BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi everyone,

What in your opinion are some of the best places for day hikes in Ireland?

When in Ireland, we are planning to hike during the day and stay at inns and B&Bs throughout the country at night.

So far, I've only got a few ideas:

Aran Islands
Galway City streets
Dingle Peninsula
Connemara

What are the pros and cons to hiking in these places, and do you have any great hikes that you would recommend?

Thanks!

I haven't been there yet but I'm planning on taking the "burren way" trail through the Burren. Harsh kinda bleak wilderness but it looks amazing.

I guess my idea of hiking in Ireland is to walk out the front door and just keep on going. That being said, I was on the island of Inis Oirr (one of the Arran islands). There is one hostel there, and a few B&B's. The whole place is a hiker's paradise I would say, and the least touristy of all the Arran islands.

The Aran Islands are fabulous! Inishmore is only 9 miles long, great hikes too! It can be a bit touristy but it is absolutly beautiful. There are also a few bike rentals right near the docks.

As for Connemara, I stayed in Leenane and you can walk any where. There are a few roads, but there is also a great hiking trail near the Sleep Zone hostel. That trail can take you all over the mountain and valleys. They have maps at the hostel.

have a great time!

Sorry, I have lost the link, but I remember that there was a website that listed all the walks you can take around Ireland. There is some sort of hikers club that sponsors it. I found it not very easy to follow their directions though. When we tried to find the trailhead to walk up Eagle Mtn on Dingle, we went thru a lot of trial and error, but we did find it eventually. It was totally awesome and worth it though--we were on top of a mountain with the ocean on 3 sides. It was also freezing up there, even after walking up a mountain.

oh for sure hike in the Wicklow mountains, they have special hiking tours that go here...beautiful scenery and just outside of Dublin...theres a hike path called the "wicklow way" i think...should google this and see what its about