On County Wicklow’s Maulin on a wind-swept Saturday

Dubliners are particularly fortunate to have at their

doorstep Dublin Bay and the Dublin and Wicklow mountains.

The weather forecast for yesterday was for some

showers. Not a shower to be seen or felt on our climb to Maulin yesterday. But it was windy. Wind speed was approximately 40 knots at the top of Maulin. As on most mountains, it is an exposed spot and there were moments yesterday where it was difficult to stand.

While it was low cloud for most of the day, just as we got to the top there was partial clearance and The Kish Bank Lighthouse came into view as did the two stacks of the Pigeon House. Dublin Bay is simply a beauty to behold.

Maulin is an easy climb, standing at 570 metres west of the Great Sugar Loaf, north of Djouce and south east of Kippure.

Much weathering has occurred and the direct path down from the mountain was extremely slippery yesterday. It’s steep too.

It’s clear the number of people taking to the hills is growing. The car park at Crone Wood was busy and there is now an electronic gate, which closes in winter at 17.00. Fee for late departure is €50.