CLOON / CURTLESTOWN

The name Cloon means a 'meadow in a clearing in the forest'. It was part of the Royal Oak Wood which was exploited for many purposes over the centuries. In 1990 Coillte, in conjunction with Crann, commenced work to restore the great oak to the noble position it once held in Glencree valley in the Oak Glen. The remains of small farms, characterised by stone wall boundaries, are a feature of this area. The main flora in the area are gorse and bracken which flourish throughout the intermediate or hill pasture belt lying about 250 m above sea level. The main Tree Species are Oak with a mixture of Japanese larch and birch. Badgers, foxes and red squirrels are very plentiful in this area.
There are about 5 km of pleasant walks along the forest roads at Cloon and these provide access to Oak Glen, the site of a Millennium Forest. Travelling east back towards Enniskerry, it is possible to access the Wicklow Way. Initially, you will meet the signs for the Wicklow Way heading south towards Knockree Hill. A little further east along the Enniskerry road, at the entrance to Curtlestown Wood, you can access the Wicklow Way as it heads North towards Raven’s Rock and onwards across the Glencullen Valley.