Lough Dan House

The Lough Dan House is listed as a Bed & Breakfast, but it is so much more than that. For us it was breakfast, boxed lunch and gourmet dinner. Situated adjacent to Wicklow Way, it offers hiking in some of the most beautiful mountains in Ireland. Most days you can start hiking right when you walk out the door and be in beautiful nature landscape within minutes. Owners Sean & Teresa Byrne could not be more accommodating. We were fortunate that Teresa’ schedule allowed her to hike with us and she has a wealth of knowledge about the area - its history and people. One day the three of us including Teresa were late getting back to the house and she still whipped up a three course dinner in no time. If you love hiking in beautiful mountain settings, great food, and wonderful hosts, the Lough Dan House is a must do if you are anywhere in Ireland. We would not think twice about going back and enjoying ourselves again!

If you are considering walking the Wicklow Way, I would highly encourage you to base your walk at the Lough Dan House. This is my second time staying here and intend it to be an annual tradition. The Byrne family are some of the kindest and hardest working people you will encounter. Their knowledge of the trails and history of the land will be a great aide to you on your hikes. By doing an all-inclusive self guided walking trip, you will avoid wasting time with airport transfer, having to pack up and move your bags each day, forage for lunch, and feeling unsettled. In addition, there are some stretches of the trail that pale in comparison to some of the walks around Lough Dan that you can do instead. Kanturk/ Scarr Mountain is an amazing walk you can do right from the house door. And there is no walk better than coming down Luggala Valley and around Lough Dan. You can access several parts of the Wicklow Way right out the door, and for those that may be a bit away such as the Glendalough-Spinc&Glenealo route, they can drop you at the trailhead and pick you up when you are finished. Theresa will also pack you a tasty lunch so you have no worries about finding food. The breakfasts and dinners are exceptional and the people you meet along the way make the journey priceless and memorable.

We stayed here one night as part of our Wicklow Way hike. Beautiful accommodation in a rural setting. The evening meal was one of the best we ate in Ireland - prepared by Theresa - delicious. The breakfast was outstanding as well. A very comfortable room, perfect after a long day of hiking.