The Saint Kevin's Way () is a pilgrim path in County Wicklow,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It is long and begins in the village of Hollywood, crosses the

Wicklow Gap Wicklow Gap () is one of the highest Irish mountain passes served by an asphalted road. It is located in County Wicklow, Ireland. Geography The pass is opened between Tonelagee (Nort east) and Turlough Hill / Camaderry (South). It connects ...

, and ends at the remains of the

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whi ...

Glendalough Glendalough (; ) is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead min ...

. An alternative spur route begins at

Valleymount Valleymount ( or ''An Chrois'') is a small village in western County Wicklow, Ireland. Location and transport Vallymount is located approximately 32km from Dublin city centre. Valleymount is at an average elevation of 198m above sea level and ...

and joins the main trail at Ballinagee Bridge. It is typically completed in one day. The trail follows in the footsteps of Caoimhín Naofa who crossed the

Wicklow Mountains The Wicklow Mountains (, archaic: ''Cualu'') form the largest continuous upland area in the Republic of Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into the counties of Dublin, Wexford and Carlow. ...

and founded the monastery at Glendalough in the 6th century. The journey later became a route of pilgrimage for visitors to Glendalough. It is one of a series of medieval pilgrim paths developed as walking trails by the

Heritage Council The Heritage Council ( ga, An Comhairle Oidhreachta) is an organisation created by the Irish government to "engage, educate and advocate to develop a wider understanding of the vital contribution that our heritage makes to our social, environmenta ...

. In 2016, Saint Kevin's Way became part of the new National Pilgrim Passport for Ireland. The new passport offers an opportunity to walk 125 km of Ireland’s medieval pilgrim paths, with stamping points at the conclusion of each participating path. On completion of all five paths, participants are entitled to an Irish Pilgrim Paths completion certificate (Teastas Oilithreachta) from

Ballintubber Abbey Ballintubber Abbey is an abbey 2 kilometres northeast of Ballintubber, Mayo in Ireland that was founded by King Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair in 1216. History Despite being suppressed and damaged during the Protestant Reformation, the roofles ...

, Co Mayo. The four routes currently in the Pilgrim Passport along with St Kevin’s Way are: Tochar Phádraig, Mayo; Cosán na Naomh, Kerry; Cnoc na dTobar, Kerry;

St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path Gougane Barra () is a scenic valley and heritage site in the Shehy Mountains of County Cork, Ireland. It is near Ballingeary in the Muskerry ''Gaeltacht''. Gougane Barra is at the source of the River Lee and includes a lake with an oratory b ...

, Cork.

See also

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