Carrauntoohil Mountain2
Carrauntoohil Mountain2

The 5 Most Awe-Inspiring Walks in Ireland to Enjoy

By Seamus Keane–Ireland’s landscape is shrouded in mist and studded with some of the world’s most beautiful scenic treks. And all of it can be seen in the 5 most awe-inspiring walks in Ireland, detailed right here.

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Seamus Keane, an outdoor enthusiast as well as the CEO of Clann Health & Fitness, has taken on plenty of them, which is why we asked him for his list of favorite walks in Ireland.

What they may lack in Alpine altitude, Ireland's mountains definitely make up for it with atmosphere and a rugged beauty you won’t find anywhere else.

From Croagh Patrick to Carrauntoohil, the biggest in the land, there’s something for everyone on this list of the 5 most awe-inspiring walks in Ireland!

And what better way to toast a big climb than with a  refreshing drink at the bottom in a legendary Irish pub!!

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Inishturk Island, County Mayo – The Wild Atlantic Way

Get ready to be blown away by the stunning rugged cliff-lined coast and amazing local welcome.

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The harbor at Inishturk, Co. Mayo. Photo courtesy of Wild Atlantic Wellness Vacations.

Inishturk is 15 km (about 9 miles) off the West Coast of Ireland. It is 5km x 5km (3 miles wide and 3 miles long) and there are currently 51 inhabitants living on this treasure island.

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The Inishturk Cliffs. Photo: Conor Lawless, https://www.flickr.com/photos/conchur/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

This island is like heaven for the great outdoors and ideal for a full day of hiking and exploring, but I recommend staying the night so you can go to the local community pub, mingle with the locals, listen to traditional music and hear the stories and legends that have been passed down through the generations.

Read More: Blacksod Lighthouse Offers Guided Tours

Carrauntoohil, Co. Kerry – The Wild Atlantic Way

Amazing views all the way to the top of Ireland’s highest and certainly one of its most challenging peaks.

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Seamus Keane standing on Carrantuohill in Co. Kerry. Photo courtesy of Seamus Keane.

Take the classic route by way of the Devil's Ladder and Brother O'Shea's Gully loop from Cronin's Yard and then take the plunge with a swim in the highest lake in Ireland halfway to the top!!

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Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo – The Wild Atlantic Way

Ireland’s holy mountain is the ultimate climb! And another great destination along the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1,600-mile journey that will take you through some of Ireland's most spectacular places.

Pick a clear day to climb this challenging peak and wait ‘til you see the view from the top!

a mountain the 5 most awe-inspiring walks in Ireland
Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo, Ireland's Holy Mountain. Photo courtesy of Wild Atlantic Wellness Vacations.

The church at the summit lies at 764 meters (over 2,000 feet) and the panoramic view over the 365 islands of Clew Bay is something you need to experience

According to tradition, if you climb Croagh Patrick in the correct fashion, you can be spiritually cleansed or receive an everlasting holy reward.

Some people even make a bare-footed pilgrimage along the well-worn path from Murrisk to St. Patrick’s Chapel, which sits on the summit.

Slea Head Dingle, Co. Kerry – The Wild Atlantic Way

Kerry people are proud people and locally around beautiful Dingle, the Slea Head walking route (the driving route is just as awesome) is known as the finest in the world.

a coast road how to plan a trip along the wild atlantic way
The Slea Head Drive on the Wild Atlantic Way. Photo: JanMiko.

The climb along the cliffs and beaches features coastal views and stunning ridges and the scenery is truly spectacular. Regular moments of euphoria and a mind flooding with adrenaline-fueled doses of emotion is a common feeling on this trek.

a man giving the thumbs up the 5 most awe-inspiring walks in Ireland
Enjoying the area around Slea Head. Photo: Seamus Keane.

Ceann Sibeal is a well-known scenic headland on the Dingle Peninsula in South West Ireland.

It is also now the Star Wars Episode VIII location of the old Jedi temple where Luke begins Rey's training in the ways of the force.

The rugged coastline and dramatic scenery set the scene as ocean world Ahch-To.

Glendalough Spinc Trail, County Wicklow – Ireland East

Glendalough is within close driving range of Dublin and attracts thousands of locals and visitors interested in taking advantage of its well-maintained walking trails and enjoying the beauty that comes with it, making it a well-deserved addition to 5 of the most awe-inspiring walks in Ireland list.

people walking on a path the 5 most awe-inspiring walks in Ireland
Walkers making their way around Glendalough in Co. Wicklow. Photo courtesy of Seamus Keane.

The Spinc Trail is 9km (about 5 ½ miles) long and takes you on an adventure through a wooded area, up 600 wooden steps. There you will be rewarded with magnificent views over the upper lake.

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round tower artifacts from Glendalough Monastery
Glendalough monastic site in Co. Wicklow, which was raided by the Vikings in the 9th century. Photo: Macmillan Media.

The loop continues accenting over Poulanass Waterfall and back into Glendalough Valley, finishing up at the stone ruins of a monastic settlement originally built in the 6th century by St. Kevin.

Read More: Artifacts from Glendalough Monastery on Display

Are you planning an activities-based trip to Ireland in the near future? Perhaps you'd like to add these 5 walks to your itinerary.

colette

Colette is a County Sligo native who created Ireland on a Budget to provide her readers with money-saving tips on how to get to Ireland and then save even more when they're there. She's a professional copywriter who lives in the New York area with her husband and two children.

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