The Ireland Walking Guide
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Home  »  Publications  »

Recommended Ireland walking maps


A map can be one of the most vital pieces of equipment you carry on a walk. Thankfully, there is a good selection of Irish walking maps to choose from. High-quality maps published by a variety of trusted public and private map makers cover the whole of Ireland in great detail. For walkers we recommend a range of medium-scale paper map products printed at 1:25,000, 1:30,000 and 1:50,000. For your convenience, we have marked the areas covered by these recommended maps all together on the interactive overview map below. ​
​​​
A hardcopy map and compass are the preferred navigational tools used by all competent self-navigators in the mountains and hills. Relying exclusively on a GPS device or phone for navigation is strongly discouraged. The person who follows a dot, crosshairs or a GPX route on a tiny screen is not navigating. They are effectively being led by their device. This involves no skill whatsoever and will only increase that person's reliance on technology. We recommend using hardcopy maps and traditional magnetic compass because:

  • their use requires and reinforces an elementary outdoor skill.
  • the user is the navigator (this is not the case when using a GPS device, especially one with the day's route loaded in).
  • they do not require a power source, therefore have less impact on the environment.
  • hillwalking and mountaineering should be about having a digital detox in nature, not squinting at yet another screen.
  • satellites, phones, GPS devices and their associated networks and systems are vulnerable to potential outages caused by external factors (e.g. hacking, ransomware, terrorism, solar fluctuations, space junk, etc).

In short, you should always have the relevant hardcopy map and a traditional magnetic compass in your pack when venturing off the beaten track. The convenience of a GPS is not a valid reason to go into the uplands or other wild areas without these basic essentials.
 

Choose a map
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EastWest Mapping
  • 1:25,000 and 1:30,000 maps

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland 
  • 1:25,000 Activity Series
  • 1:50,000 Discoverer Series

Ordnance Survey Ireland
  • 1:25,000 Adventure Series
  • 1:50,000 Discovery Series

Harvey
  • Superwalker Series​​

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Map retailers

Outdoor sports shops in Ireland
Newsagents and bookshops in Ireland

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Recommended Ireland Walking Maps

Support us (at no cost)

Our website is a 100% free resource for all to view without having to pay any subscription fees or being asked for donations. We cover all the costs of running and maintaining the website ourselves on a voluntary basis. And we do all of this purely for our love of walking in Ireland. The long-term development strategy for The Ireland Walking Guide website will continue to be implemented over the coming years and for as long as it takes until our strategic goals are achieved. In the meantime, here are some zero-cost, zero-time ways in which you can support the ongoing development of The Ireland Walking Guide and its growing family of independent Irish information websites.
​

Walking initiatives

We have developed the widest possible selection of meaningful initiatives to promote recreational walking in Ireland. These are delivered across The Ireland Walking Guide and High Point Ireland websites and range from monthly walking themes right through to the official All-Ireland Hillwalking Championships. We aim to deliver a consistent programme of initiatives every year on a recurring basis rather than a series of standalone one-off campaigns. Our "predictable" approach to participation initiatives means walkers always know what's coming up and have ample time to plan ahead. But why should you take part? Click here to find out...
​

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​The Ireland Walking Guide is the best and most user-friendly independently-owned Irish walking and hiking information website. If you are planning a day walk, a weekend of walking, a holiday or vacation in Ireland, make us the first stop resource for all your on-foot Irish adventures. 

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Disclaimer

Please be aware that recreational walking in the great outdoors can be a risk activity. The Ireland Walking Guide and Donard Media (the website's publisher) accept no responsibility for any injury, loss or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this website. Personal safety is entirely the participant's own responsibility.

The inclusion of walking routes, locations and geographical areas on this website is not an indication that access is permitted. It should not be assumed that access is permitted to any specific piece of land in Ireland. Please note that upland areas and coastal areas indicated on this website are based purely on their geographical characteristics. It should not be assumed that access is permitted to any of the upland areas and coastal areas illustrated on this website. Where local access restrictions exist (e.g. those indicated by "Private Property" signs, "No Trespassing" signs, etc), we strongly advise that you comply with the relevant landowner's wishes. The Ireland Walking Guide and Donard Media recommend that anyone planning to go walking in Ireland should check for potential access restrictions and to request permission from the relevant landowner(s) in advance.

Copyright © Donard Media 2012 – 2025
  • Where to walk
    • Browse counties
    • Walking areas
    • Walking locations
    • Walking trails
  • Hill lists
    • Irish summit lists
    • Irish High Point lists
    • All-Ireland hill lists >
      • All-Ireland hill list rankings
    • Ireland's provincial hill lists
    • Ireland's local hill lists
    • Original hill lists
    • Derived hill lists
  • Initiatives
    • Monthly themes
    • Hillwalking challenges
    • All-Ireland Hillwalking Championships
    • Reasons to take part in our initiatives
  • Community
    • Social media
    • Irish walking clubs >
      • Choose a county
    • Irish walking guides
    • Irish walking events
    • Charities
    • Mountain Rescue Ireland
    • Skills training services
    • Outdoor Brands
    • Recommended apps
    • Accommodation providers
    • Others
  • Walking Kit
    • Guide books
    • Maps
  • Travel Guide
  • Extra
    • Search
    • About >
      • Contact us
      • Follow us
      • How are we different?
      • Frequently asked questions
      • Terms & conditions >
        • Terms & conditions for advertisers
    • Support us >
      • Bookmark us
      • Interact on social media
      • Use our affiliate links
      • Set up a link exchange
    • General Information >
      • Clothing & equipment
      • Knowledge & skills
      • Walk planning
      • Countryside etiquette
      • Walking holidays in Ireland
      • Gift ideas for walkers
    • Reasons to take part in our initiatives
    • Downloads >
      • Wall calendars
    • Our news
    • Our other websites >
      • The Ireland Travel Guide
      • High Point Ireland