The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Ireland

There’s a moment that most people who hike in Ireland talk about. You crest a ridge, the clouds part just long enough, and the whole country spreads out below you in fifty shades of green. It’s the kind of view that makes you feel like you’ve earned something, even if the trail wasn’t that hard.

If you’re planning a trip and wondering what the best hiking trails in Ireland actually are, here’s the short answer: the Wicklow Way, Carrauntoohil, the Dingle Way, the Beara Way, the Causeway Coast Way, Slieve League Cliffs, Croagh Patrick, Glendalough Spink Loop, the Mourne Mountains, and Connemara’s Diamond Hill. But choosing between them is the tricky part, and that’s exactly what this guide is for.

I’ve put together this list not just as a ranking, but as a practical, honest breakdown of what each trail is actually like. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or you just want a decent walk with a view, there’s something here for you.

The 10 best hiking trails in Ireland

1. The Wicklow Way

• Distance: 127 km (79 miles).
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Location: County Wicklow, starting in Marlay Park, Dublin.

The Wicklow Way holds a special place in Irish hiking history. Opened in 1981, it was the country’s first long-distance waymarked trail, and it’s still one of the most walked. What makes it stand out is the sheer accessibility: you can start it from the edge of Dublin city and within an hour you’re in genuine wilderness.

The trail winds through the Wicklow Mountains, past glacial lakes, ancient forests, and blanket bogs. Most walkers tackle it over five to seven days, but you can also dip in for day sections if a full traverse isn’t on the cards.

One section worth highlighting is the stretch between Laragh and Glenmalure, where the trail dips into remote valleys that feel a long way from the capital. I spoke to a walker named Clare, a secondary school teacher from Cork who completed the full route in six days last summer. “I’d done bits of it before, but walking the whole thing changed how I see Ireland,” she told me. “There’s a wildness to the middle section that I wasn’t expecting.”

If you’re combining activities on your Ireland trip, the Wicklow Way pairs beautifully with some of the best scenic drives in Ireland, particularly the Military Road through Sally Gap.

2. Carrauntoohil (MacGillycuddy’s Reeks)

• Distance: Varies by route, Devil’s Ladder route approx. 10 km (6 miles) return.
• Difficulty: Challenging.
• Location: County Kerry.

This is the one for the bucket list. Carrauntoohil, at 1,038 metres, is Ireland’s highest mountain and sits at the heart of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks range in County Kerry. Standing on the summit cross on a clear day, with the Ring of Kerry below and the Atlantic in the distance, is a genuinely unforgettable experience.

The most popular ascent is via the Devil’s Ladder, a steep gully route that requires some scrambling near the top. It’s not technical climbing, but it’s not a casual stroll either. Proper footwear is essential, and you should be comfortable navigating in poor visibility, because the cloud can roll in fast.

A solid alternative is the Caher route, which is considered safer in wet conditions. Many guides recommend it as the preferred ascent for less experienced hikers.

Worth noting: the Reeks are also home to some incredible ridge walks, and if you have the fitness and experience, the Coomloughra Horseshoe is considered one of the finest mountain days in Ireland.

3. The Dingle Way

• Distance: 179 km (111 miles).
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Location: Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry.

The Dingle Way loops around the entire Dingle Peninsula, and it might just be the most scenically varied long-distance trail in Ireland. In a single day’s walking, you can move from Atlantic-facing headlands to sheltered coves to the slopes of Mount Brandon, the second-highest peak in Ireland.

The Dingle Peninsula also has more ancient monuments per square kilometre than almost anywhere else in the country, so you’re constantly stumbling across standing stones, souterrains (underground passages), and Iron Age forts. It adds a layer of depth to the walk that pure wilderness trails can’t match.

Most walkers allow eight to ten days for the full loop. The section from Dunquin around Slea Head is consistently rated as one of the most dramatic coastal walks in Ireland, with views across to the Blasket Islands.

4. The Beara Way

• Distance: 196 km (122 miles).
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Location: Beara Peninsula, Counties Cork and Kerry.

The Beara Peninsula is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbour, the Ring of Kerry. That’s the Beara Way’s secret advantage. This trail loops around a peninsula that gets a fraction of the tourist traffic but offers scenery that’s just as dramatic.

The trail crosses into both County Cork and County Kerry, taking in the Caha and Slieve Miskish mountain ranges, remote coastal villages, and the Healy Pass, which at 334 metres offers views across two counties.

If you’re someone who prefers trails where you’re not constantly passing other walkers, this is the one for you. Accommodation along the route can be sparse in places, so planning ahead is essential.

5. The Causeway Coast Way

• Distance: 53 km (33 miles).
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Location: County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The Causeway Coast Way runs along the north Antrim coast, connecting Ballycastle to Portstewart, and passing some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the entire island of Ireland.

The obvious highlight is the Giant’s Causeway itself, the UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. But the trail offers much more than that one landmark: the rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, the ruins of Dunluce Castle perched on a cliff edge, and long stretches of golden beach all feature along the route.

Most walkers complete it over three to four days. It’s one of the few trails on this list where you’re genuinely never far from a good pub or café, which some people consider a feature rather than a bug.

6. Slieve League Cliffs

• Distance: Various, Pilgrim’s Path approx. 10 km (6 miles) return.
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging, depending on the route.
• Location: County Donegal.

Here’s a fact that surprises a lot of people: the Slieve League sea cliffs in Donegal drop 601 metres to the Atlantic below, making them nearly three times the height of the Cliffs of Moher. And yet they’re far less visited.

The standard walk up to the cliff edge and along the ridge to One Man’s Pass is one of the most exhilarating day hikes in Ireland. One Man’s Pass is exactly what it sounds like: a narrow ridge with steep drops on either side. It’s optional (you can turn back before it), but for confident walkers it’s a genuinely thrilling experience.

Go on a clear day if you can, though even in mist the cliffs have a brooding, cinematic quality that stays with you.

7. Croagh Patrick

• Distance: Approx. 7.5 km (4.7 miles) return.
• Difficulty: Strenuous.
• Location: County Mayo.

Croagh Patrick rises to 764 metres above Clew Bay in County Mayo and has been a site of pilgrimage for over 1,500 years. Every year on the last Sunday of July (Reek Sunday), tens of thousands of pilgrims make the ascent, some in bare feet.

You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the walk. The upper section is steep, loose quartzite scree that demands respect, and the views from the summit across Clew Bay and its drumlin islands are extraordinary.

I’d recommend going on a weekday if possible. Weekend crowds, especially in summer, can make the narrow summit approach feel more like a queue than a mountain climb. Early morning starts also give you better odds of catching the views before cloud moves in.

8. Glendalough Spink Loop

• Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles).
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Location: Glendalough, County Wicklow.

If you only have one day in Wicklow, the Spink Loop above Glendalough is the one to do. The trail climbs steeply through ancient oak woodland, breaks out onto a ridge with views across both Glendalough lakes, and passes through some genuinely atmospheric bogland before descending past the famous monastic site.

What makes the Spink Loop special is that it combines three things that few hikes manage simultaneously: historical depth (Glendalough was founded by St Kevin in the 6th century), proper elevation gain, and the kind of lake views that justify every metre of climb.

It’s also very well waymarked and accessible from Dublin in under an hour, which explains why it’s busy on weekends. Start before 9 am if you want the trail largely to yourself.

A friend of mine, Declan, who runs guided walking tours out of Wicklow Town, told me he takes clients on this loop more than any other route. “You can do it in half a day, but most people don’t want it to end,” he said. “The ridge section, when it’s clear, is just perfection.”

9. Mourne Mountains

• Distance: Various, Slieve Donard (highest peak) approx. 10 km return.
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging.
• Location: County Down, Northern Ireland.

The Mournes have a distinctive character that sets them apart from other Irish mountain ranges. The granite peaks are lower than the Reeks but wilder in feel, crisscrossed by the famous Mourne Wall (a 35 km dry stone wall built in the early 20th century that connects 15 mountain summits).

Slieve Donard at 849 metres is the highest point in Northern Ireland, and the standard route from Newcastle is a well-trodden classic. Following the wall from the Glen River valley up to the summit ridge offers consistent waymarking and great views across to the Isle of Man on a clear day.

The Mournes are also a favourite with cyclists, and if you’re combining a walking trip with two wheels, the best cycle routes in Ireland include some excellent road and trail options in the Mourne area.

10. Connemara National Park Diamond Hill

• Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles).
• Difficulty: Moderate.
• Location: Letterfrack, County Galway.

Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park is arguably the best short hike in the west of Ireland. The loop climbs through bogland and heath to the quartzite summit at 442 metres, with views across to the Twelve Bens mountain range, the Atlantic coast, and Killary Harbour (Ireland’s only fjord) on a clear day.

The trail is well maintained, clearly waymarked, and can be completed in two to three hours, making it ideal for families or walkers who want a satisfying mountain day without a full-day commitment.

Connemara’s landscape is unlike anywhere else in Ireland: vast, treeless, and horizontally endless in a way that feels almost Icelandic. Diamond Hill gives you an elevated perspective on all of it.

Practical tips for hiking in Ireland

Gear that actually matters:

• A quality waterproof jacket (not just water-resistant) is non-negotiable.
• Proper walking boots with ankle support for any mountain route.
• A physical map and compass if you’re going into the hills (phone batteries die).
• High-vis layer for low-visibility days.

Navigation:

• Most long-distance trails are well waymarked with yellow arrows or walker symbols.
• The Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) Discovery Series maps are the gold standard for detail.
• MountainViews.ie is an excellent Irish-specific resource for route information and conditions.

Safety basics:

• Always tell someone your planned route and expected return time.
• Check mountain weather at met.ie before heading out.
• The Irish Mountain Rescue Association (IMRA) is the emergency service for mountain incidents. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue.

A note on Leave No Trace: Ireland’s landscapes are genuinely fragile. Stick to marked trails where possible, take your litter home, and be careful with campfires in dry conditions. The “leave no trace” ethos isn’t just a rule; it’s the reason these places are still beautiful.

Conclusion

Ireland’s hiking trails offer something that’s genuinely hard to find in much of Europe: wild, accessible landscape without overcrowding (on most routes, at least). Whether you’re planning a multi-day long-distance trail or a half-day loop to stretch your legs between sightseeing stops, the 10 trails above cover the full spectrum.

My honest recommendation for first-timers: start with the Glendalough Spink Loop if you’re based in or near Dublin, or the Diamond Hill loop in Connemara if you’re heading west. Both give you a strong taste of what Irish hiking has to offer without requiring specialist skills or equipment.

Then, if the landscape gets under your skin the way it tends to, you’ll find yourself planning a return trip to tackle the Wicklow Way end-to-end or attempt Carrauntoohil at dawn. That’s usually how it goes.

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