap, and it boasts incredible mountain views with lakes and is the perfect area to catch the sun melting into the mountains.
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