You may not think that the weather is on your side in attempting to walk in
Ireland but whole hours have been known to brighten up - no wonder they
worshipped the sun in Celtic times. But despite the slight weather
privations walking will make you healthier, give you buttocks of stone and
you don't have to worry about what you're going to eat or drink. You're not
driving anything and you're going to burn it all off which puts pudding and
pints on the menu. And the cheese board.
Here are ten walks around Ireland.
1 Burren, Co Clare
Stout boots are needed for this stark moon-like landscape of hard limestone
and shale heavily lined with grooves from which alpine flowers grow. It's
best to stop off at the Burren Display Centre in Kilfenora
(www.theburrencentre.ie) to understand this complex yet stark area.
Alternatively, the East Clare Way (112 miles) is a circular walk that visits
the lesser known parts of Clare - best to start at Killaloe.
Nearest airport: Galway (Euromanx 0870 787 787 9, www.euromanx.com
from London City Airport; Aer Arann 0800 587 23 24, www.aerarann.ie)
or Knock (Ryanair 08712 460 000, www.ryanair.com; easyJet 0905 821
0905, www.easyjet.com).
2 Tramore Strand, Co Waterford
You may well have this wide sandy shore to yourself. Tramore (www.tramore.net)
can be a busy donkey and chips seaside town but a mile out and you won't
hear the braying. The coast parallels Tramore Burrow vast sand dunes and
Back Strand a bird laden lagoon.
Nearest airport Waterford (Aer Arann 0800 587 23 24, www.aerarann.ie
from Luton). You can actually walk from the airport.
3 Raven Point, Co Wexford
Near Wexford Town this area of the Wexford Coastal Path is full of sand dunes.
The Raven Nature Reserve is equally sandy while nearby are the Wexford Slobs
(not some Irish equivalent to chavs but reclaimed marshland) and the Wexford
Wildlife Reserve from where you'll see geese and ducks.
(www.wexfordtourism.com)
Nearest airport Waterford (Aer Arann 0800 587 23 24, www.aerarann.ie from
Luton).
4 Inishbofin, Co Galway
You can walk around the entire coast of the island in a few hours. There are
no vicious precipices, the people are friendly and curious and Day's Hotel
is a good place to catch up with a few tales after a walk. There are two
ferries a day from the mainland.
www.inishbofin.com
Nearest airport: Galway
5 Connemara, Co Galway
There are a lot of options here. You could simply amble along the Western Way
- 140 miles from Oughterard to the Sligo border and Ox Mountains - or you
could try the Twelve Bens or Maam Turks, both difficult and high. Whatever
you do, remember this area is very remote and if you get into difficulties
help will be a long time coming.
www.connemara.com
Nearest airport: Galway.
6 Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo
According to legend St Patrick spent 40 days up this mountain fasting and
getting rid of snakes. For hundreds of years after men and women would climb
the mountain on their knees. Something to remember as you puff up 2500ft.
Start walking from the visitor centre.
www.croagh-patrick.com
Nearest airport: Knock (Ryanair 08712 460 000, www.ryanair.com;
easyJet 0905 821 0905, www.easyjet.com)
7 The Kerry Way, Co Kerry
Starts in Killarney and moves on to most of the important cultural and natural
sights in Kerry. At 132 miles it isn't all easy and if you add in a climb of
Carrauntoohil (3400ft) it can be taxing.
www.corkkerry.ie
Nearest airport: Kerry (Ryanair 08712 460 000, www.ryanair.com).
8 The Sheep's Head Way, Co Cork
A long thin finger pokes into Bantry Bay and is probably the most barren and
remote of places charged with a mystical ambiance. Green fields, heather and
Seefin hill for views over the Bay and into Kerry.
www.corkkerry.ie
Nearest airport: Kerry.
9 The Port Path, Co Antrim
From Portrush to Portstewart this path is waymarked and is only 7.5 miles long
but the cliff and beach scenery is stunning.
Nearest airport: Belfast easyJet 0905 821 0905, www.easyjet.com
from Gatwick, Luton, Stansted.
10 The Mourne Mountains, Co Down
Plenty of walking here, some of it down to the Mourne coast if you wish but it
would repay you to stay within this range. Check out the Mourne Countryside
Centre in Newcastle for information on detailed walks and accommodation.
www.mournemountains.com
Nearest airport: Belfast.
Some Waymarked Ways
Wicklow Way
82 miles
A moderate 5 days
Goes from Dublin to Clonegal and is one of the most popular because of the
proximity to Dublin and the beauty of the scenery in the Wicklow Mountains
National Park.
www.wicklowway.com
Dingle Way
95 miles
A generous 8 days
Beaches, country roads and mountainsides makes this trawl around the Dingle
Peninsula varied and remote.
www.dingleway.com
Causeway Coast Way
32 miles
A good 2 days
Taking in the Giant's Causeway and fishing villages, beaches and cliffs.
The Ulster Way
560 miles
Five weeks
The first waymaked path in Ireland and the longest.
Irish walking websites
www.waymarkedways.com
www.walkireland.ie
