We welcome individuals and groups to join us on a hike with our sheepdogs. Our route will take you off the beaten track into the Irish hills to experience the beauty and learn the history of Glendalough and the Glenmalure Valley. You’ll learn the different identifying mark of flocks and how these marks come into play and will get to see how the dogs work in partnership with us.

You will gain an understanding of mountain sheep farming in Wicklow and of the culture, values and traditions of the flock owners who share the mountain. And while trekking through beautiful Irish hilltop ground overlooking Glendalough and County Wicklow.

How does it work?

• I meet you in Glendalough and will introduce you to my sheepdogs. We will then travel in my pickup truck up the mountains along some scenic Irish country roads (20mins).
• We hike together for 90 minutes to the summit, where I can assess the location of flocks of sheep.
• Together, we gather a small flock of sheep using my sheepdogs.
• We often take a small group of sheep back to the pens using my sheepdogs. We’ll use the identifying marks you’ve learned about to differentiate my sheep from the others.

How long does it take?

It is quite an active hike of about 2 and a half to 3 hours duration.

How much does it cost?

€80 per person, with group discounts and corporate discounts available.

How do I sign up?

You can check our availability and register your interest using the calendar below. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Absolutely recommended experience if you are in Dublin for few days and want to get out of the city. Paddy is a fantastic guide, has plenty of good stories and great sense of humor. His dogs are lovely and it’s incredibly to see the relationship between them while they are out in the field doing their job. He is extremely passionate about his job, and you can sense that throughout the whole experience. Thanks Paddy!

Dan-Vlad from Denmark

A quintessential Irish experience that doesn’t involve a pub! Paddy was terrific – engaging, friendly, & a member of Ireland’s sheep herding national team, no less, he took the time to explain everything we saw — from how he and his border collies act as a team to herd sheep, to how the older sheep take care of the younger ones, to the history of his pasture lands. It’s not a hike in the mountains as much as it is a walk up fairly steep, uneven hillsides, but Paddy took it at a pace that was comfortable for us. The views are great. Be sure to wear boots or shoes that are comfortable & won’t cause blisters, bring water, and bring your rain jackets (the clouds surrounded us a few times and it lightly rained off & on).

Mark from Virginia, USA

This was, hands down, the highlight of our trip to Ireland. Paddy was great with communication. He also tailored the trip to our group’s needs specifically. Plus, he’s got a great personality – and it really felt like we were just visiting an old friend. I enjoyed the ability to not just do the normal touristy stuff with all the crowds, but have an adventure with a local. And, to top it all off, he truly is an well accomplished, expert dog trainer and we were able to see him do his work up close and personal. He is a great host and this was everything we thought it would be, and more! Highly recommend to anyone looking for an authentic Irish experience in the country. P.S. Ask in advance if he’s got any Border Collie puppies 😉

Scott from Denver, USA