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Family-Friendly Hikes in Ireland

There are 282 hikes in Ireland in our database that fit. They average 3.3 km and 72 m (236 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 6.8 km.

That is 60 percent of the 469 routes we map in Ireland. They are shorter than the local average, 3.3 km against 15.0 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 72 m (236 ft) against 326 m (1,070 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

Trails

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
Easy

Muckross Lake Walk

Killarney National Park · County Kerry

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
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
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
Easy

Ellis Wood

Connemara National Park · County Galway

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Forest
  • Wildlife watching
Easy

Mullaghmore Loop Blue

Burren National Park · County Clare

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mullaghmore Red Path

Burren National Park · County Clare

Distance
6.0 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
133 m
Typical duration
1 hr 27 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Gola Way

County Donegal · Ireland

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Lower Diamond Hill walk

Connemara National Park · County Galway

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Wildlife watching
Easy

Waterfall Loop

County Laois · Ireland

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Botky Teep

Wild Nephin National Park · County Mayo

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
142 m
Typical duration
1 hr 34 min
Easy

Mullaghmore loop orange

Burren National Park · County Clare

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
18 min
Easy

Mullaghmore loop white

Burren National Park · County Clare

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
22 min
Easy

Sruffaunboy walk

Connemara National Park · County Galway

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
Easy

Torc Yellow Trail

Killarney National Park · County Kerry

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
80 m
Typical duration
53 min
Easy

Upper Diamond Hill walk

Connemara National Park · County Galway

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
53 min
Easy

Dooagh Trail

County Mayo · Ireland

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
1 hr 4 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Murrisk Loop

County Mayo · Ireland

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Ross Castle Ringway

Killarney National Park · County Kerry

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
50 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

River Walk

Killarney National Park · County Kerry

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
64 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • River
Easy

Lord Carbery's Cross Trail

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kinnitty Castle Loop

County Offaly · Ireland

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Summer Walk

County Wicklow · Ireland

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Coastal
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Circular Walk

Killarney National Park · County Kerry

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
60 m
Typical duration
40 min
Easy

Mardyke walk

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
11 min
Easy

Callan Abbey Meadow Walk

County Kilkenny · Ireland

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

Woodstock Waterfall Loop Walk

County Kilkenny · Ireland

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
105 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Glen Beach Cliff Walk

County Wicklow · Ireland

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
110 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Heathy Way Loop

County Laois · Ireland

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
109 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Summit Loop

County Kilkenny · Ireland

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
110 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Delish Cascade Walk

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
67 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Easy

Cobbler's Castle Walk

County Laois · Ireland

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bann River Trail

County Wicklow · Ireland

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Woodland Loop

County Kilkenny · Ireland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Woodland Loop

County Wicklow · Ireland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Dromore Wood Loop

County Clare · Ireland

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
143 m
Typical duration
1 hr 34 min
  • Forest
Easy

Ardgroom Pulleen Loop

County Cork · Ireland

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
52 min
Easy

Bolus Head Loop

County Kerry · Ireland

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
128 m
Typical duration
1 hr 25 min

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
Glendalough Grey RouteWicklow Mountains National Park4.5 km90 m1 hr 5 minEasyApril to October
Muckross Lake WalkKillarney National Park2.2 km49 m32 minEasyApril to October
Glendalough Green RouteWicklow Mountains National Park2.7 km20 m35 minEasyApril to October
Glendalough Pink RouteWicklow Mountains National Park1.7 km100 m30 minEasyApril to October
Ellis WoodConnemara National Park0.5 km11 m7 minEasyApril to October
Mullaghmore Loop BlueBurren National Park5.2 km115 m1 hr 15 minEasyApril to October
Mullaghmore Red PathBurren National Park6.0 km133 m1 hr 27 minEasyApril to October
Gola WayCounty Donegal3.4 km75 m50 minEasyApril to October
Lower Diamond Hill walkConnemara National Park2.9 km63 m42 minEasyApril to October
Waterfall LoopCounty Laois4.2 km93 m1 hr 1 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Glendalough Grey Route, Muckross Lake Walk, Glendalough Pink 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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