Hell Fire Club
Overview
This is a very popular site for Dubliners and offers a variety of short forest walks, the site is located on Montpelier Hill, overlooking Dublin city.
At the top of the hill sits the foreboding ruin of a hunting lodge as a backdrop to breathtaking views over the Dublin Bay, this is a great palce to take pictures or selfies with the house or Dublin in the background.
There are many legends associated with this place showing the Hellfire house as an object of occult activities and brief appearances of the Devil. The building was, in fact, erected by R.H. Connolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Parliament, as a shooting lodge, about the year 1725. Tradition tells of its occupation by a club of “wild young gentlemen” who used a tavern in Cork Hill (by Dublin Castle) as their meeting place, but were dismissed for bad behaviour hence the name “Hellfire Club”.
Things to do
Walk: There are two looped walking trails in the Hell Fire Club forest. The Forest Loop Trail (5.5kms, 1 ½ hr, moderate) takes in a loop of the whole forest and gives you a good stretch of the legs; the Montpelier Loop trail (4 kms, 1 hr, moderate) is a more gentle walk through the forest but takes you up to the ruins of the Hell Fire Club house itself, and the magnificent views from the top of Montpelier Hill.
Permanent Orienteering: The Hell Fire Club has 3 permanent orienteering courses, Beginner (short), Intermediate (medium) and Advanced (long)
Don’t miss our hidden gem
The spectacular view from the top of Montpelier Hill over Dublin city and bay
Visitors Facilities on site
Car Parking for 70 cars.
Car park opens at 7am (April to September) and 8am (October to March)
Car park closes at 9pm (April to September) and 5pm (October to March)