Ask any Irish walker for the best trail in the country and you will start an argument that lasts until the kettle boils. Is it the long-distance classics, the cliff paths or the hill that pilgrims climb barefoot? We have chosen ten walks across Ireland that deliver the most for the boots you put on, and now we want you to tell us where we went wrong.
Our ranking mixes multi-day waymarked ways with half-day loops anyone can try. Distances are approximate, so check current route information and the weather before you go. It is our list, and you are very welcome to challenge it — if you want a more exhaustive rundown rather than a ranked argument, see our full guide to the best walks and hikes in Ireland.
How we ranked them
We weighed scenery, variety, how easy each walk is to reach and how much it says about Ireland. A trail scored highly if it made us stop and stare, if it offered somewhere good to eat at the end, and if a first-time visitor could enjoy it as much as a seasoned hillwalker. Long-distance ways earn their place through sheer scale, while the short loops win on convenience. Where the same peninsula appears twice, we have judged each route on its own merits.
1. The Kerry Way, County Kerry
Around 215 km around the Iveragh Peninsula, starting and finishing in Killarney. Most walkers take eight or nine days, passing lakes, mountain passes and the open Atlantic. If you want one long walk that feels like all of Ireland in a single week, this is it. You will smell wet bracken and turf smoke, and hear sheep calling across the valleys by evening.
2. The Wicklow Way, County Wicklow
Ireland’s first waymarked trail runs roughly 127 km from the Dublin suburbs to Clonegal in Carlow. Bog, forest, high ridges and the glacial valley of Glendalough all fit into a week of walking within an hour of the capital. The boardwalks over the high bog creak underfoot, and the first sight of Glendalough’s lakes from above is worth the climb alone.
3. The Dingle Way, County Kerry
A loop of about 180 km that begins and ends in Tralee, hugging the coast of the Dingle Peninsula. Beehive huts, Irish-speaking villages and sea views at nearly every turn. Finish in town and you will understand why our readers love Dingle’s pubs, coast and food. Salt spray on your face and the Blasket Islands on the horizon make even the wettest day feel like a gift.
4. Glendalough Spinc and Lakes Loop, County Wicklow
A day walk of roughly 9 km that climbs the Spinc ridge on a boardwalk of steps, then drops back along the Upper Lake. Monastic ruins in the valley, a round tower in the trees and the reflection of the mountains in still water: the best half-day in the east. On a still morning the bell-like silence of the valley is almost startling.
5. Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, County Clare
The path from Doolin to Liscannor is around 18 to 20 km of cliff-top walking with the Atlantic far below. The southern section between Liscannor/Hag’s Head and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre is closed for safety works through 2026, so check current conditions before you set out. Pair it with the Clare coast road through Ennistymon and Liscannor. Gulls wheel below your feet and the wind carries the roar of the surf up the rock face.
6. Howth Cliff Path Loop, County Dublin
A loop of about 8 km that you can reach by DART from Dublin city. Heather, gorse, lighthouse views and a seafood lunch at the harbour afterwards. Proof that a great Irish walk does not need a car. The coconut scent of gorse in flower follows you along the path in spring.
7. Slieve League and Bunglass, County Donegal
Some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, rising close to 600 metres above the Atlantic. The views from the Bunglass viewpoint are spectacular even without a long hike, and walkers with a head for heights can continue along the cliff edge. Clouds drift across the sheer face of the cliff and the colours shift from green to rust to grey as the light moves.
8. Diamond Hill, Connemara National Park, County Galway
A loop of about 7 km that climbs to 445 metres for a view of lakes, bog, islands and the Twelve Bens. Stay on the waymarked path and leave time afterwards for Clifden. The final stretch is a steep quartzite ridge, and the view from the top rewards every step.
9. Croagh Patrick, County Mayo
Ireland’s holy mountain rises to 764 metres above Clew Bay. The climb takes a few hours up and down, the top section is loose scree, and the reward is a view over the bay’s drumlin islands. Good boots are essential. Pilgrims have climbed it for well over a thousand years, and the summit chapel still draws crowds on the last Sunday of July.
10. Sheep’s Head Way, County Cork
A quieter trail of around 90 km on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, between Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay. Fewer crowds, wide skies and the feeling of having Ireland to yourself. Sea mist, stone walls and tiny farms make it a walk for people who love silence.
Walking tips for Ireland
Weather changes quickly on every one of these trails, so carry waterproofs even on a bright morning. Wear proper boots, tell someone your route, and start early on mountain days. If you are still planning, our guide to the Long Walk in Galway is a gentle way to begin.
Do you agree?
Which trail would you put at number one, and which great walk did we leave out? Tell us your number one in the comments below. If you love Ireland as much as we do, subscribe to the Love Ireland newsletter for more stories like this every week.
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