Over the past year, we’ve all fallen in love with hiking like never before. When we haven’t been limited to our 2km or 5km radius, we’ve flocked to Ireland’s most beautiful hills and mountains to drink in the fresh, clear air. And we’ve realised that some of the most beautiful countryside in the world is right on our doorstep! If you’ve fallen in love with hiking over the last year and want to know what you can explore, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our list of some of the best hikes in Ireland…
The best hikes in Ireland
Cork/Kerry: The Beara Peninsula
This cross-county walk is an absolute beauty, taking in the rugged hills and gorgeous views over Bantry Bay. Park at the Healy Pass and follow the spine of the ridge southwest, along Coombane and up to Hungry Hill. Looking down at Bere Island from the summit above, turn 360 degrees and take it all in. It’s possibly one of the most beautiful sights in the entire country, and definitely one of the best hikes in Ireland.
Wicklow: The Glenmacnass Horseshoe
Wicklow is a paradise for hiking, with jaw droppingly beautiful scenery at every turn. And this walk is a doozy, at over 24km with over 1000 metres of ascent, that’ll take you around 7 hours. It’s an excellent one to train on, if you’re heading out on one of our expeditions. Park in Laragh and walk north along the R115 to the Wicklow Way path, turning right onto Paddock hill. Climb Scarr and Kanturk mountains, before dropping down to lunch at Glenmacnass waterfall. Cross the river going west for a tough and tiring climb up Tonelagee, before dropping down the broad spur and picking up the track to Brockagh and back into Laragh.
Kerry: The Mullaghanattin Horseshoe
Kerry is the perfect county when it comes to hiking, with plenty of mountains to explore. Like the Mullaghanattin Horseshoe! Park at Tooreenahone and walk counter-clockwise around the horseshoe, with the main objective of the day being to take in the steep and serious summit of Mullaghanattin. Your legs and lungs will burn on the way up and the ridge walk is serious, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the McGillycuddy reeks. Exit via a track through a friendly farmer’s land, but be sure to be respectful of gates and livestock.
The Kerry Staycation with Earth’s Edge
If you love hiking and want to take it to the next level, our brand new Kerry Staycation is the expedition for you. This 8-day, 7-night trip takes in the most beautiful mountains and landscapes in Kerry, from Mount Brandon to Purple Mountain. We even tackle the country’s tallest mountain, Carrauntoohil. You’ll camp along the way and be fully guided with an experienced leader and a doctor, too. You’ll also meet like-minded travellers and make friends for life. The final night is spent in luxury in The Brehon hotel, where we can toast to our successes! If you want to find out more about the Kerry Staycation, click here.
