Basic information about Ireland
Ireland is an island nation in Western Europe and was historically known as an impoverished country. Ireland is now considered a particularly modern and progressive industrial country and, according to a study from 2018, the second richest country in all of Europe, and even the fifth richest in the world. The country is also rich in wonderful natural landscapes, imposing coastline, wonderful hiking routes and the particularly inviting warmth of the locals. All these things make the country a perfect destination for our Eurohike hiking holidays. Experience the most beautiful hiking paths and routes of the island state, spend the night in hotels and accommodation with a special feel-good factor and enjoy the best of Ireland’s cuisine. Due to the year-round mild temperatures, Ireland is a popular hiking destination and the months from March or April until October offer particularly wonderful conditions for a successful hiking holiday.
Ireland's Western Way
Our hiking holiday Ireland's Western Way, 8 days shows you the scenic contrasts of the island state. Hike along wild and rough stretches of coast and enjoy the calm island idyll. A harmonious combination of physical activity and relaxation. The start of this tour already gives you an idea of what awaits you. At the Cliffs of Moher you set off on one of the world’s most impressive coastal hikes. You continue hiking to the Aran Islands and Maam Cross. With wonderful views of the green hills and flocks of sheep, the route leads to Lough Inagh in Connemara, one of the most beautiful areas in Ireland. On the sixth day we continue to Leenane. The crowning glory of your hiking holiday is the hike on the Famine Way, which leads you along the coast of the Killary Harbour with impressive views and is the only fjord in Ireland.
Wicklow Way
On our walking holiday Wicklow Way, 8 days you experience Ireland’s oldest long-distance hiking trail by foot. Follow the historical traces of the country and start your hiking holiday in Clonegal, where your first stage takes you over good paths to the small town of Shillelagh. Picturesque hilly landscapes and scenic hiking trails await you on the next day on the stage to Tinahely. The journey continues to Moyne and the next day to Glenmalure. On the next day’s stage, a particularly picturesque place awaits you – the Glendalough Valley, a well-known monastery town in the Wicklow Mountains. On the following day, you will hike the crowning stage of this tour – the route from Roundwood to Enniskerry with fantastic views and panoramas that can stretch as far as the coast of Great Britain on a clear day. The last stage takes you to Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, where you can end your hiking holiday with a traditional meal.
Our Eurohike moments in Ireland
- The crowning stage on the Wicklow Way: You will experience this incredible route on the walking holiday Wicklow Way, 8 days on the path from Roundwood to Enniskerry. An impressive panorama awaits you here, which in good weather can even reach the coast of Great Britain.
- Ireland’s pub life: Don’t miss out on a visit to one of Ireland’s classic pubs. You have a wonderful opportunity to do this on the second day of your hiking holiday on the Wicklow Way. The pub ‘The Dying Cow’ is certainly worth a visit.
- Postcard panoramas in Ireland: On our hiking holiday Ireland's Western Way, 8 days, you will experience a stunning natural spectacle right at the start of your active holiday – the famous Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs extend for 8 kilometres on the south-west coast and at points reach a height of 214 metres.
- Culture time: On our hiking holiday Ireland's Western Way, 8 days, on the third day the route takes you to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Dun Aengus, a fort from the Bronze Age.
.jpg "Hiker surrounded by rich meadows at Wicklow Way")
wolfgang-weber.jpg "Flock of sheep on the green Island Ireland")
Facts and Details
- Location: Ireland is an island nation in the Atlantic, lies in north-western Europe, borders Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, to the east, the Irish Sea and to the south and west, the Atlantic.
- Area: 70,273 km²; the island nation is 450 kilometres long and 260 kilometres wide
- Population: 4.9 million inhabitants
- Capital: Dublin with approx. 544,107 inhabitants
- Official languages: Irish, English
- Highest mountain: The Carrauntoohil is the highest mountain in Ireland at 1,039 metres.
- Coast: 1,448 kilometres
- Season: The best climate for hiking holidays in Ireland is from March/April to October.
- Special feature: Ireland is the third largest island in all of Europe and is in 20th place worldwide in terms of area.
Tradition and culture in Ireland
Traditional symbols, local music or dances, as well as myths and stories are abundant in Ireland. For example, the shamrock is one of the typical symbols of the country. Saint Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity consisting of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost to the converted Celts. That brings us to a very famous holiday in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. This special day celebrated the Irish Bishop Patrick, the first Christian missionary in Ireland. Two other essential components of Irish tradition are music and Irish dancing, which can be wonderfully combined. People dance wearing special shoes and the form of dance is similar to the tap dance. Irish folk music is played by traditional instruments such as the bagpipes, a violin or ‘fiddle’ or an accordion and can be experienced in numerous pubs in Ireland. Another important element in Irish history are the sagas and folk stories that the Irish love to tell and were a popular way of telling stories in the past. Numerous international writers and authors have Irish roots such as Oscar Wilde, Cecilia Ahern and Marian Keyes.
Climate in Ireland
As the name ‘The Emerald Isle’ already suggests, there is frequent rainfall in Ireland, especially in the winter months. The climate in Ireland is generally temperate and shaped by the influences of the warm Gulf Stream and its position in the Atlantic. In principle, temperatures are pleasant and constant all year round, but you always have to be ready for rain. The mild and humid climate ensures wonderfully green natural landscapes with great photo opportunities. The warmest months are July and August with an average temperature of 20 degrees. But even in winter the temperatures sit around 9 degrees, and the mild climate ensures there is mostly no snowfall. The months of April or May to September or October are ideal for spending time in the great outdoors – perfect for a successful hiking holiday in the fresh air. Our tip: We recommend that you pack suitable equipment and rain gear so that you can enjoy Ireland’s natural beauties to the full.
Irish cuisine
Down-to-earth, hearty, regional – Irish cuisine is based on these characteristics. Formerly known as cuisine for poor people, the cuisine in Ireland has now grown with a few delicacies and specialities. Typical Irish dishes include Irish stew, a stew with meat, potatoes, carrots and onions, Shepherd’s pie, minced lamb meat with mashed potatoes on top or Seafood chowder, a stew of fish and seafood. For the Irish, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and is enjoyed with bacon, eggs, sausages, baked beans and black pudding – very hearty. Teatime with black tea and delicious scones is also typically Irish. Afterall, Ireland is considered to be the country with the highest tea consumption in the world. Another delicacy is Irish smoked salmon, which is excellent, especially along the coast. Typical drinks include not only Guinness beer, but also Irish coffee, a coffee with whiskey, sugar and whipped cream. You should also try an Irish whiskey on your hiking holiday.
We offer our hiking holidays in Ireland from March or April to October. These months are the best time to explore the country’s beautiful nature.
The beautiful areas in the east of the country such as the green hills in Carlow, the Wicklow Mountain National Park, the Marlay Park south of Dublin. The beautiful regions in the west of Ireland with the hiking paths along the Cliffs of Moher or in Connemara also offer wonderful hiking opportunities.
There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ireland. The Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, north of Dublin, is a large collection of prehistoric cult sites and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. The second World Heritage Site is the rocky island of Skellig Michael off the western coast of the country and home to one of the most famous and at the same time most inaccessible monasteries from the Middle Ages.
You should definitely try a typical Irish coffee or the dark Guinness beer. Do you like to eat fish or seafood? Then a seafood chowder or Irish smoked salmon is just the thing for you. Other typical dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie or Irish Stew are also absolute classics. And did you know that Ireland has the highest per capita tea consumption internationally? An afternoon tea is a wonderful way to experience this tradition.
The highest mountain in Ireland is the Carrauntoohil which is 1,039 metres high.
The hiking paths on our Eurohike walking holidays are well signposted and the routes run on forest paths, gravel roads or paved paths. The level of difficulty for our hiking tours is assigned to the ‘walking’ category and the stages in the gently rolling hills can be mastered perfectly with a good basic level of fitness.
- Note: A head for heights is a prerequisite for the hiking stage on the Cliffs of Moher Trail.
Every year on March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in memory of the Irish Bishop Patrick. He lived in the 5th century and was considered the country’s first Christian missionary.
Countless natural highlights, unique picture book panoramas and enchanting hiking paths await you when hiking in Ireland. There is definitely enough time for a rest in one of the inviting pubs including a whiskey tasting. The routes lead over lush green meadows, quiet valleys, along the impressive coastal landscape and past the typical herds of sheep. The famous Cliffs of Moher are particularly impressive on our hiking holiday Ireland's Western Way, 8 days. And magic is also guaranteed in Ireland, because many Irish still believe in fairies and mystical figures.
5 reasons for a hiking holiday in Ireland
- Warm hospitality: Fantastic hiking paths and impressive routes, as well as an all-round perfect organization of your active holiday, are the basis for a successful hiking holiday with Eurohike. What makes your active time-out in Ireland a special experience are the sincere local people who give the country a face full of hospitality.
- Magical hiking experience: Many Irish people still believe in fairies and mystical beings. Experience for yourself the magical adventure that awaits you on a hiking holiday in Ireland. You won't find more magic when hiking anywhere else.
- Endless picture book panoramas: Picturesque meadow landscapes, idyllic places and breathtaking stretches of coastline form an incomparably beautiful landscape in Ireland, just like in a picture book. This picture can be experienced even more consciously when hiking.
- Ideal hiking climate: From March or April to October you can enjoy wonderful temperatures for hiking in the fresh air in Ireland. A walking holiday in Ireland is particularly enjoyable in the summer months, as temperatures rarely rise above 20 degrees.
- Green hiker's paradise: It's not for nothing that Ireland is called the 'green island', because here, in north-western Europe, the landscape is characterized by lush green meadows with grazing sheep.
Eurohike walking holidays with luggage transfer
A colourful variety as far as the eye can see – this and much more awaits our hiking guests on the multi-faceted hiking tours across Europe. With our Eurohike Wanderplus you will always be perfectly looked after and thanks to the detailed travel documents you will always be on the right path. Our Eurohike travel specialists use a lot of expertise and know-how to ensure that your hiking tour becomes a perfect active experience in the fresh air. From the warm advice before your trip, the personal on-site support during your hiking holiday, the detailed travel documents, the cozy hotels and accommodation, as well as the reliable luggage transfer - all these services are part of your booked hiking tour with Eurohike. You can also reach our team on the service-hotline during your tour.
- Still have questions about why a hiking holiday with Eurohike is the perfect type of active break!
