Long-distance hikes in Ireland

West of the United Kingdom lies the smaller, but no less fascinating, island of Ireland. With its exciting history, fascinating legends and impressive nature, the island has long been considered a worthwhile holiday destination for cultural travellers, adventurers and nature lovers alike. Cities like Dublin or Galway offer you a glimpse of the colourful, bustling hustle and bustle when you visit the pubs, museums or simply stroll through the city. It gets quieter as soon as you leave the big cities. Wide meadows with fluffy sheep dominate the landscape, as do wild moors, peat fields and dizzying cliffs. With the sea air in your nose and the refreshing wind in your face, Ireland is the perfect place for long-distance hiking.

For those who prefer to experience the unique landscape on foot rather than on the panoramic Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Way is the way to go.

How long is the Kerry Way?

The Kerry Way takes you on approximately nine daily stages over 214 kilometres through one of the most beautiful landscapes in Ireland. Over 214 kilometres, you will climb nine of the ten highest points in Ireland on the Kerry Way and enjoy magnificent views from there. In the course of the walk, you will also reach the coastline and look out over the blue sea and the multitude of small islands that surround Ireland.

Another highlight of the Kerry Way is Killarney National Park. There you will find hidden treasures with a long history. In the 1,000 hectare landscape you will find places such as the romantically situated Ross Castle, the famous Muckross House and a natural spectacle in the form of the Torc Waterfall. The Kerry Way is made up of easy to moderate routes and starts and finishes in the town of Killarney.

North of the Kerry Way is another very popular long-distance hiking trail in Ireland. The Dingle Way takes you 179 kilometres into the enchanted beauty of the Dingle Peninsula. If on the way you think you have stepped into another time, then appearances are not entirely deceiving. For on Dingle, the locals still speak Gaelic today - an ancient language that has crystallised from Celtic and is spoken by only about 1.6 million people worldwide.

The Dingle Way impresses as one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails above all with its numerous highlights that await you along the way. You can enjoy the sea air particularly well on the beautiful sandy beaches such as Fermoyle Beach. You can learn more about the way of life of the people with a pint in the pub in the harbour town of Dingle. And if you want to walk along historical paths, you will be rewarded with highlights such as the Dún an Óir, the Golden Fort and scene of the Siege of Smerwick. You'll also find spectacular views as you hike long distances on the Dingle Way.

At 132 kilometres, the Wicklow Way is not one of the longest long-distance hiking trails in Ireland, but it still impresses with its route across the Wicklow Mountains and offers you a unique experience in the east of Ireland. The best place to start the Wicklow Way is directly in Dublin, Ireland's capital, and from there set off up into the country's highlands. You will need between five and seven days to complete the route. Spectacular views, typical Irish hospitality and the unique tranquillity of nature await you along the way.