Hiking Ireland North to South

2025

Carbon Score: 332Kg

Number of Travellers: 16

Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights

Overview

Embark on an unforgettable adventure through Ireland, where each step uncovers breathtaking landscapes and rich history. From the vibrant city of Dublin, you’ll journey through iconic sites like the ancient Walls of Derry and the mystical Giant’s Causeway. Conquer the rugged, untamed landscapes of the Inishowen Peninsula and climb sacred peaks like Croagh Patrick, where centuries of devotion rise from the windswept hills. Explore the eerie beauty of Ireland’s only fjord at Killary Harbour, and roam the grounds of Kylemore Abbey. The journey continues along the rugged Dingle Peninsula, with unforgettable views of Mount Brandon and the serene Lakes of Killarney. Prepare for a journey that blends adventure, culture, and the essence of Ireland itself.

Highlights

Visit some of Ireland’s most iconic sites, including the Giants Causeway, Croagh Patrick, Connemara, the Aran Islands, Galway City, the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and the Lakes of Killarney
Spend full days in the great outdoors, hiking amongst soaring sea cliffs, deserted white sandy beaches, and jaw-dropping landscapes!
Be delighted each day with traditional Irish fare – local farmhouse cheeses, fresh seafood, hearty Irish stew, and stop in some cozy pubs!

Day by Day

Day 1 - Arrive in Dublin, Ireland –The Walls of Derry

After arrival at Dublin airport in Ireland, meet your MT Sobek guide for a transfer to the historic city of Derry, on the banks of the river Foyle. Check into the hotel, and then head out on a short walk to blow away the cobwebs. This evening, join a local guide to take a walk along the walls of Derry and learn first-hand the story of Derry’s role in the worldwide Civil Rights movement with an award-winning local guide.

Overnight: Derry | Bishop's Gate Hotel
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 2 km / 1 miles

Day 2 - The Giants Causeway

Today, walk along clifftops and stretches of white-sand beaches to reach the Giant’s Causeway, a dramatic landscape of steep cliffs and 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns that project into the ocean. Rated Lonely Planet’s top 2018 destination, the Giant’s Causeway has for centuries inspired artists and stirred scientific debate. According to legend, a Scottish giant began hurling abuse across the English Channel at the Irish warrior, Fionn Mac Cumhaill. So the two giants could have a fist fight, Fionn built a causeway of these imposing columns all the way to Scotland.

Overnight: Derry | Bishop's Gate Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles

Day 3 - Inishowen

Today we shall explore the most northerly point of our journey and of Ireland, the Inishowen Peninsula. This wild and windswept headland, peppered in ancient archaeological remains, is perfect for blowing away the cobwebs. Our walk takes us across rugged hills, overlooking dramatic coastal cliffs and hidden coves, providing us with views across the north coast of Inishowen, Northern Ireland and, on a fine day, even Scotland.

Overnight: Derry | Bishop's Gate Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 4 - Knocknarea and Queen Maeve’s Grave (transfer day)

Transferring from the north to west coast today we stop to climb the uniquely shaped Knocknarea, a little mountain perched on the shores of Sligo Bay. The hill is crowned by a 180-foot high cairn built over a millennium in honor of a Celtic heroine, Queen Maeve. Lunch is in Strandhill, the surf village that sits between Knocknarea and the perfect Atlantic waves that break here year round.

Overnight: Westport | Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 3 km / 2 miles

Day 5 - Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick is considered the holiest mountain in Ireland—the tradition of pilgrimage to its summit stretches back over 5,000 years. Thousands of devout Catholics climb the heather covered hills and rough stone paths to the small chapel at the summit every year, some barefoot. Avoiding the well-beaten track, we follow an alternative ridge to the summit, allowing us plenty of time to take in the magnificent views of Clew Bay and its 365 islands. This evening you are free to explore the town of Westport.

Overnight: Westport | Westport Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 6 - Killary Harbour & Kylemore Abbey

Today we’ll hike along the edge of Ireland’s only fjord, and visit the fairy-tale castle of Kylemore Abbey. The surrounding backdrop to this walk is one of rugged mountain scenery, with steep, craggy peaks framing the harbor on each side. This part of Ireland was particularly affected by the Great Famine of 1845–49, and stone ruins across the landscape speak of the hardship of that era. We’ll pass by a ruined village which was depopulated around the time of the famine, and a relief road dating back to 1846 which was constructed by locals in return for food rations.

Overnight: Barna Village | The Twelve Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 13 km / 8 miles

Day 7 - Aran Islands

Renowned the world over, the three isolated rocky outcrops of the Aran Islands once held a position of great trading power in ancient Ireland. Today they are a bastion of traditional language, culture and music, unique in their geology and archaeology, and alive with a potent sense of history. Inis Mór is the largest of the Aran Islands and home to one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe: Dún Aonghusa (Dun Aengus), a semi-circular stone fort that sits dramatically on top of a 328-foot drop into the sea. Our walk will take us up to this spectacular location, as we enjoy magnificent views of Galway Bay, Connemara and Black Head in the Burren.

Overnight: Barna Village | The Twelve Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles

Day 8 - Cliffs of Moher (Transfer day)

The staggering 700 feet high Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the largest colonies of nesting seabirds on mainland Ireland. Walking along the coastal trail today, we’ll have the possibility of spotting some interesting sea life such as humpback whales or basking sharks, and if the conditions are right, surfers playing in some of the largest surfable waves in the world. Our evening will be spent in the quirky little village of Dingle, arguably one of the strongest bastions of traditional Irish music. In the evening, we’ll can join the locals in one of the pubs to experience some real ‘craic agus ceoil.’

Overnight: Dingle | Dingle Benners Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 6 km / 4 miles

Day 9 - Marvel at Mount Brandon

One of the highest mountains in Ireland is named after St. Brendan (Breanainn) the Navigator, who, according to legend, had a vision of a promised land while seated at its summit. He and his monks consequently set sail for that land and disembarked in 535 AD (over 900 years before Columbus) on American soil. Though there’s no way to prove it, there are many that believe the Irish discovered America! Today we will follow the Dingle Way along a spectacular trail that crosses a saddle to the north of the peak and descends into the fishing village of Brandon.

Overnight: Dingle | Dingle Benners Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 14 km / 9 miles

Day 10 - Slea Head along the Dingle Way

Our trail today begins on the sand at Ventry Bay, then continues along the bottom of Mount Eagle, following the jagged Atlantic Coast around the spectacular Slea Head. Some of the finest archaeological sites in Ireland can be encountered on the Dingle Way, such as standing stones and beehive huts – dry-stone buildings dating from c.2000 BC. Beehive huts are usually dome-shaped, and have a distinctive appearance of layers of stones, with each layer bending slightly closer and narrower towards the peak. At the end of our hike today, we’ll have some time to peruse the art galleries and craft shops in Dingle before transferring to Killarney.

Overnight: Killarney | The Great Southern Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 13 km / 8 miles

Day 11 - The Lakes of Killarney & Torc Mountain

Today we hike along a spectacular stretch of the Iveragh Peninsula, or the Ring of Kerry, above the spectacular Lakes of Killarney. This is a windswept landscape broken only by the ruins of stone cottages and crumbling ancient monuments. Our trail meanders between the mountains of Killarney National Park climbing up past Torc Waterfall to Torc Mountain. On a good day the panoramic views of today’s walk could claim to be the best in Ireland.

Overnight: Killarney | The Great Southern Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 14 km / 9 miles

Day 12 - Adare Village – Dublin – Departure

This morning we transfer to Adare Village for a leisurely riverside walk. There’s the option to grab some last minute purchases in this beautiful village lined with thatched cottages recently converted into modern boutiques. We lunch together one final time before continuing to the airport to say our farewells.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More

11 nights accommodation
All meals, from Lunch on Day 1 through to Lunch on Day 12, excluding dinner on Day 5 and Day 9.
1 alcoholic beverage with each evening meal and 2 alcoholic beverages with first and last meals.
Snacks while hiking, giving a taste of the local region
Complimentary, unlimited, potable water during a trip.
Expert guiding throughout.
All transfers throughout.
All excursions and entrance fees as featured in the itinerary.
Gratuities for restaurant & hotel staff, as well as local guides (not MTS guides).

Exclusions Read More

Flights
Travel insurance
Meals and drinks not mentioned in the inclusions
Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
Gratuities for the trip guide
Airport transfers

Notes Read More: There is a new legislation as of January 8th 2025, if traveling to the UK (including Northern Ireland) from the US, Canada, Singapore or Australia then travelers should have electronic travel authorization (ETA) which is now a requirement. There is more info HERE and how to apply.

Important Contact Numbers Read More

Arrival

8:15: Pick up at Caffe Nero, 29 Dawson St.

9:00: Pick up at Dublin Airport, Terminal 2. Please meet at the Yellow Statue in the arrivals hall.

Departure

16:00: Arrive at Dublin Airport

Pricing Read More

Price per person sharing:

2 travelers €10,500

3 travelers €8,400

4 travelers €6,600

5 – 12 travelers €5400

13 – 16 travelers €5300

Single Supplement €765

Important Additional Information Read More

Hiking Kit List - PDF: View Now
Eat | See | Stay - Dublin - PDF: View Now
2025 Partner Agreement - PDF: View Now

Planned Departure Dates Read More

Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_0405 | Sunday 4^th May - Thursday 15^th May 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_2505 | Sunday 25^th May - Thursday 5^th June 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_0806 | Sunday 8^th June - Thursday 19^th June 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_2906 | Sunday 29^th June - Thursday 10^th July 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_2707 | Sunday 27^th July - Thursday 7^th August 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_1008 | Sunday 10^th August - Thursday 21^st August 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_2408 | Sunday 24^th August - Thursday 4^th September 2025
Departure Code: 25WIAD_MTSI_0709 | Sunday 7^th September - Thursday 18^th September 2025

Terms & Conditions Read More: Please see our booking terms here.

Hiking Ireland North to South

Overview

Highlights

Day by Day

Day 1 - Arrive in Dublin, Ireland –The Walls of Derry

Day 2 - The Giants Causeway

Day 3 - Inishowen

Day 4 - Knocknarea and Queen Maeve’s Grave (transfer day)

Day 5 - Croagh Patrick

Day 6 - Killary Harbour & Kylemore Abbey

Day 7 - Aran Islands

Day 8 - Cliffs of Moher (Transfer day)

Day 9 - Marvel at Mount Brandon

Day 10 - Slea Head along the Dingle Way

Day 11 - The Lakes of Killarney & Torc Mountain

Day 12 - Adare Village – Dublin – Departure

Trip Details

Wilderness Ireland Office | 9:00am – 5:30pm

Out of Office Hours | 5:30pm – 9:00am

Emergency Services

Get in Touch

Accommodation

Bishop's Gate Hotel

Westport Plaza Hotel

The Twelve Hotel

Dingle Benners Hotel

The Great Southern Hotel

Meet Your Guide

Hiking Ireland North to South