Best Walking Trails in Ireland for Every Level

The best walks in Ireland range from gentle forest loops you can finish before lunch to week-long trails across mountains and bog. For an easy start, try Lough Key in Roscommon or the Howth Cliff Path in Dublin. For a challenge, Diamond Hill, the Spinc in Glendalough and Croagh Patrick are classic half-day climbs. And if you have a week, the Wicklow Way and the Kerry Way are two of the great long-distance walks in Europe.

Below we’ve picked trails for every level, using distances and grades from Sport Ireland, which looks after the national register of recognised trails. Where sources give different figures, we say so.

How walking trails are graded in Ireland

Sport Ireland uses four grades for its recognised trails. Knowing them makes it much easier to choose a walk that suits you:

• Easy: mostly flat, with smooth surfaces and perhaps some gentle slopes or shallow steps. Suits families, children and older walkers.
• Moderate: some climbs and uneven ground with roots and rocks. Suits people with moderate fitness and some walking experience.
• Strenuous: long, steep climbs and very rough ground. Suits fit walkers used to rough terrain.
• Very Difficult: mainly remote upland routes with steep slopes, often unmarked. You need map and compass skills and a high level of fitness.

There is also a Multi-Access grade for trails suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. Ireland has more than 40 National Waymarked Trails, the long-distance routes marked with the familiar yellow “walking man” arrows, plus hundreds of shorter loop walks. You can search them all on Sport Ireland’s trails website.

Easy walks in Ireland

Lough Key Forest Park – Drummans Island Trail (Roscommon)

A short, gentle loop of 2.7 km from the visitor centre in Lough Key Forest Park, near Boyle. It takes about an hour, follows red waymarks, and is graded Easy. It’s ideal for families, and dogs are welcome on a lead.

Knockreer and the Killarney lakeside paths (Kerry)

Killarney National Park has some of the best easy walking in the country, on surfaced paths by the lakes, right on the edge of town. Our guide to Killarney walks covers the Knockreer Circular, Ross Island and the Muckross trails in detail.

Moderate walks: big views without big mountains

Howth Cliff Path Loop (Dublin)

One of the most popular walks near Dublin, and you can reach it by DART. The 7.8 km loop from Howth station follows the cliffs around Howth Head, with views of Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island, and sometimes grey seals below. Sport Ireland grades it Moderate, with about 130 m of climbing, and suggests around two hours.

Quick facts: Howth Cliff Path Loop

Distance	7.8 km loop
Grade	Moderate (about 130 m ascent)
Time	About 2 hours
Start	Howth DART station
Getting there	DART from Dublin city centre
Note	Narrow cliff sections: keep dogs on a lead and children close

Cosán na Naomh (Kerry)

A 17.7 km linear pilgrim path on the Dingle Peninsula, from Ventry towards the foot of Mount Brandon. It is graded Moderate, with about 400 m of climbing, and takes around five and a half hours. Expect early Christian sites, wide Atlantic views and very few crowds.

Strenuous day walks

The Spinc and Glenealo Valley, Glendalough (Wicklow)

The classic Glendalough walk climbs the boardwalk steps above the Upper Lake, follows the Spinc ridge with dramatic views down to the water, and returns through the Glenealo Valley past old mine workings. The loop is 8.8 km with about 380 m of climbing and takes about 3.5 hours. It starts at the National Park Information Office at the Upper Lake. Check for detours before you go, as diversions have been in place at times.

Diamond Hill (Galway)

From the Connemara National Park Visitor Centre at Letterfrack, waymarked paths climb Diamond Hill, with wonderful views of the Twelve Bens, Kylemore and the Atlantic coast. The route is 6.2 km with about 400 m of climbing and takes around two hours. There’s a shorter lower loop if you’d prefer an easier option.

Croagh Patrick (Mayo)

Ireland’s holy mountain rises to 764 m above Clew Bay. The pilgrim path starts at the visitor centre car park in Murrisk, and most walkers take three to four hours up and down. The upper slopes are steep, and it’s harder coming down than going up, so take your time and wear boots with good grip. On Reek Sunday, the last Sunday of July, thousands of pilgrims climb the mountain.

Sliabh Liag Pilgrim Path (Donegal)

Some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The Pilgrim Path from Teelin is 3.2 km each way, with about 425 m of climbing, and is graded Strenuous. Allow two to two and a half hours there and back. Dogs are not allowed on this route.

Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk (Clare)

The coastal walk from Doolin to Liscannor runs along the top of the cliffs for 19.5 km and is graded Strenuous. Parts of the route have been closed in recent years for safety reasons, so check the Discover Ireland Cliffs of Moher walk page for the current status before you go.

Slieve Donard (Down, Northern Ireland)

At 850 m, Slieve Donard is the highest of the Mourne Mountains. The popular route up the Glen River from Donard Park in Newcastle is about 4.7 km (2.9 miles) each way and is rated very strenuous. On a clear day you can see across to Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Ireland’s highest mountain: Carrauntoohil

Carrauntoohil (1,039 m according to Kerry Mountain Rescue, often given as 1,038 m) is the highest peak in Ireland, in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. It is a serious mountain day of around six hours, not a waymarked trail. Kerry Mountain Rescue describes the Devil’s Ladder, the most common route, as badly eroded, with loose rock and a risk of rockfall from other walkers. There are no safe descents on several sides of the summit, so you need a map, a compass and a competent navigator. Dogs are not permitted. If you’re not an experienced hillwalker, go with a qualified guide.

Long-distance trails in Ireland

Long-distance trails at a glance

Wicklow Way	Marlay Park (Dublin) to Clonegal (Carlow), about 128 km, usually 6–7 days, Strenuous. Ireland’s first waymarked trail.
Kerry Way	Loop from Killarney around the Iveragh Peninsula, about 214–232 km depending on the source, around 9 days, Strenuous
Beara Way	Loop from Glengarriff (Cork and Kerry), around 206–242 km depending on the source, about 9 days, Strenuous
Sheep’s Head Way	Loop from Bantry (Cork), about 172–175 km, around 6 days, Strenuous. No dogs.
Burren Way	Lahinch to Corofin (Clare), about 114–119 km, around 5 days, Moderate
Causeway Coast Way	Portstewart to Ballycastle (Antrim), about 52 km (33 miles)

You don’t have to walk a whole trail at once. Most people walk one or two stages as day walks, using local taxis or two cars. If you’re thinking about a multi-day walk, start with our Kerry Way for beginners guide, which breaks the route into manageable stages.

Camino-style walks in Ireland

Ireland has several pilgrim routes that can count towards a Compostela. Under the Celtic Camino, organised by the Camino Society Ireland, you walk at least 25 km on an Irish pilgrim route, collect stamps in a pilgrim passport, then walk the final 75 km of the Camino Inglés in Spain from A Coruña to Santiago. Routes suggested by the Society include:

• Kerry Camino, Tralee to Dingle (57 km)
• St Kevin’s Way, Hollywood to Glendalough (32 km)
• Tóchar Phádraig, Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick (35 km)
• St Finbarr’s Way, Drimoleague to Gougane Barra (35 km)
• St Declan’s Way, Ardmore to Cashel (115 km)

Check the details with the Camino Society before you set out, as the list of recognised routes can change.

Best walks in Ireland by region

If you’re planning a trip around one part of the country, this quick overview can help you narrow things down:

Where to walk, region by region

Dublin and the east	Howth Cliff Path, the Wicklow Way, Glendalough’s Spinc loop and the Wicklow Mountains National Park
The south-west	Killarney National Park, the Kerry Way, the Dingle Peninsula and Cosán na Naomh, the Beara and Sheep’s Head Ways
The west	The Burren Way, the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk, Diamond Hill in Connemara and Croagh Patrick
The north-west	Sliabh Liag and the wild Donegal coast
The midlands	Forest parks such as Lough Key, canal and lakeside paths
Northern Ireland	The Causeway Coast Way and the Mourne Mountains, including Slieve Donard

Walking in Ireland without a car

Plenty of great Irish walks are reachable by public transport, which also makes linear walks much easier:

• Howth is on the DART line from Dublin city centre, and the Cliff Path Loop starts at the station.
• Glendalough is served by St Kevin’s Bus Service from Dublin city centre. Check the current timetable before you travel.
• Killarney has a railway station and Bus Éireann connections, and several national park trails start within walking distance of the town centre.
• Long-distance trails often pass through towns with bus links, and many accommodation providers on routes like the Kerry Way and the Wicklow Way offer pick-ups or luggage transfers.

Use the Transport for Ireland journey planner to check routes and times before you travel, especially outside the summer season, when some rural services run less often.

Walking with children or older walkers

The best walks for mixed groups are short, well-surfaced and have something to look at along the way, such as a waterfall, a castle or wildlife. Easy-graded forest park and national park trails are ideal. A few tips:

• Choose loops of 5 km or less at first, and plan a turnaround point rather than pushing on.
• Look for trails that start at a visitor centre or forest park car park, where facilities are more likely, and check opening times in advance.
• Bring more snacks and layers than you think you’ll need. Children get cold quickly when they stop.
• On cliff paths such as Howth or Sliabh Liag, keep children close and stay well back from the edge.

Remember that a walk doesn’t have to be long or hard to be worthwhile. A regular 30-minute loop near home, done often, is the habit that keeps you ready for the bigger days out.

Planning your walk

• Check the weather. Irish weather changes quickly, especially on high ground and the west coast. Use the Met Éireann forecast and look at mountain conditions, not just the forecast for the nearest town.
• Dress for it. A waterproof jacket and warm layers are needed in every season. See our guide on what to wear walking in Ireland.
• Know your limits. Pick a grade that matches your fitness, and build up gradually if you’re aiming for a long-distance trail.
• Respect the land. Many Irish trails cross private farmland with the landowner’s permission. Close gates, keep dogs on a lead (or at home where they’re not allowed), and take all litter home.
• In an emergency, call 112 or 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue.

Frequently asked questions