Best places to hike in Ireland

Lucky for us, Ireland is known to have some of the best walking and hiking trails in the world. Not only are they all incredibly scenic, but there are a wide variety in types of trails you can hike.  Ireland has everything from short to long, mountain to coastal, and everything in between when it comes to hiking trails. Below you can find a list of some of the trails available to hike all over Ireland.

Mountain walking trails

• Carrauntoohil Mountain, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Kerry (13km, 6 hrs) – this travel offers multiple routes and is noted to be a strenuous but rewarding walking route.
• Coumshingaun Loop Walk, Comeragh Mountains, Waterford (7.5km, 4 hrs) – the Coumshingaun trail takes you around the Coumshingaun Corrie Lake and the surrounding mountains in County Waterford, and is noted to be an easy/moderate walking trail.
• Slieve Donard Mountain Walking Route, Co. Down (9km, 5 hrs) – this trail is noted to be a moderate to strenuous walk that is a rather straighforward climb; if you choose to do this trail make sure you go on a clear and sunny day so that you can the Isle of Man, Wicklow Mountains, Wales and Scotland in the surrounding areas.
• Caherconree Mountain and Fort Walk, Tralee, Dingel Peninsula (7.5km, 3.5 hrs) – although this trail is noted as being strenuous, it has great views of the Tralee Bay and is one of the best walking routes on the Wild Atlantic way.
• Errigal Mountain and Mackoght Loop Trail, Co. Donegal (6km, 3.5 hrs) – is considered to be a moderate to strenuous trail and is known for its’ iconic peak at the top of the Errigal Mountain.
• Benbulbin and Kings Mountain Loop Walk, Co. Sligo (8km, 4 hrs) – is a moderate to strenuous walk with incredible views of the plateau of Kings Mountain.
• Lugnaquilla Mountain, Glenmalure Loop Walk, Co. Wicklow (15km, 6 hrs) – is a very strenuous walking route to the summit of the popular Lugnaquilla Mountain, but has incredible panoramic views over the Wicklow Mountains, Glen of Imaal, Glendalough and Glenmalure.
• Mount Brandon Walking Route, Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry (9km, 5 hrs) – although this is a strenuous walking trail it is an area well known in Irish Mythology and Pagan history and is a scenic walk to the summit of Mount Brandon.
• Croagh Patrick Mountain Walk, Pilgrim Path, Westport, Co. Mayo (7km, 3.5 hrs) – is a moderate to strenuous walking trail that takes you to the popular and spectacular peak of Croagh Patrick Mountain.
• Torc Mountain Walk, Killarney, Ireland (7.5km, 2.5 hrs) – is a moderate walking trail that takes you to the top of Torc Mountain, which has a 360 degree view of Killarney town and lakes, Muckross House, the Killarney National Park and McGillicuddy’s Reeks.

Coastal and cliff walking trails

• Bray Head Loop Walk, Valentia Island, Kerry (6.8km, 3hrs) – moderate walking trail that takes you along the coastline and has incredible views of the Skellig Islands, the Kerry Coast and the Wild Atlantic Way along the way.
• Causeway Coastal Path Walking Route, Co. Antrim (16km, 4 hrs) – is a moderate coastal walk from the Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge to Giants Causeway.
• Howth Cliff Path Loop Walk, near Dublin (6-10km, 2-3 hours) – is an easy scenic coastal walk that is rather close to the city of Dublin.
• Cliffs of Moher Walk, Co. Clare, Wild Atlantic Way (18.5km, 5.5. hours) – is a moderate to strenuous walking trail from Liscannor, to Hags Head and the world famous Cliffs of Moher.
• Old Head of Kinsale Loop Walk, Cork (6km, 1.5 hours) – is an easy walk on the famous Old Head of Kinsale with an optional walk to Garretstown beach in south County Cork.

Long Distance walking trails

• Kerry Way Long Distance Walking Trail, Co. Kerry (200km, 6-12 days) – this is the longest of Ireland’s National Waymarked Trails and the walking route begins and ends at Killarney but you can join the trail at any of the several points along it.
• Wicklow Way Long Distance Walking Trail, Co. Wicklow and Dublin 130km, 4-10 days) – a popular moderate to strenuous long distance walking trail, which goes through the counties Dublin, Wicklow and Carlow.

If you wish to look at more walking trails available to hike in Ireland, check out this website here.