Sometimes it’s necessary to just unplug and get away from it all. Discovering Ireland’s rural regions is a good way to do that.
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Here are 8 remote places in Ireland to enjoy when you visit in 2025.
1. The Slieve League Cliffs, County Donegal
For years, tourists have flocked to other, more well-known parts of Ireland.
But Donegal has become a favorite destination for many, especially since the development of the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1,500-mile coastal route that begins in Donegal and ends in West Cork.
The Slieve League/Liag Cliffs located in southwest Donegal is the first of the 8 remote places in Ireland to visit while you’re traveling around the country.
The cliffs fall steeply into the Atlantic Ocean and are among one of the world’s highest, and even higher than the more popular Cliffs of Moher.
Slieve Liag is a three-hour drive from Belfast, a four-hour drive from Dublin, and three hours from Galway.
The cliffs are located outside the village of Teelin, about 12 miles (19 km) from Killybegs, and 22 miles (36 km) drive from Donegal Town. Once there, you will be able to see a wide expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sligo Mountains in the distance, and Donegal Bay.
Read More: Wild Atlantic Way Named Number One Drive in the World
Walking to the Summit
While the cliffs are free to visit, if you have a rental car, you will need to pay €10 to park in the nearby lot, which is close to the visitor center.
To get the full experience, go to the official Bunglass Viewing Platform, which can be accessed from the parking area.
If you are more adventurous, I suggest you take the Pilgrim’s Path, a 90-minute hike each way, to the Slieve Liag summit.
The path starts out easy but gets more difficult due to its rocky terrain. Be sure to wear layers as the weather conditions can change very quickly.
Another way of getting to the top of the Slieve Liag Cliffs is by “One Man’s Pass.”
This path is for experienced hikers only. Take a look at the video below to get an idea of how difficult this climb can be.
A 20-minute shuttle bus experience is available if you are not up for hiking. The cost is an affordable €8 for adults, €7 for students and seniors, €6 for children and €26 for a family ticket.
Other experiences on offer can be found on the Sliabh Liag website booking page and also on the Sliabh Liag Tours website.
Video courtesy of Ivan Miller for Aras BnB (known in Gaelic as Aras Ghleann Cholm Cille), Glencolmkille, County Donegal.
Other Attractions Near Slieve League
Other cool stuff to see in the area includes the Napoleonic watchtower, built between 1804 and 1806 by the British as a lookout against a possible French invasion.
Boat tours are also available that take visitors close to the cliffs. During the summer months, whales, dolphins, and seals are frequent visitors to the surrounding waters.
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Glencolmcille Folk Village
While you’re in the region, don’t forget to check out the Glencolmcille Folk Village, a replica of rural Donegal that includes a cluster of small cottages that show visitors what life was like in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Each cottage reflects a particular era and includes various artifacts, furniture, and utensils in use at the time.
The folk village also includes a reconstructed schoolhouse, a fisherman’s dwelling, and a small pub-grocery. There is also a craft shop and tearooms in the village.
Take a Donegal Coast One Day Self-Guided E-Bike Tour
2. Doolough Valley, County Mayo
While this area of County Mayo has been shaped by its traumatic history, the beauty you’ll see here is unforgettable, not to mention that it’s a great place to find some peace and quiet.
In 1849, at the height of the Great Famine, a group of starving local people walked from their homes in Louisburgh (about 15 miles/24 km away) to their landlord’s residence in the Doolough Valley in search of much-needed food.
They were refused sustenance and subsequently died along the return route to Louisburgh. Today, a stone memorial stands along the Doolough Pass commemorating the 400 or so people who lost their lives.
Other Attractions Near the Doolough Valley
While you’re in the area, there are a few other attractions that you might be interested in seeing.
Glen Keen Farm
One of them is Glen Keen Farm, one of Ireland’s largest working sheep farms that has been turned into a popular tourist site complete with a visitor center, craft shop and café.
The attraction, which is a short 3-minute car ride from the Doolough Valley memorial offers sheepdog herding, traditional turf cutting demonstrations, and guided historical walks, as well as Irish music and dance sessions.
All activities/tours must be booked ahead of time. The attraction is open from June through August.
The Lost Valley
Drive about 30 minutes southwest and you’ll reach The Lost Valley, an area of Mayo that has been virtually untouched since the Great Famine of the 1840s when absentee landlords routinely evicted tenants from their land.
The remains of their cabins and the multitude of potato plots that they tried to grow are a reminder of a harsher time in Ireland’s history.
The Lost Valley is also part of a working farm owned by the Bourke family, who provide an interesting 3-hour tour that is suitable for all ages and takes place on a looped trail.
The tour costs €25 for adults and €10 for children; a family ticket costs €60.
They also provide sheepdog herding and sheep shearing demonstrations. Those activities must be requested separately, however.
Climbing Croagh Patrick
Feel like climbing Croagh Patrick, known as Ireland’s holy mountain?
The icon pilgrimage site is closer to Westport and the entrance to it is across the street from a famine memorial featuring “The Coffin Ship” in an area known as Murrisk.
Be sure to wear proper footwear when attempting this challenging climb. You’ll thank me when you get to the top, especially if the weather is good.
A new path, from the base to the summit, was recently unveiled after three years of hard work put in by five local men who have climbed Croagh Patrick numerous times and were concerned about erosion to the fragile environment.
3. Silver Strand, County Mayo – One of Ireland’s Unspoiled Beaches
While you’re in the region, check out Silver Strand, a deserted beach that received a Green Coast Award in 2018 for its excellent water quality and natural, unspoiled environment.
The beach, which is close to Killary Fjord and about 25 kilometers/15.5 miles from the town of Louisburgh, is popular with families due to the shelter that the high sand dunes provide. Note that there is no lifeguard on duty.
On a clear day, you can see the islands of Inishturk, Inishbofin and Clare Island.
There are over 700 archaeological monuments and 20 areas of scientific interest in the surrounding area, including megalithic wedge tombs.
On a good day, this is the perfect place to spend the day and you may just get the benefit of a perfect sunset.
4. The Beara Peninsula, Cork/Kerry border
While the Ring of Kerry and West Cork gets all the adulation from tourism agencies, the Beara Peninsula is not as well known.
But it should be.
There is no way that I could leave this beautiful region off the list of 8 remote places in Ireland to enjoy.
The area is indeed breathtaking and is like stepping back into old Ireland when there wasn’t the kind of hustle and bustle we’ve become accustomed to in the 21st century.
The roads are narrow in this area, so be careful. You probably won’t come across too much traffic, however, as tour buses are too large for the narrow roads.
An Archaeological Haven
What makes this region also stand out is the number of prehistoric monuments that exist here. They include the tallest standing Ogham stone, as well as a stone circle called The Uragh Stone Circle.
Ireland’s Hidden Gems tour operator and writer Susan Byron provide a beautiful account of her visit there, recounting what it must have been like for the Bronze Age residents who lived and worked on the peninsula.
Other Attractions to See in the Beara Peninsula
Derreen Garden
Other places to see while in the Beara Peninsula include the Derreen Garden, a mature woodland garden that was planted 150 years ago by the Marquess of Landsdowne, whose descendants currently run the estate.
In 1870, Lord Landsdowne set out to create a garden out of the rocks and scrub oak that surrounded his property.
He planted 400 acres of woodland and today that includes a collection of shrubs and specimen trees that were first brought back to Ireland from his plant hunting expeditions in the Himalayas.
Derreen Garden is famous for its collection of rhododendrons, some of which have grown to a size rarely seen in other Irish gardens, as well as its tree ferns.
It is a haven for wildlife, attracting Sika deer, red squirrels, and occasionally, you might just see an Irish hare.
Children who visit the estate have lots of fun trying to find the many fairies who are said to inhabit the “derreenies” or tiny two-inch houses that are scattered throughout the property.
There’s also a café on-site that is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October.
A beautiful tranquil spot to spend a few hours.
Molly Gallivan’s Visitor Centre
No visit to the Beara Peninsula is complete without visiting Molly Gallivan’s Visitor Centre, a 200-year-old cottage and farm that is actually in County Kerry, where the peninsula converges in the counties of Cork and Kerry.
It’s an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of rural Ireland before electricity and other modern conveniences were common.
You can visit the animals on the farm, see traditional farm machinery and enjoy one of their traditional Irish shows, held in the old-fashioned kitchen.
5. Black Valley, County Kerry
Located at the southern tip of the MacGillycuddy Reeks, visitors on the Ring of Kerry will find themselves in this beautiful remote region that is located south of the Gap of Dunloe and north of Moll’s Gap, two prominent attractions on the Ring.
The Black Valley is famous for being the last place in rural Ireland to be connected to electricity in the 1970s due to its remoteness. In fact, you can drive for miles and hike for many hours before seeing any signs of civilization.
During the springtime, the Black Valley is covered in bog cotton and yellow irises, making for a beautiful blanket of color. In addition, you’ll find lots of red and purple heather dotting the fields.
Adding to the region’s popularity is an abandoned cottage that has been pictured frequently on social media. The deserted house, also known as Molly’s Cottage, is located near Lough Leagh.
Other Attractions Near The Black Valley
Kerry Falconry
If you’re looking for a family-friendly experience while visiting County Kerry, then Kerry Falconry is for you.
Located close to Killarney and about 45 minutes from the Black Valley, this popular attraction offers hawk walks, as well as owl and falconry experiences for guests visiting Killarney or touring the wild.
One-on-one and group experiences are available at this popular attraction, which includes holding and bonding with a free-flying hawk and interacting with their friendly owls.
A bee-keeping experience is also available at Kerry Falconry, which is part of a farm.
Take a 1-Hour Killarney National Park Horseback Ride
6. Comeragh Mountains, County Waterford
A four-hour walk around the Comeragh Mountains seems like the perfect getaway activity for many and is one of the 8 remote places in Ireland that I recommend you visit if you’re in the southeast.
Located in County Waterford, this mountain range stretches from Waterford’s coast to Clonmel in County Tipperary.
A dramatic waterfall down a cliff face, a “magic road” that winds its way through the mountain gap, and the spectacular Coomshingaun (pronounced “Coomshingawn”) corrie lake are just some of the many surprises that await visitors who visit this beautiful region.
Don’t forget to check out Ned Curran’s cottage, which is nestled in the heart of the mountains. It is said to have been a safe house during the Irish Civil War.
Other Attractions Nearby to Explore
The Waterford Greenway
Tucked into the base of the Comeragh Mountains is the Waterford Greenway.
The abandoned railway line now turned into a sustainable greenway was once the Waterford-to-Mallow rail route and runs between Waterford City and the historic port of Dungarvan.
The 46-km/28-mile off-road cycling and walking trail showcases the beauty of the County Waterford countryside while you pass across 11 bridges, three viaducts and through a long atmospheric tunnel.
The greenway will take you close to some interesting attractions, including Woodstown Viking site, where archaeologists in 2003 uncovered evidence of an 8th-century Viking settlement that actually pre-dated the one in nearby Waterford City; Mount Congreve, home to the largest collection of plants in Ireland; the remains of Kilmeaden Castle; the Kilmacthomas Workhouse; Dungarvan Castle, and more.
7. Silent Valley Mountain Park, County Down
This area of County Down is what supplies most of Belfast’s drinking water, as well as the water for the remainder of the county.
The area consists of beautiful parkland, lakes, and a pond.
The reservoir itself is enclosed by the famous Mourne Wall, a dry-stone wall that stretches for 22 miles/35 kilometers and passes over 15 summits of the Mourne Mountain range.
Approximately 50,000 people visit this park each year to enjoy the peace and solitude that it offers.
When you go there, be sure to check out the visitor center, where you’ll learn about the long and hazardous hours that were endured by the men who worked in the dam’s compression shafts.
There are lots of photographs and artifacts there that tell their story.
There are several walks that you can take in this beautiful region, including the Ben Crom Dam Walk, considered the longest (10.5 km/6.5 miles) but easiest of the trails in the park; the Heritage Trail, a looped walk; and the more challenging Silent Valley Mountain Trail (3 km/1.86 miles).
Learn more about the trails in the Silent Valley Park, or if you want to get a more realistic view of the trails without leaving home, download the Silent Valley Augmented Reality app.
The experience will take you back to the 1930s when work on the reservoir first began. Learn, also, about the amazing engineering feat that helped reshape the entire landscape.
Attractions Near The Silent Valley
Tollymore Forest
About a 45-minute drive away is the enchanting Tollymore Forest, which was one of the filming locations used by the Game of Thrones production team.
And it’s easy to see why. The park is replete with garden follies and along the Shimna River, the area is marked by natural and artificial rocky outcrops, bridges, grottos and caves.
From a certain vantage point in the park, you can see some of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful coastal areas. You can explore its most popular trails here.
While you’re in the area, why not pop over to the Slieve Donard Hotel for afternoon tea? The hotel is located in the seaside town of Newcastle.
Be sure to stop by the Percy French sculpture that was erected outside the hotel in 2020. French was a prolific 19th-century Irish songwriter.
8. Gleniff Horseshoe and the Caves of Kesh, County Sligo
To arrive at this off-the-beaten-path attraction, you’ll need to drive north from Sligo town to Cliffoney on the N15 and then take the turnoff for the Horseshoe.
The main attraction for many is Diarmuid and Grainne’s cave, which is located at the back of the Gleniff Horseshoe and is part of the Caves of Kesh, believed to have been an ancient religious site.
You can go either right or left from the old schoolhouse. Either way will bring you to the caves, the largest in Ireland.
For those unfamiliar with the story of Diarmuid and Gráinne, they both feature largely in Irish mythology.
Gráinne, the daughter of the High King Conor McAirt, was the most beautiful woman in Ireland and was to become the wife of Fionn MacCool, Ireland’s legendary warrior. On the night before her wedding to Fionn, she escaped with Diarmuid, who was one of Fionn’s soldiers.
After years of traveling around Ireland, legend has it that they ended up on Benbulben, Sligo’s famous table mountain, as well as in these neighboring caves. It was there that Diarmuid was killed by a wild boar, no doubt an act of revenge by Fionn.
Whether you believe it or not, the cave itself is worth exploring and the view from the top is breathtaking.
Below is some recent drone footage from the area, courtesy of Paul McGuinness.
Read More: Spending a Week in County Sligo: 5 Activities to Enjoy
Attractions Near the Gleniff Horseshoe
Lissadell House
A 20-minute drive from here will take you to Lissadell House, the beloved summer holiday destination of W.B. Yeats and the birthplace of Countess Markievicz, born Constance Georgine Gore Booth.
Built in the Greek Revival style, the home is situated on the shores of the Maugherow Peninsula.
It is a must-visit if you are interested in Yeats and his connection to Sligo, as well as the opportunity to learn about Markievicz and her contribution to Irish politics (she was one of the first women in the world to hold a cabinet position in a government, serving as Minister for Labour in the Irish Dáil from 1919 to 1922).
It is open during the months of June, July and August, Wednesday through Sunday.
Guided tours of the house are 45 minutes long. They include access to the billiard room, the gallery, the anteroom, the drawing-room, and the dining room.
The tour also includes the servants’ quarters downstairs.
In that same area is Classiebawn Castle, once owned by the British royal family. It’s a favorite subject for professional and amateur photographers. Access to the house is forbidden as it is private property.
In addition to these 8 remote places to enjoy in Ireland, are there any others that you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments section below.
Thank you for this great article and excellent suggestions. There’s a typo regarding the distance from Donegal Town to Slieve League: says 1.5 miles, should be ~30 miles.
Thanks, Terry. I’ll make that change.
Thank you for the lovely pictures, calming, tranquil and serene, wonderful to know such places still exist in the British Isles.
You’re welcome, Paula!