Donard lies in the heart of the Glen of Imaal. The Fauna Loop starts and ends in the centre of the village. First, the route follows a narrow country road for 1.8 km to the 4.3 km circular trail on forest paths. For your own planning, it is worth considering the road section and forest loop separately: the two distances refer to different parts of the route.
The Fauna Loop and the hills
The forest paths of the Fauna Loop offer views across the Glen of Imaal. The route therefore combines a clearly described trail with views over the valley. The narrow country road is the section leading to the loop; the forest paths make up the 4.3 km circular trail itself.
From Donard, you can explore trails through the surrounding hills. The destinations mentioned include Table Mountain at 702 m, Church Mountain at 546 m, Lugnaquilla at 924 m and Keadeen at 655 m. Their elevations offer a direct comparison of the mountains listed: at 546 m, Church Mountain is at the lower end of the range, while Lugnaquilla, at 924 m, is at the upper end. Table Mountain and Keadeen lie between them.
Traces of history in Donard and south of the village
The Donard Ogham Stone is now on the village green in Donard Village. It was moved there from its original location in Avoca Rathdrum and is one of the few Ogham stones in County Wicklow. The inscription may read “LAQINI KOI MAQI MUC”; its reading is therefore uncertain.
The place name also points to a historical trace: Donard derives from Dún Ard, meaning “high fort”. Ruins of this fort are still partly visible above the village. The name and ruins can be considered together without conflating them with the relocated Ogham stone.
South of Donard, in Castleruddery Lower, is the Castleruddery Bronze Age Stone Circle. Its originally continuous inner circle comprises 29 large stones: some stand upright, while others lie flat. A low earthen bank surrounds the circle. The site provides another archaeological point of reference, while the Ogham stone stands directly on the village green in Donard Village.
A wider look at County Wicklow
County Wicklow provides a regional setting for exploring landscape and culture. In Glendalough, St Kevin founded a monastery in the 6th century. The remains of the Monastic City include a round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and decorated crosses. Wicklow Mountains National Park covers 20,000 hectares and is an important recreational area for local residents and tourists.
Another historical point of reference in County Wicklow is Kilmacurragh, where a monastery existed in the 7th century. In 1996, a 21-hectare section of the former Kilmacurragh demesne became part of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. This history links an early monastic site with the later development of the gardens.
Rhodedendron Week takes place annually in April in Kilmacurragh. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the dates before your trip. This keeps the seasonal event clearly distinct from Donard’s features, which are described as year-round.
Discover more destinations: Rathnew, Baltinglass, Kilmacanoge, Ballinalea, Kilcoole, Boystown, Wicklow, Shillelagh.
For the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.
