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Planning a walking holiday in Ireland? Explore the Dingle Way, Kerry Way and Wicklow Way with tips, highlights and routes for an epic outdoor escape.
Known for its dramatic coastlines and rolling emerald hills, Ireland is a true paradise for walkers. Some of Europe’s most beautiful trails are located here, whether you’re looking for a day trip in nature or a week-long adventure. Today, we’ll look at the latter, with the most popular long-distance routes Ireland has on offer.
The Dingle Way
Perhaps the most well-known of them all, the Dingle Way is hard to beat when it comes to incredible landscapes and Gaelic heritage. Taking between 6 and 10 days to complete, depending on your chosen route, this trail takes you on a journey around the beautiful Dingle Peninsula.
During this trek, you’ll get to visit numerous archeological sites, dating back to the Viking times, Ireland’s longest sandy beach, the Ventry & Pier port (one of the deepest in Ireland), the Ceann Sibéal Cape, the infamous filming place for Star Wars, and Connor Pass, Ireland’s highest mountain pass.
The Kerry Way
Nearby, the Kerry Way is another highly popular route, holding the proud title of Ireland’s longest way-marked trail. Ranging between 5 and 11 day trips, the Kerry Way circuits around the Iveragh Peninsula, in County Kerry. It’s known as a more challenging option, so expect some mountain climbs. The views, however, are well worth the physical effort.
Besides the mountainous landscapes, you will be taking rocky coastal walks as well as trek along ‘boreens’ or ‘small trails’, in Irish. You’ll also stop by a number of charming coastal villages for an authentic local meal.
The Wicklow Way
If you’re new to long-distance walking, the Wicklow Way offers a superb introduction. With the starting point being the capital, Dublin, the route stretches approximately 79 miles, taking around 10 days to complete. It’s a highly accessible trail, while still allowing you to experience the essence of Irish nature.
On the Wicklow Way, you’ll walk through the wooded valleys and glacial lakes of the Wicklow Mountains, including the historic monastic site of Glendalough. Some of the historic attractions you’ll get to see date back to the 6th century, showcasing Ireland’s deep heritage.
Planning your walking holiday in Ireland
Organising a long-distance walking holiday in Ireland requires a lot of consideration, as you have to not only plan your itinerary, but also pre-book nightly accommodations and other required services. Without good local knowledge, it can be a challenging task.
If you don’t feel confident doing this independently, Orbis Ways is a specialist agency providing both guided and self-guided walking holidays for a vast selection of routes, including the three above. All you have to do is choose your dates and preferences, and they will take care of the rest: putting together your itinerary, booking high-quality accommodations, organising airport pick-ups, sorting out luggage transfers, and more.
A journey through the Emerald Isle
The lush green landscapes of Ireland are truly hard to compare and the best way to explore them is simply by walking through them. Regardless of which of these popular routes you choose, be sure that this incredible country will leave a lasting mark on you, not just through nature and history, but through its warm culture too.
