Dublin Mountains Seefinghan 4 peaks loop RFM Blue Line
Seafinghan 4 peaks loop
RFM Blue Line
31/08/25
This is a walk I have been contemplating for some time. I like the idea of being on top of a mountain with a city below. There were a few unexpected surprises. My version was longer than the classic 4 peak version as I added a couple of little bits. My route I would classify as hard. It consisted of 2 very steep slopes and a vast area of boggy land luckily it has been a dry summer or this would have been a tough ask to cross. The weather was mainly sunny but the wind was strong and the clouds were definitely gathering as the walk progressed but I got back before the rain came. The 2 burial mounds were spectacular as were the views. Seriously, this was an incredibly good walk, on the doorstep of Dublin, but overshadowed by the Wicklow Mountain National Park.
The road outside my accomodation is extremely narrow but luckily very quiet. My first view of part of my route in the early morning brightness.
The footpath up the hill towards Seechon, the first hill on my loop, was a wet spongy mess with thick vegetation hiding potential falls into deep channels. It was a bit of a slog getting up the hill safely.
The view back down the hill was pretty and the air very clear.
This walk circumnavigates the military rifle range but apart from the signs there was hardly any signs of any activity. These ranges are often brilliant unintended nature reserves.
This panoramic view of the rolling hills doesn't quite capture the difficulty and steepness of the climb—it just looks stunningly beautiful..
As I go higher the views just get better and better but the path in places is just a deep ravine. A new path has emerged through the heather but it is on the edge of the ravine and needs full concentration to avoid falling in.
As the path left the trees it flattened onto an open rolling hill to the summit but then the wind started to strengthen. I was absolutely loving the views despite the tough ascent.
The eroded trig point came into view quite quickly and the views of Dublin in the distance emerged. As a footnote I have noticed how the trig points in Ireland all seem to be heavily eroded. This asks the question are they maintained in the Uk because they all seem to be in good condition?
Looking back to Seechon and a view of Dublin beyond the bog at Barnahuiel. there is an aircrash site here but I could see no sign of it.
As I go higher the views just get better and better but the path in places is just a deep ravine. A new path has emerged through the heather but it is on the edge of the ravine and needs full concentration to avoid falling in.
As the path left the trees it flattened onto an open rolling hill to the summit but then the wind started to strengthen. I was absolutely loving the views despite the tough ascent.
The eroded trig point came into view quite quickly and the views of Dublin in the distance emerged. As a footnote I have noticed how the trig points in Ireland all seem to be heavily eroded. This asks the question are they maintained in the Uk because they all seem to be in good condition?
The views from the top of Seechon at 2122 feet were lovely with views of Dublin, the other Dublin Mountains and Wicklow. It was very windy but I happily spent a few minutes enjoying this viewpoint. Bliss.
Looking back to Seechon and a view of Dublin beyond the bog at Barnahuiel. there is an aircrash site here but I could see no sign of it.
Crossing the Barnacreel to the top of Seefinghan was not to be taken lightly. The views were great but the underfoot conditions were dire. This is a full blown bog and negotiating it is risky and difficult. I tried to follow footsteps but in places I had to deviate as they were deep showing bad ground. When there were no footsteps my knowledge of crossing peat bogs in England made it safer for me to proceed.
The top of Seefingan at 2368 feet is boggy and flat. Its wet, very wet and spongy.
From Seefinghan I could see Dublin Bay in the far distance. I could actually see the ferry terminal I would be going to in a couple of days time.
The weather was holding though I could see a build up of clouds over the Wicklow horizon. It was really windy so I was wary of the chance of the forecasted rain. As I descended off Seefinghan I finally came across another human being. A guy walking a dog. He was telling me that he had lived here for some time and had often gone up Seefinn with his dog but never Seefingan but today he was finally extending his walk to the top of the hill. He told me there was a burial tomb on the top of Seefinn and I told him there was one on the top of Seefingan, he had no idea it was there.
The tomb on top of Seefinn was again on the edge of the lower 2034 foot hill. Looking back the hills I had clmbered over filled the horizon.
The tomb still has the original entrance but access to it and climbing over it is starting to take an effect...build a fence for protection my mind screamed. Looking towards the Mount Kippure the cloud was darkening and looking more threatening. I still had a long way to go but no more hills to climb and I was expecting to get wet.
My route now headed towards the Liffey Valley. The view of the Poulaphouca reservoir in the distance contrasted sharply with the mountains.
Coming off the upland the views were great but I could see the rain in the valley coming towards me. The shower passed to my left and I luckily remained dry. To the right it was a different prospect beautifully rural.
The steep rocky descent above Athdown was dangerous and hard to negotiate. Wish I'd brought my stick, which I had left in the boot of my car rather than attaching to my rucksack, teach me a lesson. At this point I met a young family climbing the rocky path and was able to encourage them that they were near the point the steepness flattened out. I also was passed by a middle aged couple ascending with rucksacks and wisely sticks. They were doing the 4 peaks loop the traditional way in the traditional direction and asked me if it was wet on top. I responded honestly that in places it was very wet and others just boggy.
The path took a sharp right and headed slowly down the hillside. The heather and trees with mountains in the background is an appealing view and I was glad to get off the very steep slope.
Finally I reached the road and could look up to the hills I had traversed and walking swiftly along the road I came across the army barracks associated with the military range with Seechon in the background.
As my accomodation was half way up the hill it was a long climb up the narrow tarmaced road but it is so quiet that not one vehicle passed me in either direction.
I was lucky the rain held off but about 10 minutes after I reached my accomodation the rain began, lucky or what.
This was a substantial walk up hills over 300 foot higher than Kinderscout and across difficult terrain. The slopes were in the main gentle on the tops but tough ascending and descending to the higher ground. I loved the feeling of being alone in the landscape with Dublin in full view below.
This was a 7.5 mile walk with a total ascent of over 1800 foot and took 4 hours to complete. I absolutely loved it.
Comments