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Site Names:

Slievethoul and Lugg

National Grid Reference

O 023 236  Understanding grid references

Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series:

50

Location

Approximately 10km south of Tallaght along the N81, near the village of Brittas.

How do I get there?

From the city centre, head to Tallaght, continue on the N81, in the direction of Blessington.  After the top of the Embankment Hill you see the Brittas Ponds on your right hand side. Take the second small right hand road before Brittas village.  Continue straight through the small crossroads and you will come to a forest on your left hand side.  There is a small parking bay at the black and yellow barrier at the bend in the road.  Here is the entrance to the forest.

Parking

Small layby at the forest barrier.  Take care not to block the forest entrance.

Toilets: none on this site.

Features:

• Walking Trails
• Archaeological site
• Viewing Points

Activities:

• Walking

Site Description

There are two waymarked trails in Slievethoul and Lugg Woods, providing a  pleasant walk with some lovely views to the south and east of the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains and northwest over the plains of Kildare.   

Slievethoul was formed from glacial deposits of sandstone, siltstone and shale laid down at the end of the last Ice Age.  Much of the hill has been replanted with spruce and larch. 

There are fine views from the summit and a wealth of archaeological sites with 5 monuments in and around Slievethoul Wood.  On the summit, there are 2 monuments, one is a megalithic tomb dating between 3500-3000BC. This monument consists of cairn, a chamber, a distinctive outer ring of monoliths and possible kerbstone on its northern side.  The other monument is a barrow or ring-barrow from the Bronze/Iron Age tradition (c.2400BC to 400AD). It consists of a circular or oval raised area defined by a low internal bank surrounded by a ditch. 

The Saggart Hill loop extends 3.8km and is graded easy and waymarked with green.  The second longer loop, 8.7km in length, includes the loop of Slievethoul and nearby Lugg Wood. It is graded moderate and waymarked with orange discs.  Please take care walking the small section of public road between the two forests.

Slievethoul Wood Trail(s)

• Saggart Hill Loop (4 km / 1 hr / Easy) - Green way marker
• Slievethoul Lugg Loop (8.5 km / 2 hr / Moderate) - Orange way marker
• Download all trails map
• Coillte Slievethoul & Lugg

For more information on all Coillte's recreational sites visit http://www.coillte.ie/our-forests/explore/