These are lists of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland, and include recognised and maintained walking trails, pilgrim trails, cycling greenways, boardwalk-mountain trails, and interconnected national and international trail systems.
There are 43 National Waymarked Trails by the 'National Trails Office' of the Irish Sports Council. [1] Each trail is waymarked with square black posts containing an image, in yellow, of a walking man and a directional arrow, a symbol reserved for use only by National Waymarked Trails. [2] The oldest trail in the Republic of Ireland is the Wicklow Way, which was opened in 1980, and there are now over 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) of waymarked trails in the Republic alone. [3] The most frequented trails are the Wicklow, Sheep's Head, Kerry, Dingle, Beara, Burren and Western Ways. [4]
In 1997, the Heritage Council, started developing a series of walking routes based on medieval pilgrimage paths, and there are now 124 kilometres (77 miles) of major penitential trails: Cnoc na dTobar, Cosán na Naomh, St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, Saint Kevin's Way, and Tochar Phádraig. These pilgrim trails, and seven others, are supported by Pilgrim Paths of Ireland who follow the same guidelines for developing National Waymarked Trails.
In 2017, the 46-kilometre Waterford Greenway was opened for cyclists, and many others are planned or in development. Many of the National Waymarked Trails form part of larger long-distance and transnational trails such as European walking route E8, the Beara-Breifne Way and the International Appalachian Trail.
The establishment of the Ulster Way in Northern Ireland in the 1970s [5] prompted the creation of the Cospóir Long Distance Walking Routes Committee (now the 'National Trails Advisory Committee' of the Irish Sports Council) to establish a national network of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland. [6] The committee included An Taisce nominee J. B. Malone, who had done much to popularise walking through an Evening Herald newspaper column, television programmes and books. [6] [7] The first trail in the Republic – the Wicklow Way – was based on a series of articles Malone had written for the Evening Herald in 1966, [8] and was opened in 1980; [9] it was followed by the South Leinster and East Munster Ways in 1984; the Kerry Way and the Táin Way in 1985; and the Dingle and Slieve Bloom Ways in 1987. [9]
The work of the committee was not supported by compulsory powers, and access had to be achieved by agreement with local authorities and private landowners, [10] which was not usually forthcoming. [11] Most of the trails are therefore dependent on access from by the state: Coillte, the state-owned forestry company, is the largest single manager of any of the trails with more than 30 National Waymarked Trails making use of its property. [12] Coillte provides and maintains 52% of all off-road walking trails and 24% of the total amount of developed walking trails in Ireland. [13] Access issues mean that many trails have substantial sections on public roads. [11] Author John G. O'Dwyer summed up the situation of trails using long stretches on boring public roads interspersed with monotone Coillte Sitka spruce forests. [11]
A 2006 National Trails Strategy, by the Irish Sports Council, noted that Irish trails fell well behind international standards, [14] and that access was "the single most important" issue. [15] A 2010 review of the National Waymarked Trails by the Irish Sports Council restated many of these issues and made recommendations on a new standard of trail called a 'National Long Distance Trail' (NLDT), intended to meet international standards for outstanding trails. [16] [17] Five trails – the Beara, Dingle, Kerry, Sheep's Head and Wicklow Ways – were recommended to be upgraded to NLDT. [18]
Influenced by the work of the Council of Europe on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in the 1980s and 1990s, [19] the Pilgrim Paths Project was set up by the Heritage Council as its Millennium Project in 1997. [20] The purpose was to develop and support a network of walking routes along Irish medieval pilgrimage paths to raise awareness of natural and built heritage along these routes and to contribute to tourism and community development. [21]
In 2013, Pilgrim Paths of Ireland (PPI) was set up as a non-denominational representative body for Ireland's medieval pilgrim paths, and represents 12 community groups supporting specific paths. PPI holds and annual National Pilgrimage Paths Week during Easter, and issues a National Pilgrimage Passport to finishers of the 5 main trails: Cnoc na dTobar, Cosán na Naomh, St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, Saint Kevin's Way, and Tochar Phádraig.
Name | County | Format | Start | End | Length | Time | Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cnoc na dTobar [22] [23] | Kerry | Linear; Mountain | St. Fursey's Holy Well | Knocknadobar mountain | 9.5 km (5.9 mi) | 3.5 hours | Moderate |
Cosán na Naomh [24] | Kerry | Linear; Mountain | Ventry Strand | Brandon mountain | 18 km (11 mi) | 4–5 hours | Moderate |
St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path [25] | Cork | Linear | Drimoleague | Gougane Barra | 37 km (23 mi) | 2 days | Strenuous |
Saint Kevin's Way [26] | Wicklow | Linear | Hollywood or Valleymount | Glendalough | 30 km (19 mi) | 7 hours | Moderate |
Tochar Phádraig [27] | Mayo | Linear; Mountain | Ballintubber Abbey | Croagh Patrick mountain | 30 km (19 mi) | 10 hours | Moderate |
The routes follow the guidelines for National Waymarked Trails, [28] with black marker posts with a yellow pilgrim symbol; this image is based on a stone from a pilgrimage site in County Cork which depicts a pilgrim with a Celtic tonsure, wearing a tunic and carrying a staff. [29] Beneath the symbol is a directional arrow inset with a cross of arcs, one of the main symbols of pilgrimage in Ireland. [29]
As of March 2021 [update] , there were four greenways (mostly rail trails) in the Republic of Ireland:
Name | County | Format | Start | End | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great Southern Trail [30] | Limerick; Kerry | Linear | Rathkeale | Abbeyfeale | 35 km (22 mi) |
Great Western Greenway [31] | Mayo | Linear | Westport | Achill | 42 km (26 mi) |
Waterford Greenway [32] | Waterford | Linear | Waterford City | Dungarvan | 46 km (29 mi) |
Royal Canal Greenway [33] | Kildare;Meath;Westmeath;Longford | Canal way | Maynooth harbour | Longford, and Cloondara | 130 km (81 mi) |
A project has been initiated to create an 80-kilometre (50-mile) Connemara Greenway along the route of the former Galway to Clifden Midland Great Western Railway. [34] The Dublin-Galway Greenway has also been initiated. [35] The 280 km route was planned to be completed by 2020. [36] [37] [ needs update ] Sections of the route follow the Royal Canal from Dublin, as well as the disused Mullingar-Athlone rail line. [36] [38] Funding was made available for the development of a greenway on the former Tralee to Fenit railway line in County Kerry, with (as of 2011) the development of further greenways under consideration in other parts of the country. [39] [40] There is also a campaign to create a greenway on the Claremorris, County Mayo to Collooney, County Sligo section of the Western Rail Corridor. [41] [42] [43] [44]
The Royal Canal Greenway is due[ when? ] to be extended along the Royal Canal to Dublin to an expanded length of 144 km (89 mi).[ citation needed ]
The Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) maintains a number of "boarded paths", often using railway sleepers, on some Irish mountains.
The driver of their creation has been to protect the underlying ground (often delicate bogland) from erosion by hill-walkers, however, in most cases, the creation of the paths has also materially increased the use and popularity of the paths by the public. [45] When the Stairway to Heaven was opened in 2015, it was estimated that visitors to Cuilcagh Mountain increased from circa 3,000 per annum, to over 60,000 per annum. [46]
As of June 2019 [update] , there are five boarded mountain paths (also called Tóchars by the NPWS) in Ireland:
The future of boarded mountain paths and trails in Ireland was put in doubt when a climber, Teresa Wall, successfully sued the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in the Circuit Court for €40,000 in 2016 for an injury sustained on the Djouce boarded walk (she required seven stitches after tripping on the boardwalk and cutting her knee near the J.B. Malone memorial stone ); however, her award was overturned in February 2017 following a High Court appeal by the NPWS, which rejected her arguments that a "trip hazard" is the same whatever the location. [54] [55] [56]
Beara-Breifne Way is a walking and cycling route under development intended to run from the Beara Peninsula, Cork to Breifne, Leitrim following the line of Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare's march in the aftermath of the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. [57] The intended route will make use of the Beara Way; Ballyhoura Way; Suck Valley Way; Miner's Way and Historical Trail; Leitrim Way; and Cavan Way. [58]
European walking route E8 is an international walking trail that extends from Dursey Island, County Cork to Istanbul in Turkey. In Ireland the E8 follows the Wicklow, South Leinster, East Munster and Blackwater Ways and parts of the Kerry and Beara Ways. [59]
There is also a proposal to extend the International Appalachian Trail (IAT), an extension of the Appalachian Trail through Canada to Newfoundland, to all terrain that formed part of the Appalachian Mountains of Pangaea, including Ireland. It is proposed that the Irish leg of the IAT will make use of the Slí Colmcille and the Bluestack Way in County Donegal before joining the Ulster Way in Northern Ireland. [60]
Glendalough is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead mine. Glendalough is also a recreational area for picnics, for walking along networks of maintained trails of varying difficulty, and also for rock climbing.
The Wicklow Way is a 131-kilometre (81-mile) long-distance trail that crosses the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It runs from Marlay Park in the southern suburbs of Dublin through County Wicklow and ends in the village of Clonegal in County Carlow. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the Irish Sports Council and is waymarked by posts with a yellow "walking man" symbol and a directional arrow. Typically completed in 5–7 days, it is one of the busiest of Ireland's National Waymarked Trails, with up to 24,000 people a year walking the most popular sections. The Way is also used regularly by a number of mountain running competitions.
The Kerry Way is a long-distance trail in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 214-kilometre (133-mile) long circular trail that begins and ends in Killarney and is typically broken into nine stages. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Kerry County Council, South Kerry Development Partnership and the Kerry Way Committee. The Way circles the Iveragh Peninsula and forms a walkers' version of the Ring of Kerry road tour. It is the longest of Ireland's National Waymarked Trails.
The Beara Way is a long-distance trail in the southwest of Ireland. It is a 206-kilometre (128-mile) long circular trail around the Beara Peninsula that begins and ends in Glengarriff, County Cork, also passing through parts of County Kerry. It is typically completed in nine days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Beara Tourism and Development Association.
The Ballyhoura Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. The trail is 89 kilometres long; it begins at St John's Bridge, near Kanturk, County Cork and ends at Limerick Junction, County Tipperary, and is typically completed in four days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Ballyhoura Fáilte. The trail was opened in April 1994 by President Mary Robinson.
The Blackwater Way is a long-distance trail that follows the valley of the River Blackwater in Ireland. It is 168 kilometres long and begins in Clogheen, County Tipperary and ends in Shrone, County Kerry. It is typically completed in ten days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Avondhu Tourism and IRD Duhallow. It consists of two trails – the Avondhu Way between Clogheen and Bweeng, County Cork and the Duhallow Way between Bweeng and Shrone – which have been combined to form the Blackwater Way.
The Cavan Way is a long-distance trail in County Cavan, Ireland. It is 22 kilometres long and begins in Blacklion and ends in Dowra. It is typically completed in one day. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Cavan County Council. The trail was devised by a local man, Harold Johnston, and set up by the Blacklion Community Council and the Cavan County Development Team between 1984 and 1985.
The Dingle Way is a long-distance trail around the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 162-kilometre (101-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Tralee and is typically completed in eight days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Dingle Way Committee and Kerry County Council.
The East Munster Way, formerly known as the Munster Way, is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 75 kilometres long and begins in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary and ends in Clogheen, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in three days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Tipperary County Council, Coillte and Waterford County Council. The trail was opened by Frank Fahey, Minister of State for Youth and Sport in July 1988.
The Hymany Way is a long-distance trail in County Galway, Ireland. It is 50 kilometres long and begins in Portumna and ends in Aughrim. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Aughrim Development Company Limited. The trail was developed with funding assistance from the NTR Foundation, a philanthropic organisation of NTR plc. It was officially opened on 24 September 2010 by Councillor Jimmy McClearn, Mayor of County Galway. It is planned to extend the trail from Aughrim to Ballygar where it will join with the Suck Valley Way.
The South Leinster Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 104 kilometres long and begins in Kildavin, County Carlow and runs through County Kilkenny before ending in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in five days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is jointly managed by Carlow County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Tipperary County Council, Carlow Local Sports Partnership, Kilkenny Trails and Coillte. It was opened on 30 November 1985 by Donal Creed, Minister of State for Sport.
The Miners' Way and Historical Trail is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is a 118-kilometre (73-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Arigna, County Roscommon. It is typically completed in five days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Roscommon Integrated Development Company, Roscommon County Council, Leitrim County Council and Sligo County Council. The trail was developed to encourage tourism in the area in the wake of the closure of the Arigna mines in 1990. The route was originally conceived by a local priest, Father Sean Tynan, and built with funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The trail was opened by broadcaster Donncha Ó Dúlaing in July 2000.
The Multeen Way is a long-distance trail in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is 23 kilometres long and begins in Tipperary Town and ends in Upperchurch. It is typically completed in one day. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council.
The Offaly Way is a long-distance trail in County Offaly, Ireland. It is 37 kilometres long and begins in Cadamstown and ends at Lemanaghan, on the R436 road between the towns of Clara and Ferbane. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Offaly County Council, Bord na Mona and the Offaly Integrated Development Company. The trail provides a link between the Slieve Bloom Way and the Grand Canal Way.
The Sligo Way is a long-distance trail mainly in County Sligo, Ireland. It is 78 kilometres long and begins in Larrigan, near Lough Talt and ends in Dromahair, County Leitrim. It is typically completed in three days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Sligo County Council, Sligo Integrated Development Company and the Sligo Walks Partnership.
The Westmeath Way is a long-distance trail in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is 100 kilometres long and begins in Kilbeggan and ends in Athlone. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath Way Committee. The trail forms part of the Dublin-Galway Greenway, part of the route 2 of the EuroVelo European cycle network.
The Suck Valley Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is a 105-kilometre (65-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Castlerea, County Roscommon. It is typically completed in five days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Integrated Development Company and the Suck Valley Committee.
The Saint Kevin's Way is a pilgrim path in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is 30 kilometres long and begins in the village of Hollywood, crosses the Wicklow Gap, and ends at the remains of the medieval monastery in Glendalough. An alternative spur route begins at Valleymount and joins the main trail at Ballinagee Bridge. It is typically completed in one day.
Pilgrim Paths Ireland (PPI) is a non-denominational representative body for Ireland's medieval pilgrim paths. PPI was founded in 2013 to oversee the development and promotion of Ireland's medieval pilgrimage paths, and consists of 12 community groups supporting specific paths. PPI holds an annual National Pilgrimage Paths Week during Easter, and issues a National Pilgrimage Passport to finishers of the 5 main trails: Cnoc na dTobar, Cosán na Naomh, St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, St. Kevin’s Way, and Tochar Phádraig.
The Leitrim Way is a 57km long-distance trail between Leitrim village, and Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland. This route is generally completed over 2–3 days, and brings walkers through a variety of landscape forms common to this part of the northwest of Ireland. The Leitrim Way forms part of Ireland's National Waymarked Ways.
Nicknamed the 'stairway to heaven,' the boardwalk opened in 2015 with an aim of conserving pristine blanket bog and restoring damaged peatland that had been eroded by people walking through it.
With the completion of the route, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of the Environment lifted a three-year ban on walking on Diamond Hill, imposed because of severe erosion on the mountain.
The ascent of "the Diamond" is one of the most popular climbs in Connemara. About 80,000 people visit the national park each year, and an estimated 10,000 attempt the climb.
This route is the most popular of nine waymarked walking trails in the Glendalough valley, and rightly so. It climbs through a forest to the top of a high cliff overlooking the Upper Lake, where the exposure and views take your breath away.
Walk 11: Torc Waterfall Circuit
The combination of rocky path and sleepers will take you all the way up the summit. So unlike other mountains in Kerry, you won't need any navigation skills.
In a significant judgment concerning the nature of the duty of care of landowners to hillwalkers, Mr Justice Michael White found contributory negligence by Teresa Wall in relation to her fall. He rejected her arguments that a trip hazard is the same whatever the location.
Ms Wall, of Rathingle Cottages, Swords, claimed she tripped and fell after her foot snagged in a hole on a railway sleeper that was part of a boardwalk near the JB Malone memorial on the Sally Gap to Djouce trail on August 6th, 2013.