Walking and Cycling in Ireland

Forty shades of green and grand sweeping landscapes make Ireland a destination to be enjoyed out of doors. Ireland offers a diversity of walking and cycling routes to suit every activity level, from gentle strolls to strenuous hikes.

A leisurely day hike through the wooded trails around Glendalough in County Wicklow lures many a traveller from nearby Dublin. Along the River Barrow in Counties Kilkenny and Carlow, walks can be had along the towpath from Borris to Graiguenamanagh. Also in County Kilkenny, the prettiest section of the South Leinster Way is a hike between the charming villages of Graiguenamanagh and Inistioge.

Ireland's coastlines are naturally conducive to long and reflective walks. Particularly spectacular is the Wexford Coastal Walk following of trails overlooking the bones of old shipwrecks.

The country's network of long-distance 'waymarked ways' can keep a traveller walking for a week or longer. The Beara Way in West Cork is a loop of following historic routes and tracks. The Burren Way takes in County Clare's unique, rocky landscape, the Cliffs of Moher and the musical town of Doolin.

Cavan Way packs impressive topographic variety, taking in bogs, Stone Age monuments and the source of the River Shannon. Starting in County Tipperary and ending up in County Waterford, the East Munster Way is a walk through forest and open moors, and along the towpath of the River Suir. The Kerry Way takes in the spectacular Macgillycuddy's Reeks and the Ring of Kerry coast.

In County Down, In Northern Ireland, the hump-backed granite hills of the Mourne Mountains dominate the horizon, offering some of the best hill-walking and rock-climbing in the north. The Mournes are also the venue for Mourne International Walking Festival in late June and the Down District Walking Festival in early August. The rounded form of Slieve Donard, the highest hill in the area at 853m (2800ft), offers views of the hills of Donegal, the Wicklow Mountains, the coast of Scotland, the Isle of Man and even the hills of Snowdonia in Wales.

In Northern Ireland, the rounded form of Slieve Donard, the highest hill in the area at 853m (2800ft), offers views of the hills of Donegal, the Wicklow Mountains, the coast of Scotland, the Isle of Man and even the hills of Snowdonia in Wales.

For the cycle savvy, Ireland is a great place for bicycle touring, and bike rental and equipment supplies abound. Sheep's Head Peninsula offers magnificent windswept moors and wild gorse on its 120km (75mi) cycle route. The Kingfisher Trail is a waymarked, long-distance cycling trail stretching along the back roads of Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.