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Hard Hiking Trails near Dublin

We track 5 routes that match this search near Dublin. They average 47.0 km and 1,034 m (3,392 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 128 km.

That is 7 percent of the 71 routes we map near Dublin. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 47.0 km against 8.1 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,034 m (3,392 ft) on average versus 187 m (614 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

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
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

Dublin Mountains Way

County Dublin · Ireland

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

Boyne Valley Camino

County Meath · Ireland

Distance
22.7 km
/ 14.1 mi
Elevation gain
500 m
Typical duration
5 hr 43 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Saint Kevin's Way

County Wicklow · Ireland

Distance
25.8 km
/ 16.0 mi
Elevation gain
567 m
Typical duration
6 hr 33 min
  • Waymarked route

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
Wicklow WayCounty Carlow128 km2,820 m34 hrExpertApril to October
Dublin Mountains WayCounty Dublin41.1 km904 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Boyne Valley CaminoCounty Meath22.7 km500 m5 hr 43 minHardApril to October
Saint Kevin's WayCounty Wicklow25.8 km567 m6 hr 33 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Miners' Way, Wicklow Way, Dublin Mountains Way. 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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