Walking Holidays in Ireland
A wild Atlantic surge characterises the coast of Ireland, where the shoreline harbours secluded stretches of sands nestled between the rugged outcrops and inlets.
Walking Wild and Wonderful Irish Coast
Walking holidays in Ireland are an ideal way of discovering a landscape of lush green valleys and grand open spaces – ideal for those looking for an escape from the rush of the day-to-day routine.
Explore our Ireland Walking Holidays
Overview
Ireland's Paths
Ireland's path are characterised by 'Boreen' - the little unpaved, rural roads running from village to village and mountain track. These seldom used country roads are generally less than two cars wide - your quintessential Boreen will usually have grass sprouting up through the middle.
Those travelling into Ireland through Dublin will notice the Wicklow mountains looming over the shore. In fact, most of Ireland's most mountainous regions are along the coast. Ireland's paths are on the whole, quite well maintained - although paths are liable to cross bogs and thick mud in prolonged wet spells.
On the trail
As is often the case with many other Irish Ways, walking routes in Ireland can involve a considerable amount of road walking - perhaps more than visitors to Ireland may expect from walking holidays. Ireland and its routes reflect both the old separation between communities, as well as the difficulty in securing access to rights of way through the country. Fortunately, the path is scenic and varied, and where it meets surfaced path, this is almost completely along quiet country lanes.
Both the Dingle and Kerry Way are well sign-posted, and if you had to compare the two walks you could say that generally speaking, The Dingle Way is quieter than The Kerry Way for walking holidays. Ireland is known for its interesting coastal islands and The Kerry Way offers a chance to visit Skellig Michael, but due to the rough weather conditions crossing over to the island - this isn't always guaranteed. In terms of landscape, The Dingle Way steers a closer course to the shoreline, whereas The Kerry Way has more inland routes and a greater variety of terrain.
Ireland Client Reviews
4.7/5 based on 52 reviews
"So here's the deal: these walks offer two things: The perfect, slow paced way to take in a country and a very gentle way to pay attention to where we are at this time in our lives: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. These walks offer the opportunity to greet yourself anew each year."
"Good service, friendly and flexible"
"Great service; reliable value; good accommodations"
"Extremely responsive and helpful quick to respond we have recommended to friends."
"Well designed and well supported. The lodgings were varied but all were good or excellent."
"Excellent staff at Celtic Trails - attentive to our needs and questions. Fresh air, perfect temperatures, being in nature & wildflowers galore! Go!"
"Celtic Trails is a very reliable, meticulous and caring partner for adventurous hikes. We were able to leave all the worries before and during the trip to Celtic Trails and their local partner organization."
"Celtic Trails are very efficient and easy to contact"
"As usual, our adventure with Celtic Walks was wonderful!! The places we stayed, the taxi service, the trails were beautiful!! WE liked all the information that was sent to us so we felt secure about leading ourselves each day. The places that we stayed when we got through a long day of hiking were small and peaceful with very nice people to greet you."