Going north to south, the Wicklow Way starts beside the carpark in Marlay Park. Well signposted from there, you travel through the park for 2km before heading out onto the road and under the M50 up to Kilmashogue Woods. Ascending through the woods to the top, a 20 minute detour takes you over to Two Rock and Fairy Castle with views across Dublin. You then travel down the far side into Glencullen Valley.
After about a 3km roadway walk you are back on Coillte paths heading up towards Prince William’s Seat. Another side detour takes you over to a rocky tor called Ravens Rock with views of the east coast.
Back on the trail you zig-zag down from Prince William’s Seat through Curtlestown Wood. Back on roadway for 1km to Lackan Wood. After a 1.5km walk through the wood around Knockree Hill, you come out into a parking area about 200m from Knockree Youth Hostel, the finishing point of the 1st stage. About 23km with detours.
Thanks to Shanks Mare for the bus details:
You can get the 16 bus to Marley park and coming back into town get the 44 from Enniskerry. Of course this means about 3 miles road walking from Knockree to get to the 44 terminus.