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Best Mountain Hikes in Ireland

There are 64 hikes in Ireland in our database that fit. They average 71.5 km and 1,562 m (5,125 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 606 km.

That is 14 percent of the 469 routes we map in Ireland. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 71.5 km against 15.0 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,562 m (5,125 ft) on average versus 326 m (1,070 ft) across the wider area.

Mountain routes trade effort for scale. Expect sustained climbing, quick weather changes and views that make the numbers worth it. The mix is broad: 10 are rated easy and 45 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Hard

Miners' Way

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
17.2 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
378 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Glendalough Grey Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Wildlife watching
Moderate

Glendalough Red Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
490 m
Typical duration
2 hr 59 min
  • Mountain
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Lough Derg Way

County Clare · Ireland

Distance
68.8 km
/ 42.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,513 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Glendalough Blue Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
300 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Glendalough Green Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Glendalough Orange Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
160 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Glendalough Pink Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
100 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Glendalough White Route

Wicklow Mountains National Park · County Wicklow

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
380 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Beara Way

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
205 km
/ 127 mi
Elevation gain
4,499 m
Typical duration
55 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Blackwater (Avondhu) Way

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
103 km
/ 63.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,259 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Blackwater (Duhallow) Way

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
66.3 km
/ 41.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,459 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Burren Way

County Clare · Ireland

Distance
86.6 km
/ 53.8 mi
Elevation gain
540 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Colmcille's Way - Donegal Way

County Donegal · Ireland

Distance
66.8 km
/ 41.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,469 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

East Clare Way

County Clare · Ireland

Distance
156 km
/ 96.8 mi
Elevation gain
3,427 m
Typical duration
41 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

East Munster Way

County Tipperary · Ireland

Distance
69.0 km
/ 42.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,518 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Errigal Way - Donegal Way

County Donegal · Ireland

Distance
76.0 km
/ 47.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,673 m
Typical duration
20 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Grand Canal Way

County Dublin · Ireland

Distance
116 km
/ 72.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,562 m
Typical duration
31 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Mid Clare Way

County Clare · Ireland

Distance
150 km
/ 92.9 mi
Elevation gain
3,289 m
Typical duration
40 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Miners Way & Historical Trail

County Cavan · Ireland

Distance
143 km
/ 89.1 mi
Elevation gain
3,153 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

National Famine Way

County Dublin · Ireland

Distance
169 km
/ 105 mi
Elevation gain
3,724 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

North Kerry Way

County Kerry · Ireland

Distance
71.8 km
/ 44.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,579 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Rosses Way - Donegal Way

County Donegal · Ireland

Distance
64.5 km
/ 40.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,418 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sheep's Head Way

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
92.8 km
/ 57.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,042 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sli Gaeltacht Muscrai

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
71.0 km
/ 44.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,563 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Slieve Bloom Way

County Laois · Ireland

Distance
70.1 km
/ 43.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,542 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sligo Way

County Leitrim · Ireland

Distance
80.1 km
/ 49.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,763 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

South Leinster Way

County Carlow · Ireland

Distance
103 km
/ 64.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,267 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Suck Valley Way

County Galway · Ireland

Distance
102 km
/ 63.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,251 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Barrow Way

County Carlow · Ireland

Distance
116 km
/ 72.2 mi
Elevation gain
2,558 m
Typical duration
31 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Dingle Way

County Kerry · Ireland

Distance
181 km
/ 113 mi
Elevation gain
3,988 m
Typical duration
48 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Kerry Way

County Kerry · Ireland

Distance
213 km
/ 132 mi
Elevation gain
4,681 m
Typical duration
57 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Royal Canal Way

County Dublin · Ireland

Distance
148 km
/ 91.9 mi
Elevation gain
3,252 m
Typical duration
39 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Western Way - Mayo

County Mayo · Ireland

Distance
182 km
/ 113 mi
Elevation gain
4,008 m
Typical duration
48 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Wicklow Way

County Carlow · Ireland

Distance
128 km
/ 79.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,820 m
Typical duration
34 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail

County Mayo · Ireland

Distance
59.9 km
/ 37.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,318 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Dublin Mountains Way

County Dublin · Ireland

Distance
41.1 km
/ 25.5 mi
Elevation gain
904 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Finn's Way - Donegal Way

County Donegal · Ireland

Distance
49.9 km
/ 31.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,097 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Slieve Felim Way

County Limerick · Ireland

Distance
44.5 km
/ 27.6 mi
Elevation gain
978 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

The Offaly Way

County Laois · Ireland

Distance
39.4 km
/ 24.5 mi
Elevation gain
867 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tipperary Heritage Way

County Tipperary · Ireland

Distance
59.5 km
/ 37.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,310 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Táin Way

County Louth · Ireland

Distance
40.1 km
/ 24.9 mi
Elevation gain
882 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Western Way - Galway

County Galway · Ireland

Distance
59.3 km
/ 36.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,304 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Ballyhoura Way

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
93.0 km
/ 57.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,047 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Bluestack Way

County Donegal · Ireland

Distance
50.6 km
/ 31.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,114 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
Expert

Limerick Greenway

County Kerry · Ireland

Distance
37.8 km
/ 23.5 mi
Elevation gain
832 m
Typical duration
9 hr 49 min
  • Mountain

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Miners' WayWicklow Mountains National Park17.2 km378 m4 hr 12 minHardApril to October
Glendalough Grey RouteWicklow Mountains National Park4.5 km90 m1 hr 5 minEasyApril to October
Glendalough Red RouteWicklow Mountains National Park10.8 km490 m2 hr 59 minModerateApril to October
Lough Derg WayCounty Clare68.8 km1,513 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Glendalough Blue RouteWicklow Mountains National Park3.8 km300 m1 hr 15 minModerateApril to October
Glendalough Green RouteWicklow Mountains National Park2.7 km20 m35 minEasyApril to October
Glendalough Orange RouteWicklow Mountains National Park7.3 km160 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
Glendalough Pink RouteWicklow Mountains National Park1.7 km100 m30 minEasyApril to October
Glendalough White RouteWicklow Mountains National Park9.2 km380 m2 hr 29 minModerateApril to October
Beara WayCounty Cork205 km4,499 m55 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Miners' Way, Glendalough Grey Route, Glendalough Red Route. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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