At the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, less than an hour from Dublin, Sally Gap crosses one of Ireland’s largest and most desolate peat bogs.
A steady climb across the moorland
From Laragh, it’s about 10 km for 350 m of elevation gain up to the Sally Gap crossroads, at 503 m. The narrow road, with no trees or buildings for much of the way, crosses a bogland landscape that stretches to the horizon.
An isolated crossroads steeped in history
Built in the 18th century by the British army to make the region easier to control after Irish rebellions, the military road that now crosses Sally Gap remains one of the most isolated routes in County Wicklow.
How to approach the ride
The wind, almost constant on this exposed plateau, can slow progress dramatically in one direction while speeding up the return in the other: it’s worth checking wind direction before choosing your route.
When to climb it
April to September, avoiding foggy days, which can quickly blanket this isolated plateau and cut visibility down to a few metres.
Good to know
Sally Gap combines easily with a detour to Glendalough, one of Ireland’s most visited monastic sites, about fifteen minutes’ drive from Laragh.
