Naturally, the lush, green landscape of the Emerald Isle makes it an attractive proposition for walkers. However, the verdant countryside; the picturesque valleys, hills, mountain ranges and the awesome coastlines, are just a few pieces of the puzzle. There are a whole lot of other pieces which, when put together, create an alluring destination for those inclined to wandering.
Walking in Ireland allows travellers to immerse themselves in treasured Irish regions which feature in the country’s rich history and culture. The world knows well that the Irish have always been passionate advocates for their country and its people. The Irish are also renowned for their hospitality, and for walkers the personal interactions with locals are always a highlight.
There are a staggering 43 designated “National Waymarked Trails” in Ireland. In the lowlands, these trails follow woodland paths, fields, riverbanks and quiet country roads. In the uplands, forestry tracks and mountain paths feature more prominently. As explained below, Ireland’s trails follow roads to a greater extent than in the United Kingdom. So, it’s always worth checking the amount of road walking involved in an Irish trail before embarking on it.
Unlike in the United Kingdom, there are no legally prescribed rights of way in Ireland. So, where a walking trail needs access to private land for the best route, agreement between the local authority and the landowner must be obtained. Where no agreement is reached, this can result in some tracks having substantial sections on public roads. Constant work is being done on developing sustainable recreational trails in Ireland with the aim that trails will follow roads for less than 10% of their length and that appropriate support services will be available.
Interested in a multi-day walk in Ireland?
We can help you plan and book it; enquire now:
See a listing of Ireland’s best multi-day walks:
Learn more about Ireland’s walking regions by clicking on the region name below.
Eastern Ireland
Western Ireland