Recreation Sites

Tibradden Wood (Pine Forest)

Site Description

Coillte's Tibradden or Teach Bruadain (the house of Bruadain) lies between Cruagh and Kilmashogue mountains and is about 320m above sea level. It is in the midst of beautiful woods of Scots pine, Japanese larch, European larch, Sitka spruce, oak and beech. Examples of old pine woods planted in 1910 can still be seen. Heather, furze, gorse and bilberry grow in abundance and Sika deer, foxes and badgers are to be seen. There is also a good variety of bird life. The geology of the area is mainly granite and the southern slopes of the site are strewn with granite boulders.

The site is of archaeological interest in that there is a cairn and kist burial site on the south side of the rocks which mark the highest point on Tibradeen. The site is a registered National Monument and a burial urn taken from it is housed in the National Museum in Dublin.

Site Features

Walking Trails

Tibradden Mountain Trail (2.5 km / 2 hr / Moderate) - Red way marker

Download Map - All Trails

Coillte Tibradden

Aerial Trails

Operated by ZIPIT

ZIPIT Cabin

Permanent Orienteering Courses

Permanent Orienteering - Short Course Map
Permanent Orienteering - Medium Course Map
Permanent Orienteering - Long Course Map
Permanent Orienteering - All Controls Map
Permanent Orienteering Courses - Answer Sheet

Sky Walkers by Méadhbh O'Connor

Sky Walkers invites you to take a walk in the forests of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, stopping at key sites to listen and take a private moment to reflect. It features six meditative poems written and recorded by the artist Méadhbh O'Connor. The poems are set over ambient soundscapes.

One of the pieces, Tibradden, O'Connell's Rock is set in Tibradden. The poem can be listened to anywhere but they take on a special meaning if heard while walking or resting in Tibradden.

Nature and Place is a new series of temporary works, taking inspiration from the forests of Ticknock, Tibradden, Barnaslingan, Carrickgollogan, Kilmashogue and Ballyedmonduff. The selected artists were awarded funding by dlr Arts Office to develop the first three projects between December 2023 and March 2024. Supported by Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership.

Planning a Visit

When planning a visit to the Hell Fire Club please note the following:

Toilets: ZIPIT's customers can access their compost toilets. Otherwise no toilets on this site.

Bins: none, please follow Leave No Trace Ireland principles.

Public Transport

A new Local Link Kildare South Dublin Saturday service between Tibradden Wood and Tallaght has been operational since September 2024.

There are four services in each direction on Saturdays, see link to the timetable, the route name is SD4 Tibradden Wood to Tallaght. The bus also stops at Cruagh Wood and Hell Fire Club/Massy's Estate.

Location

Site Name: Tibradden Wood (Pine Forest)

16 kms approx south of Dublin City on the R116.

How do I get there?

Take the R116 Rathfarnham to Glencullen road for some 6kms south of Rathfarnham to the forest entrance marked Tibradden Pine Forest on the left hand side of the road. OR From the city centre, take the N81 south, direction Blessington. At Terenure continue straight on in the direction of Rathfarnham. The village is bypassed but continue on straight until you reach a right hand junction with a church on one side and Yellow House pub opposite. Turn right here onto Ballyboden road. Follow the R116 straight through the roundabout and after about 4 kilometres, you will meet a T-junction. At this point, the R116 turns sharp left heading for Glencullen. Follow the R116 and, very quickly after this turn, the entrance to Tibradden Forest will appear on your left.

National Grid Reference: O 138 230 Understanding grid references

Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series: 50

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Parking Information

Opening Hours

November to March (winter-time) : 07:00 to 17:00

April to October (summertime): 07:00 to 21:00

Car Spaces: 50

Parking fee: None

Note: When Met Eireann forecast snow/ice condition warnings are in place the car-park may be closed at short notice. In a Met Eireann 'Red' Wind warning, you should not enter any forest area. Updates on car-park and recreation site closures will be posted on the News page.