Hiking Ireland
The 10 best hiking trails in Ireland
From the 129km Wicklow Way to a 3-hour Diamond Hill loop. Every trail below has been mapped with waypoints, difficulty, ascent metres + the town where you sleep before + after. One of them — the Táin Way — is literally the map of Ireland's foundation myth.
Written by Séamus O'Byrne · Aug 23, 2026Updated August 23, 2026
Every trail on one map
Click any pin to jump to that trail's full guide + interactive waypoint map.
Pick your trail
Cooley Peninsula, Co. Louth
The Táin Way
The 40km loop over the Cooley Peninsula that traces Queen Maeve's mythological invasion route from the Táin Bó Cúailnge — Ireland's oldest epic.
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Way
Ireland's oldest waymarked long-distance path — 129km through the Wicklow Mountains from Dublin's edge to Clonegal in Carlow.
Iveragh Peninsula
The Kerry Way
The 214km walking version of the Ring of Kerry — a loop from Killarney around the Iveragh Peninsula, on trails instead of the road.
Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry
The Dingle Way
179km loop around Dingle Peninsula — beehive huts, Blasket-view cliffs, Brandon's shoulder, and finishing in Ireland's finest small town.
Mayo
Croagh Patrick
Ireland's holy mountain — the pilgrimage summit St Patrick reputedly fasted on for 40 days. Loose scree climb, 360° view over Clew Bay.
MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Kerry
Carrauntoohil via Devil's Ladder
Ireland's highest peak (1039m). The Devil's Ladder is the classic route — loose scree gully, exposed above.
Connemara National Park, Galway
Diamond Hill (Connemara)
The perfect Connemara half-day walk — properly signposted loop with 442m summit, Twelve Bens views + Kylemore Abbey below.
Clare
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk
The 20km coastal path from Doolin to Liscannor along the top of the Cliffs of Moher — one of the world's great cliff walks.
Donegal
Slieve League Cliffs
Some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe — 601m sheer drop into the Atlantic. Includes the exposed One Man's Pass ridge.
West Cork
The Sheep's Head Way
The 88km loop around West Cork's Sheep's Head Peninsula — quiet, uncrowded, EDEN-status European trail with an 18th-century lighthouse at the tip.
Cork + Kerry (Beara Peninsula)
The Beara Way
The 196km loop around the Beara Peninsula — the wildest of West Cork/Kerry's peninsulas, with copper-mining heritage and Ireland's only cable car (to Dursey Island).
Mourne Mountains, Co. Down
Slieve Donard (Mourne Mountains)
Northern Ireland's highest peak (850m). The Mourne Wall summit route from Newcastle — steep, exposed, panoramic view over the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man on a clear day.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Glendalough Miner's Way
The classic Glendalough loop past the Upper Lake to the abandoned 19th-century Miner's Village. 10km, forest + lake shore + Wicklow granite, day trip from Dublin.
Antrim
Causeway Coast Way
51km along Antrim's north coast — Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, White Park Bay.
Featured Trail — Special Edition
The Táin Way + Cúchulainn's Trail
The 40km loop over the Cooley Peninsula that traces Ireland's foundation myth. Quest waypoint map, unlockable chapters of the epic, drone-shot cliffs + castle. Not just a hike — a walking edition of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
Enter the story →Frequently asked
What is the best long-distance hiking trail in Ireland?
The Wicklow Way — 129km, 5-9 days, opened 1980 as Ireland's first waymarked path. Runs from Marlay Park on Dublin's edge to Clonegal in Carlow, through the Wicklow Mountains with a Glendalough monastery-city rest stop at day 2.
What is Ireland's highest mountain?
Carrauntoohil in Kerry's MacGillycuddy's Reeks — 1,039m. The Devil's Ladder is the classic route: 12km, 6-8 hours, challenging due to a loose-scree gully and exposed final ridge. Not a beginner day out.
When is the best time to hike in Ireland?
May-September for reliable weather. April-October acceptable at lower elevations. November-March: bogs get impassable, days shrink to 8 hours of light, and mountain conditions can turn dangerous fast. Winter hiking = experienced only.
Do I need a permit to hike in Ireland?
No — every trail on this guide crosses public land or has waymarked access rights. Croagh Patrick's Reek Sunday pilgrimage (last Sunday July) is the exception where 30,000+ climbers make it worth avoiding.
What is the Táin Way?
A 40km waymarked loop over the Cooley Peninsula in Co. Louth, tracing the invasion route of Queen Maeve from the Táin Bó Cúailnge — Ireland's oldest epic. Summits Slieve Foye (588m) and finishes in medieval Carlingford. Base yourself in Carlingford for the peninsula sites.
Are Irish trails well waymarked?
Long-distance National Waymarked Trails (Wicklow, Kerry, Dingle, Táin, Beara) — yes, yellow arrow + walking-man signs at every junction. Mountain routes like Carrauntoohil, Slieve League, Croagh Patrick — no formal waymarks, you need a map + weather sense.
Should I hire a guide for Irish hiking?
For Carrauntoohil, Slieve League's One Man's Pass and Devil's Ladder — yes if you have no Munro-grade experience. For any waymarked long-distance trail, no — signage is reliable and you're never far from a village.