The Hellfire Club Walk (also known as ‘the Montpellier Loop’) is a 4.2km route which takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete, and leads you through woodlands of Holly, Birch, Oak and Scots Pine on the flanks of Three Rock Mountain.
It’s one of the easier Dublin walks, for anyone with a decent level of fitness and at last you’ll be rewarded with splendid vistas across much of Dublin.
The trail also loops around the remains of what was once a lodge long rumoured to be haunted, with both top and bottom floors you can poke your nose into (more on that — plus access info provided in map below). Cheers!
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Some quick need-to-knows about the Hellfire Club walk
Montpelier Hill itself is very easy to visit, however there are a few little things you should know before visiting that will make your experience even better.
1. Location
Montpelier Hill- This Is Located In The Dublin Mountains It is within a 10-minute drive of Rathfarnham and Firhouse and within a 15 minutes’ from Sandyford.
2. Parking
You can check the Hellfire Club car park through Google Maps. But first a word of caution — on weekend mornings this place can get ridiculously crowded, so try to go in the morning. In the Summer, The car park’s opening timing is 7am to 9pm (Apr – Sept) and in Winter season it’s from 8am-5pm(Oct -Mar).
3. Walk length
The Montpelier loop is spreaded in a 4.5 km area or walk that takes 1.5 hours to cover from the blue way-marker. In the 6 or so times I have done this walk, at an average leisurely pace it takes about 1 hour and a quarter…
4. Difficulty
Hellfire Club Walk — Pretty achievable for a person with moderate fitness levels. And there is a fair old incline right at the start of the trail as well.
5. How to get there – Bus (the one with a warning!)
First off, I do not suggest public transport here as there is no path on the road leading to Hellfire trailhead and it’s a really fast road. Take the number 15 bus from Dublin City to Ballycullen Road (Stop 6282 – route) — cab it in and out of the car park.
An overview of the Hellfire Club Walk
Well then, you will begin your wander at the Hellfire Club carpark. The only other establishment is a small coffee van offering hot drinks (in the summer) and ice cream.
When you arrive at the summit, it will be clear where the trail starts, just follow this as it winds back around Montpelier Hill.
What to look out for
Within 10-15 minutes or so you will turn to the right and crash your way up a steep gravel path. This is the shortcut to climb up on top of the hill.
If you keep to the right when taking this trail (take care after rain), it will take about under 10 minutes without running to reach the top if pressed for time.
But hey, you might as well do the full circle following my map up above – to keep straight.
Getting into the belly of the walk
Keep walking and the path will slowly curve to the right. You will be treated to a beautiful view of the Glenasmole Valley before too long.
If you continue along the path far enough, you will first arrive at ruins of Hellfire Club.
Views galore
The best view of Dublin City is from the ruins on The Hellfire Club Walk. There is also a Hellfire Club itself, you can venture inside if you like to take a peak (it has two floors so watch your step).
Once back to the main trail, when ready you continue straight and it ll bring you down a very steep uneven forest decline right beside where your car was parked
The story behind the Hellfire Club in Dublin
Montpelier Hill along with its horror legend is one of the appeals to this Walk on Hellfire Club.
On the top of the hill is a very old hunting lodge that has fallen into disrepair.
The hilarious lodge was built as a shooting lodge for R.H. Connolly, the Speaker of Irish House while it is believed to have been constructed around 1725.
The Irish Hellfire Club
Dublin – Hellfire Club.inspired or by one of the tales which is not too unlike Wexford’s haunted Loftus Hall.
But after Connolly died, the lodge fell on hard times.
As the legend goes, it quickly became a home base for ‘the Irish Hellfire Club’.
It had been founded in 1735 by a boy called Richard Parsons, who was the most notorious practitioner of black arts.
The Fire
You read a lot of stories about how the building got to its current state, many rightly assume at some point it was gutted by fire.
Another one suggests the lodge was burned down after a falling out over lease terms when the owner refused to renew it.
Legend has it that during a brawl, one of the members set another on fire by pouring brandy over him.
More great Dublin walks
Another reason why the Hellfire Club walk is great to do — it’s only a short spin from some of the best places to visit in Dublin.
I have a couple of other very popular walks which are within throwing distance from Montpelier Hill listed below.
Bohernabreena Reservoir: 15 minutes driving from Montpelier Hill the path is a lovely walk for about an hour to 1.5 hours
A forest walk of 1-hour (Cruagh Woods):(BS)
Ticknock and Tibradden — Just a 5 minute spin away, this is where you can fit in two really nice trails