Glenmalure Hostel
Escape to a simple, off-grid hostel in the remote Glenmalure Valley, surrounded by mountains, forest and walking trails. A rustic Wicklow retreat for hikers, adventurers and anyone looking to truly unplug.
Deep in the Wicklow Mountains
Escape to Ireland’s longest glacial valley.
Hidden in the remote Glenmalure Valley, this simple off-grid hostel offers a rare back-to-nature escape for walkers, hikers and anyone looking to disconnect. Surrounded by steep mountain slopes, forest and river, it’s one of Wicklow’s most atmospheric places to stay.
Housed in a former hunting lodge dating back to 1903, Glenmalure Hostel has a rich sense of history and a warm, communal spirit. With no electricity or running water, evenings are spent by candlelight or around the fire, making each stay feel authentic, memorable and completely removed from everyday life.
Ready to stay?
We don't currently offer online booking for Glenmalure Hostel. Please enquire directly to check availability and arrange your visit.
Everything you need for a simple off-grid stay.
Glenmalure offers a simple, off-grid stay for walkers, hikers and anyone seeking a true escape into nature. With basic accommodation, gas cooking facilities and a welcoming open fire, it’s a memorable base for exploring the surrounding mountains and trails.
Plan Your Stay
Find us deep in the Glenmalure Valley.
Glenmalure Hostel is hidden in one of Wicklow’s most dramatic mountain valleys, surrounded by forest, river and walking routes. This is a remote, off-grid hostel, so guests should plan ahead, bring suitable supplies and enquire directly before travelling.
- Check-In: 5pm*
- Check-Out: 11am*
- 15 Glenmalure Pines, Ballintombay Lower, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, A67 YW77
* please note the warden on duty will contact you and may be able to facilitate different times if required.
An Off-Grid Wicklow Hostel
Leave the everyday behind in the Glenmalure Valley.
Glenmalure Hostel offers a rare chance to truly disconnect. With no electricity or running water, this simple mountain hostel invites guests to slow down, cook by gas, gather by the fire and experience the valley in its most natural form.
Days are spent exploring forest tracks, riverside paths and mountain routes through one of Wicklow’s most dramatic landscapes. Evenings bring candlelight, conversation and the quiet atmosphere of a hostel shaped by generations of walkers and adventurers.
This is not a standard modern hostel stay — it’s a rustic and memorable escape for those who value simplicity, nature and a sense of adventure.
Glenmalure Hostel offers something increasingly rare: a simple, off-grid stay in one of Wicklow’s most dramatic valleys. Surrounded by mountains, woodland and walking routes, it’s ideal for hikers, adventurers and guests looking to truly disconnect.
Originally built in 1903 as a mountain hunting lodge, the building has deep links to Ireland’s cultural and revolutionary past. Associated with figures including J.M. Synge, Maud Gonne, W.B. Yeats, Kathleen Lynn and Éamon de Valera, it later became part of An Óige’s story when it opened as a youth hostel in 1956.
Still deliberately kept in its rustic, back-to-basics style, Glenmalure is more than a place to sleep — it’s a rare chance to stay somewhere shaped by literature, history, firelight and generations of walkers.
Make More of Glenmalure
Events, Retreats & Local Experiences
There are no upcoming events at this hostel just yet, but more retreats, activities and local experiences are being planned. Check back soon for new dates and details.
Ready to Stay?
Enquire about your Glenmalure Valley escape.
Glenmalure Hostel does not currently offer online booking. Send an enquiry to check availability and arrange your off-grid Wicklow stay.
Alternatively, please get in touch by dropping us an email: