The Hellfire Club Walk (AKA ‘the Montpellier Loop’) is a 4.2km trail that takes 1-1.5 hours to complete.
For anyone with a moderate level of fitness, this is one of the more doable Dublin walks and it treats you to a magnificent view out over Dublin.
The trail also takes you to the ruins of a supposedly haunted lodge and you can explore its upper and lower floors, but more on that, and a map, below. Cheers!
Table of Contents
Some quick need-to-knows about the Hellfire Club walk
Photos via Shutterstock
Although a visit to Montpelier Hill is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
You’ll find Montpelier Hill in the Dublin Mountains . It’s a 10-minute drive from both Rathfarnam and Firhouse and a 15-minute drive from Sandyford.
2. Parking
The Hellfire Club car park can be found here on Google Maps. Now, a warning: if you visit on a Saturday or Sunday morning, this place can be mobbed, so try and arrive early. The car park is open 7am – 9pm (Apr to Sept) and 8am – 5pm (Oct to Mar).
3. Walk length
The Montpelier loop is a 4.2 km moderate walk that’ll take around 1 to 1.5 hours and that follows a blue way-marker. On the 6 or so occasions that I’ve done this walk, it took 1 hour and 15 minutes at a leisurely pace.
4. Difficulty
The Hellfire Club Walk should be very doable for anyone with a moderate level of fitness. Do note that there’s a fair aul incline towards the beginning of the trail.
5. Getting there by bus (warning)
I’m going to start by saying Ireallywouldn’t recommend getting here by public transport, as there’s no path on the road leading to the Hellfire Club trailhead and cars drivevery fast. You could get thenumber 15 bus from Dublin City to Ballycullen Road (Stop 6282 – see route) and grab a taxi to and from the car park.
An overview of the Hellfire Club Walk
Click to enlarge
So, you’ll kick-start your ramble in the Hellfire Club car park.
There’s a little coffee van selling hot drinks (during the summer) and ice cream.
You’ll easily be able to spot where the trail begins, so head off on your merry way and follow the trail that winds around Montpelier Hill.
What to look out for
After around 10-15 minutes you’ll cop a steep gravel path up to your right.
This is the quick way to the top of the hill.
If you’re stuck for time, you can head up this way (be careful after rainfall) and you’ll reach the top in under 10 minutes.
However, as I’ve shown in the map above, if you want to do the full trail, go straight at the crossroads.
Getting into the belly of the walk
Keep on walking and the trail will eventually start to bend around to the right.
After a while, you’ll get a gorgeous view out over the Glenasmole Valley.
Keep on going and you’ll see the ruins of the Hellfire Club up ahead.
Views galore
When you reach the ruins on the Hellfire Club Walk, you’ll be treated to an unbeatable view out over Dublin City.
If you fancy, you can also go inside the Hellfire Club itself for a nosey around (there’s two floors – mind your step).
When you’re ready, continue along the trail and it’ll take you to a steep and very uneven decline that you can follow back to the car park.
The story behind the Hellfire Club in Dublin
Photo via Shutterstock
One of the attractions of the Hellfire Club Walk is the legend tied to Montpelier Hill.
At the top of the hill lies the ruins of a very old hunting lodge.
The lodge was erected by R.H. Connolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Parliament, as a hunting lodge, around 1725.
The Irish Hellfire Club
There’s many a legend associated with the Hellfire Club in Dublin (a couple of which are similar to the story of the haunted Loftus Hall in Wexford).
After Connolly passed, the lodge fell into disarray.
According to legend, it soon became the meeting place for a group known as ‘the Irish Hellfire Club’.
The club was formed in 1735 by a lad named Richard Parsons, a known dabbler in dark magic.
The story goes
There was a lot of secrecy surrounding the club members and this led to speculation that they were Devil-worshipers.
This probably wasn’t helped by the fact that the clubs president used to wear horns, wings, and hooves.
The most widely known Hellfire Club story is the one where the Devil himself appeared. A stranger joined the club one evening to play a game of cards.
At some point during the game, one of the players dropped a card on the floor. As he bent down to pick it up, he noticed that the stranger had cloven hooves instead of feet.
The fire
There are many stories surrounding how the building ended up in its current state, with many accepting that it was ravaged by fire at some point.
One story explains that the lodge was set alight when the owner refused to renew the lease.
Another tale says that it was destroyed during a fight when one member poured brandy on another and set him alight.
More great Dublin walks
One of the beauties of the Hellfire Club Walk is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Dublin.
Below, you’ll find a handful of other very popular walks a stone’s throw from Montpelier Hill.
- Bohernabreena Reservoir: A 15-minute drive from Montpelier Hill and there’s a lovely 1 to 1.5 hour walk
- Cruagh Woods walk: There’s a 1-hour forest walk on offer here
- Ticknock and Tibradden: A 5-minute spin away, there are two lovely trails to tackle here
Keith O'Hara
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.
