Them boots were made for walkin’
One of the biggest draws to the Wild Atlantic Way is its seemingly endless network of coastal trails and breathtaking hikes.
Of course, we can’t list them all here, so we’ve put together a selection of some of the most popular walks Ireland’s west coast has to offer. Discovering the rest is up to you!
Starting locally, county Cork’s western coastline has enough trails and hikes to keep you busy for a lifetime. Bantry is a great place to start with its series of trails aimed to take walkers on a fascinating tour of the many heritage points in and around the town. The walks can vary from 2.5km to 5km and can be linked together to form one 20km walk for those up to the challenge. Another extremely popular walk is the Beara Way, a 196km circular route through magnificently rugged mountain and seacoast scenery on the Bera Peninsula. The route consists of mainly quiet tarmac roads, bog roads, cliff, and woodland paths, and open moorland, and includes some short but steep climbs. For a full breakdown of West Cork’s trails, visit explorewestcork.ie.
Next door, county Kerry boasts some of the most wildly beautiful and rugged landscapes in the southwest of the country. One unmissable experience while in the Kingdom is the Dingle Film Walks hike lead by Maurice, an expert hiker and film industry expert. The trail takes guests on a once in a lifetime hiking adventure discovering authentic film locations on the breathtaking Dingle Peninsula. Another great hike to do in Kerry is the Dunmore Head Loop taking visitors on an adventure to the westernmost point in Ireland. Visit discoverkerry.com for more information on available walks.
Moving north, you simply can’t do the Wild Atlantic Way without taking on the world famous Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. It’s a dizzying 20km coastal cliff path going all the way from Liscannor to Doolin through the Cliffs of Moher. Caution is strongly advised when walking this route and all visitors are urged to check weather warnings before setting out.
Up to Galway then and you can’t go wrong with the Diamond Hill hike in Connemara National Park. Spanning nearly 3,000 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths, and woodlands, Connemara National Park is a fantastic spot for walking and hiking. There are four looped walks to do within the park and the pathways are well marked out the walks are suited to everyone, from the novice to the well-seasoned walker. Visitors can expect amazing coastal and mountains views throughout. For more info, visit galwaytourism.ie.
Continuing north to county Mayo, the Wild Nephin National Park is a must see for hiking enthusiasts. Set on 15,000 hectares of land filled with rocky terrain, scenic landscapes, and wildlife, the Wild Nephin National Park makes for a lovely hike with trails ranging from 6km to 12km and for experienced walkers, there’s the challenge of the 40km Bangor Trail.
Other incredible hikes on the Wild Atlantic Way include the Appalachian Trail in Donegal and the Lough Easkey Loop in county Sligo.