Car Rental Ireland is an Irish owned company, based in Dublin City offering luxury car rentals in Ireland. These Luxury car hires can be made through our online booking service. We provide informational guides on Irish destinations, activites and, attractions for your holiday planning & resources.
With its spectacularly rugged coastline, and endless surges of emerald-green hills peppered with ancient ruins, and vast collection of clear blue lakes and waterways, Ireland is the ideal location to explore on foot.
We have chosen to focus on the four main trails in Ireland. These trails are the most scenic and enjoyable – the Wicklow Mountains, the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, and Connemara – and you’ll understand why we choose these four instantly.
These trails will bring you through open farmland, lush valleys, mountainous moors, and along breath-taking clifftops. You’ll discover early Christian monasteries, enigmatic stone circles and Celtic forts, medieval manors, as well as Ireland’s lively culture and people along the way.
The exact routes and directions for for the following selection of just a few of Ireland’s best walking routes can easily be found locally. We would suggest renting a Car Rental Ireland car to get you from route to route as they are spread across Ireland.
When the weather is bad we would suggest taking a look at our
indoor actitives ,
Spa Getaways ,
Museums and Galleries or any of our
Driving Routes to keep dry and warm away from the widy Irish weather.
Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
Ireland’s first waymarked trail, due to its proximity to
Dublin, has remained one of the most popular walking routes in Ireland. Despite being only 90 minutes from
Dublin Airport,
the walk contains 130 kilometres of beautifully unspoilt mountain trails and a huge variety of scenic marvels, including some truly remote upland experiences. This trail is a nature basin you’ll be passing through mountains, upland lakes, steep-sided glacial valleys, fast flowing mountain streams, forests, and farmland. The trail also passes many examples of historical human habitation, such as the early Christian monastic settlement established by St Kevin in Glendalough valley. The trail is well signposted, with rougher sections of the track graded to prevent erosion, and the central section is covered by the Wicklow Mountains National Park. This is a good route for beginner hikers and families as you can decide which route you want to take.
The Ring of Kerry, Co. Kerry
At over 200 kilometres, this is Ireland's longest signposted walking trail and is also one of the most popular. Beginning and ending in Killarney and looping around the Iveragh Peninsula, the Kerry Way passes through some of the most isolated and awe-inspiring countryside in Ireland.
A more relaxed and unhurried walking version of the world-famous
Ring of Kerry, the trail follows a similar but far more peaceful route around the peninsula, bringing you closer to the beauty of the Irish landscape, and allowing more time to appreciate the magnificent surroundings. The route follows a mixture of terrain, from roads to boardwalks to forest paths. The route passes around bays and over summits, all the time surrounded by some of Ireland’s most fantastic scenery, including some astonishing views of
Skellig Michael, the McGillycuddy's Reeks. Here you can see Ireland's highest mountains, Carrauntoohil and Caher, reach high into the skies.
Dingle, Co. Kerry
This walking tour follows the original trail of the Dingle Way, a 179-kilometre-long National Waymarked Trail around the Dingle Peninsula. The official beginning and end of the circular route is Tralee, the capital of Co. Kerry.
The Dingle Way is such a popular trail largely thanks to the sheer diversity of the scenery. Each turn in the path reveals a dramatic change in the countryside, from wandering the foothills of Slieve Mish to crossing the shoulder of Mount Brandon. From the violent waves of the Atlantic Ocean at Slea Head to the quiet setting of the pastoral farmlands and sandy beaches around Castlegregory.
Connemara, Co. Galway & Co. Mayo
This trail, beginning in Oughterard, 30 minutes north of
Galway City, and ending at Westport in Co. Mayo. This is a popular route for walkers who love the stunning and scenic wilderness that is Connemara.
The trail first heads north-west along Lough Corrib. You will be dropped right into a wilderness of forests, mountains and bogland before finding
Maam Valley. From there, it crosses the Maumturk Mountains, before descending into the beautiful Inagh Valley. Passing the Twelve Bens and the Maumturks, it eventually reaches Killary Harbour in the idyllic village of Leenane. The trail then leaves County Galway and enters Co. Mayo. Here you will be taking in views of Croagh Patrick Mountain and the islands in Clew Bay. It finally finishes in the lively town of Westport, which is a popular destination for tourists as it’s an exciting, busy little town.
Doolin Cliff
Doolin Cliff Walk covers over 20km path along the cliffs of Doolin, which will lead you gently over the
Cliffs of Moher. You will enjoy the amazing views of the Aran Islands and Galway Bay from the top of the cliff. While there, you will be able to listen to the waves crashing and rolling below you, but keep your eye on the track because this track can be quite challenging. We would recommend this trail for intermediate hikers. Following the path will lead you to Doolin village, famous for its traditional Irish music and lively atmosphere, here you can enjoy some live music with a bite eat while you refuel after the hike.
Beara Way
Beara Way is a 196km long circuit of the south of the Beara Peninsula. Where you will come across archaeological and historical sites. Stop off at stone circles and ring forts and remember to stop once awhile to take in the scenic islands. While on the route, you will be able to pass beaches and
fishing harbours, you are in for a treat as when you finish your trials, you will be able to country’s finest
traditional Irish meals.
