Ballinafunshoge Waterfall

A small waterfall spilling over a series of rock ledges in woodland on the floor of Glenmalure, a wide glacial valley of heather-covered mountains, streams and rivers close to Glendalough. It sits right beside the car park, so the walk in is measured in seconds rather than minutes. Visitors consistently call it charming and peaceful, and it photographs nicely thanks to the stepped drops, but be realistic: this is a modest fall, not a thundering set piece.

If you want more than a photo stop, two waymarked routes start here and both are strenuous, not casual strolls:

A section of the Wicklow Way also passes through Ballinafunshoge, which makes this a handy pause for long-distance walkers.

• Miner's Way: about 1.6 km, roughly 30 minutes, climbing for views over Glenmalure.
• Mountain Access Route: about 2.6 km, roughly 50 minutes, linear, so plan your return.

• On-site facilities are limited to the car park, the waterfall and the walking trails, so bring water, food and anything else you need.
• Wet rocks and short steep, rough sections make sturdy footwear sensible. Admire the falls from the bank rather than scrambling on the ledges or into the water.
• It is a quick stop by design. Pair it with a walk or with Glendalough nearby.

The trees at Ballinafunshoge were the setting for the 1580 Battle of Glenmalure, where Fiach McHugh O'Byrne's rebels defeated 800 English soldiers. The disused lead mines you pass on the approach opened in 1797 and worked until 1864, producing up to 400 tons of lead ore a year, which is why the old miners' paths still climb the valley sides.