Menu Sport and leisure activities in Ireland

Walking in Ireland

Selection of trails and loop trails

La Marche en Irlande - SÈlection de sentiers en boucle

The walkers will love Ireland! The Emerald Isle offers a wide variety of walks for all types of hikers, ranging from easy walks of several hours to several days journeying through peaks to climb for people who love the challenge.

There are good reasons why Ireland is known as a paradise for hikers. This country of lush green in the extreme west of Europe, not only the type of temperate climate that walkers love, but also a variety of unique landscapes for such a small country. All trails are either linear (different starting point from the point of arrival) or circular (point of departure and arrival are the same). The trail loops of Ireland are clearly easy to find and well advertised.

Short walks can last from 2 to 5 hours. Other, more serious hikes, may last a few days but are divided into several stages. Long walks are also divided into phases and may take several weeks.

This type of hiking allows the walker to discover the majestic landscapes of Ireland, whether the mountains or the coastal scenery. Wilderness and tranquility await you!

Walkers and hikers should equip themselves with waterproof clothing and walking shoes, and, after that, Ireland is waiting for you to discover its unique beauty!

County Mayo

Walking in County Mayo, West Ireland County Mayo with its large variety of landscapes offers numerous choices of walks, hikes and excursions for all levels of ability, ranging from the occasional walker to the experienced hiker.

Enniscoe House: Enniscoe House Loop

Enniscoe House is one of Ireland's listed heritage houses and has passed by descent from the 1660's through twelve generations to the present owner. Set in parkland and mature woods on the shores of Lough Conn in North Mayo, the Georgian mansion offers the visitor friendliness, peace, and relaxation.

Erris Head Loop

The Mullet Peninsula in County Mayo is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the islands of Inishkea, Inishglora, and Duvillaun More to the west.

Clare Island: Fawnglass Loop

Clare Island lies 4 miles off the west coast of Ireland at the entrance to Clew Bay. The largest of the Mayo offshore islands, it has a varied terrain: spectacular cliffs with large numbers of nesting sea birds and a rich ‘inland’ topography of hills and bogs and small pockets of woodland, making it ideal for hill-walking.

County Laois

Donadea Forest: Aylmer Loop

Situated close to the geographical centre of Ireland, the Slieve Bloom region links the counties of Laois and Offaly and is made up of forests, blanket bog, and hidden valleys which will be of interest to lovers of archaeology and nature.

Glenbarrow Loops: Watrfall Loop

Situated close to the geographical centre of Ireland, the Slieve Bloom region links the counties of Laois and Offaly and is made up of forests, blanket bog of a type which is unique to Ireland, and hidden valleys which will be of interest to lovers of archaeology and nature.

County Donegal

Glencolmcile Loop

The stretch of coastline between Slieve League and Slieve Tooey in southwest Donegal is a fine spot for walkers eager to break away from the trappings of modern living.

Inishowen Loop

The Inishowen Peninsula possesses such a range of sights and attractions that is often referred to as 'Ireland in Miniature'.

Waling towards Croagh Patrick, County Mayo Green fields in County Kerry, Ireland

County Tripperary

Clogheen: Knocknaclugga

The town of Clogheen is uniquely situated in the most central position imaginable in the South of Ireland / the cities of Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford are all equidistant from here! The village is an ideal centre for golfing, fishing, touring and walking.

Glenpatrick Woods: Rath Beag Loop

Major social interests of the area include Gaelic Football and Hurling / and are the popular topic of conversation at the two Kennedy’s Pubs in the small village.

County Limerick

Canon Sheehan Loop

Situated in the southwest of Ireland, on the borders of counties Limerick, Tipperary and Cork, Ballyhoura is an area of undulating green pastures, woodlands, hills and mountains.

Attychraan Loop

Ballyhoura country offers the tourist a wide variety of walking - exploring riverbanks, quiet country roads, rugged mountains, rich bogs, and mythical landscapes.

County Dublin

Lower Cliff Loop

Wildlife enthusiasts will adore this area, particularly Ireland’s Eye and its bird sanctuary which boasts guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, gulls and gannets.

County Wicklow

Spink Loop

Glendalough is best explored on the Spink and Glenealo Valley Route, a high quality loop walk with excellent waymarking and a well-maintained trail.

County Meath

Drewstown Woods: Girley Bog Loop

This loop covers a variety of landscape of forest and bogland / and has been developed as an eco-walk with interpretive panels throughout.

County Clare

Carron Loop

The Burren is a limestone plateau occupying an area of over 100 square miles in North Clare. It is an area of scenic attractions where stone-grey hills and the valleys beneath reveal many prehistoric remains.

County Kerry

Glenageenty Woods: Glanageenty Loop

Glenageenty is an area of mystery, myth and folklore, a wild and rugged landscape that was once the sanctuary to some famous heroes and bandits alike.