Hero Mine

• Low rectangular stone ruins of the dressing floors, a visible trace of where ore was separated from waste rock.
• The mine yard remains close by, set on gravelly spoil rather than grass.
• Disused shafts on the slopes above and across the valley, including the Old Hero and North Hero workings.
• Bare rocky upland and long valley views, good for photography in clear light.

This was part of a lead-mining district spanning the Glendasan, Glendalough and Glenmalure valleys. Hero Mine opened in 1827 under the Mining Company of Ireland, and New Hero opened across the valley in 1833. The stonework you walk past is the practical infrastructure of that industry rather than a designed monument.

The monastic remains and the miners village at Glendalough are the better-known nearby attractions. Hero Mine is an industrial ruin in an exposed mountain setting, with less interpretation and fewer people, so the appeal is the raw landscape and the stonework in it.

The Miners' Way begins at the Old Hero mine site and runs about 19 km to Barravore in Glenmalure, graded strenuous. Saint Kevin's Way also passes close by. A short window is enough to wander the ruins, while any longer walk on these routes needs proper equipment and planning.

• Sturdy boots for uneven, gravelly ground.
• Windproof and waterproof layers; the exposed site can be windy and cold even in April.
• Water and a snack if you plan to use the picnic site.
• A camera, since the valley and upland views are the main draw.

There is not much to do beyond the views and the ruins, and no continuous visitor experience. Access effectively requires a car. The ground is rough and uneven, with disused shafts nearby, so keep well away from shaft openings and broken ruin ground. Weather here can shift quickly and a short visit may be all the conditions allow.