| Crone Woods | |
| Map: | island of Ireland |
| Coordinates: | 53.161°N -6.2263°W |
| County: | County Wicklow |
| Region: | Leinster |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Elevation: | 185 m |
| Grid Ref Uk: | O1920 1417 |
| Authority: | Coillte |
Crone Woods, also Crone Forest, is located in the northeastern section of the Wicklow Mountains, just below the summit of Maulin 570m (1,870feet), in County Wicklow, Ireland.[1] Crone Woods have an extensive network of forest trails and hikes which can be accessed from the village of Enniskerry.
The woods were once part of the Powerscourt Estate with records from the 13th-century showing the area was set aside as a royal hunting ground.[1] Use of the woods for cover during the 1798 Rebellion led to the creation of the military road through northern Wicklow Mountains with several barracks to open up the region.[1] The forest is owned and operated by Coillte, the Irish state forestry agency.[1]
Trails in the wood include several to 'Ride Rock', from which there are views down into Powerscourt Waterfall. Other trails lead to the summit of Maulin.[2]
Crone Woods is an access point to the Wicklow Way, the oldest long-distance trail in the Republic of Ireland, which extends for 131km (81miles) from its starting point in Marlay Park in South Dublin to Clonegal Village in County Carlow.[3] The wood is also used by hill-walkers completing the 16-kilometre loop of Maulin, Tonduff 642m (2,106feet), War Hill 686m (2,251feet) and Djouce 725m (2,379feet), which is sometimes called the 'Circuit of Glensoulan'.[4]