You’re in luck, there are six National Parks in the Republic of Ireland, and another eight in Northern Ireland, where they are known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. All of them serve up gorgeous walking and hiking trails and stunning views across varied terrain – it just depends on what you fancy!
In
Ireland’s Ancient East, the
Wicklow Mountains National Park has trails and outstanding views that will provide you with a day full of activities. Glendalough is one of the highlights of the park, featuring early medieval monastic structures and a variety of walking trails that lead to two beautiful lakes. If walking/hiking isn’t your thing, a drive down the
Sally Gap might be the way to go! Along this drive, you can find the famous Lough Tay, once you see it you’ll know why it’s called Guinness Lake. You might also recognise it from the hit TV series Vikings.
Connemara National Park is one of the most magnificent places to visit along the
Wild Atlantic Way. Diamond Hill is one of the most scenic trails in the park. It’s not an easy hike but once you’re at the top, the view will be all the reward you need. If you’re looking for a less demanding hike, no worries, there are a ton of walking trails that will take you through the famous Twelve Bens!
In
County Clare, the
Burren National Park has everything you could imagine from beaches to caves to hiking trails and even the
Cliffs of Moher. A driving tour will take you around the national park and allow you to see the most of it if you are only visiting for a few days. There are also other hikes and walks, one of the most popular is the cliff walk from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher. It will take you along the edge of the coastline with some of the most beautiful views on the island of Ireland.
There are eight Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in
Northern Ireland – and believe us when we say – they live up to the name!
The
Mourne Mountains in
County Down are the highest mountain range in Northern Ireland. If you have a day to hike through the hills, the Silent Valley shouldn’t be missed. Here you can walk the outline of the sparkling reservoir, explore the history of the workers who built it, or simply take in the park’s famous silence. Cyclists should try the
Mourne Mountains Cycle Loop as the Mournes have a variety of terrain and this loop will help you explore a lot of the sites for yourself.
Strangford Lough is another Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, situated in a stunning sea inlet in
County Down. There are some great things to do here, from visiting the birdlife wetland reserve of
Castle Espie to exploring the magnificent gardens of
Mount Stewart. The 18th century
Castle Ward is definitely worth the visit – Game of Thrones fans will recognise the location as the real-life Winterfell from the hit HBO series!
The Causeway Coast is the home of many hiking trails that will lead you to some of the most popular destinations in Northern Ireland! The Causeway Coastal Route covers 217km, spanning from
Belfast all the way to the historic city of
Derry~Londonderry. The Causeway Coast Way is an amazing hike which ends at the
Giant’s Causeway itself. The trails allow hikers to look out on one of the most beautiful spots to view the coastline! Another must-see spot in The Causeway Coast is the
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Visitors will have the chance to cross the Atlantic Ocean from almost 30 meters above sea level. The bridge was first built for salmon fishermen 350 years but now is one of the most beautiful attractions for visitors to experience.
Which of these stunning places would our community love to explore?