Ireland's best Hillwalking Holidays

Ireland has long been a favourite destination for those who are interested in hillwalking holidays. With its beautiful mountainous landscape and soft green pastures, your walking is rewarded by breath-taking scenery, and surprises around every corner!

There are walks to suit all levels of fitness, from strenuous to the more gentle. Everyone will find something to suit. There are breathtaking coastal and cliff walks and stunning inland walks and hikes.

One of the most famous walks in Ireland is the Wicklow Way. Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland and the scenery truly is spectacular. The walk starts in the south Dublin suburb of Rathfarnam and travels across counties Dublin and Wicklow, ending in the County Carlow village of Clonegal, 80 miles later.

The walk takes a walker of average fitness about 8 to 10 days and accommodation is plentiful along the route. The highlights are the beautiful and stark mountain scenery and woodland paths. You also pass through through historical Glendalough and near the pretty villages of Eniskerry and Roundwood.

The Easy Munster Way is a 70 km stretch of gentle walking in picturesque south County Tipperary. You follow the path of River Suir, and the walk is a mix of riverside paths, quiet country roads and open mountain moorland. Along the route, you will pass through the famous Nire Valley, the flanks of the Comeragh Mountains, the pretty village of Newcastle, ending in the village of Clogheen.

While you're in the region, you can also take a day trip up Slievenamon (The Mountain of the Women), near the town of Clonmel. The mountain is famed in Irish mythology as being the site of a women's race to win the hand of the legendary Finn McCool.

For views of the beautiful rugged Atlantic coastline, there is some great mountain walking on Achill Island, Co. Mayo. There are two significant mountain walks on the island - Slievemore Mountain and Croaghaun. The sea-cliffs at Croaghaun are said to be amongst the highest in Europe. The island scenery is truly lovely, with magnificent beaches at Keel and Trawmore.

For great hillwalking for all levels and stunning scenery, Ireland is the place to go.