Ireland offers an abundance of walking opportunities and is an ideal activity holiday destination for recreational walkers of all abilities. Whether you're a local in need of a weekend break or a visitor from overseas planning a multi-week outdoor adventure, the pointers below will help you make the most of your Irish walking holiday / vacation / staycation.
Places to walk
The Ireland Walking Guide lists more than 1,000 different walking locations throughout the thirty-two counties. These include parkland, woodland, beaches, islands and upland locations. For each county, we have also created a dedicated 'home' page to showcase all the local walking opportunities available. If you are planning to walk any of Ireland's long distance National Waymarked Trails, you can find the necessary links on our trails page.
Guide books & maps
There is a good selection of Irish walking guidebooks available in bookshops and outdoor stores. Some of these guidebooks focus on specific walking regions while others provide all-Ireland coverage. These retailers also stock general travel guide books and maps of Ireland and well as other non-fiction and fiction for you to read during your stay. Find out more about Irish guide books and maps by visiting the following pages.
Local walking guides
While the services offered by a walking guide is considerably more expensive than buying a guidebook, hiring one of these local experts is probably the best way to gain a thorough understanding of your chosen holiday destination. Those who are looking for clients are listed on the following page.
Walking festivals
Walking festivals are a great low-cost way to explore the Irish countryside under the guidance of local walk leaders. These events, usually hosted by walking clubs and communities, offer a variety of walks and social activities. Those which have been brought to our attention by their organisers are listed on the following page. Please note that open-invitation events will have limited numbers and may sell out fast.
Clothing & equipment
Pack everything you need so you can deal with whatever weather Ireland throws at you during your holiday. It is advisable to always be prepared for rain when walking in Ireland. The following links will direct you to some useful advice on the clothing and equipment you will need for walking in Ireland and where you can buy it.
Transport options
Overseas visitors generally arrive in Ireland via one of its nine airports or its six ferry ports. Ireland's cities and larger towns are generally well served and connected by regular public transport facilities. In the countryside, however, a car is usually the best mode of transport These can be hired at any airport and in some cities and towns. Local ferry services connect offshore islands to the mainland or provide shortcuts across sea inlets and river estuaries. Five domestic flights also operate in Ireland. Find out more via the following links.
Places to stay
Make the most of your walking days by staying close to where you'll be exploring. This will reduce the amount of travel needed to get to your walk start point, and also allows you to get some valuable local knowledge from the accommodation provider. We provide convenient county-based searches on our website. These can be accessed via the following link.
Additional information
Find out some useful additional background information about walking in Ireland via the following links.
