St. Kevin's Road, SKR, was launched as a Waymarked Way in September 2001. A Millennium Project, under the auspices of the Heritage Council of Ireland, SKR was one of six old pilgrim routes nominated, and the first to be officially launched.

SKR starts in Hollywood at Knockroe, continues on to Dunboyke and around the base of the Scalp Mountain to Toor. At Coonmore it branches right by Granamore, Knocknadroose to Glenreemore and along the south bank of the King's River to Oakwood. Crossing the road it continues from Ballinagee, where it is joined by the spur coming from Valleymount via Togher, on to Temlpletynan with its remains of an old church and graveyard. From Temlpletynan, it heads to Annalecky and Glashaboy Brooks and on up to the Wicklow Gap where two sections of SKR are railed off. These sections of the route were exposed in 1972 when the Turlough Hill hydroelectric station was being built. The final stage of this 30km (kilometres) pilgrimage route is the descent to the Glendassan Valley, along the banks of the Glendassan river and finally Glendalough.

The section of the route where Coillte was involved is the eight to nine kilometres from Glenreemore to the top of the Wicklow Gap. This is a beautiful but difficult section of the walk, which includes the two streams mentioned above. Upgrading this section to Waymarked Way status required significant input by Coillte as detailed below.

From Glenreemore to the Wicklow Gap the underfoot conditions had to be cleared, and where the route passed though forest, branches were pruned, both for safety and to allow light in. Fences and stiles were installed where necessary - the stiles were supplied by the Heritage Council and the gates Coillte. The distinctive Waymarked Way signs were also erected at regular intervals. Between Glenreemore and Oakwood it was necessary to reconstruct the existing path, partly as a result of our own forestry activity (SKR exists alongside a major commercial forestry industry). Coillte also constructed a new pathway, about 800m in length, below the Wicklow Gap in order to keep walkers away from what is a very busy road.

Finally, at Annalecky and Galshabody, Coillte built and installed two wooden bridges to allow for safe crossing of these frequently turbulent streams. Since the launch, there has been a steady stream of walkers, even during the Wicklow winter. St. Kevin is no doubt as pleased as we in Coillte are at the support this unique part of our heritage is attracting.

Further information on the Waymarked Ways in Ireland can be found on http://www.irishwaymarkedways.ie/