FACILITIES

Picnic
Walking Trails
Gardens
Nature Trail

Massy’s Estate

Massy’s Estate is one of the most popular amenities around Dublin because of its visual and recreational value. An incredibly atmospheric and magical forest, it echoes with history. A magnificent mansion once stood on this site and the remains of garden walls are still visible today.

The forest offers a vast ecological resource of flora, wildlife, tree species, estate artefacts and items of geological interest. The major forest road goes around the wood and is called the Nature Trail. There are also many smaller tracks and shortcuts crossing the forest and all these paths lead to the main road.

In the late 1930s, the Director of Forestry in Ireland, a German forester, Otto Reinard, laid out this area as an urban forest. A variety of European, American and Asian tree species were planted creating a perfect environment for many plants and animals including Sika deer, badgers, grouse, red squirrels, foxes and birds.

The walking paths are easy for walkers with the main forest road easily accessible for children and people with a lower level of fitness.

Visitors should use the Hellfire Club car park and note its opening hours to make sure of closing time before leaving the car park for Massy’s.

We would ask visitors to please refrain from parking on the road and to use the parking areas in the locality. Waterproof clothing, especially boots, may be helpful on a rainy day.

Why not extend your time in the Dublin Mountains by travelling onwards on the Dublin Mountains Way to Cruagh Wood with its breathtaking views of the city?

Alternatively, treat yourself at Timbertrove Café, beside Massy’s Wood.

How do I get there?

The easiest way is to get to the Hellfire Club car park, which is on the opposite site of the R115 road to Glencullen, about 6.5km south of Rathfarnham.