Region guide

Republic of Ireland

“The mountains of Ireland are often broad, bleak, boggy, rocky and pathless.”

— Paddy Dillon, outdoor writer and guidebook author who climbed every distinct Irish mountain summit above 2,000 feet while researching The Mountains of Ireland

Highest Mountain

Carrauntoohil — 1,038m

Peaks Above 3,000ft

National Parks

Eight

National Waymarked Trails

Longest Waymarked Trail

Kerry Way — 214km

Highest Sea Cliffs

Croaghaun — 688m

About the region

Discover the Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland’s mountains gather mainly around its western and southern edges, where broken ridges rise above Atlantic bays, deep glens and extensive blanket bog. County Kerry contains the greatest concentration of high ground, including Carrauntoohil and the narrow ridges of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Nearby, Brandon Mountain overlooks the Dingle Peninsula from a summit reached by an ancient pilgrimage route.

Connemara and Mayo offer a rougher, wetter kind of walking. The Twelve Bens form a compact maze of quartzite peaks, while Mweelrea rises above Killary Harbour and Croaghaun falls directly towards the Atlantic from Achill Island. Farther north, Errigal stands apart from the surrounding Donegal landscape as a steep pyramid of pale quartzite.

The Wicklow Mountains provide broad granite ridges, glacial valleys and accessible walking south of Dublin. Elsewhere, the Galtees, Comeraghs and Slieve Blooms offer substantial days without the attention given to the better-known western ranges.

Long-distance routes include the Wicklow Way, Kerry Way, Dingle Way and Beara Way. These are generally waymarked, but summit routes frequently are not. Private ownership, peat, rapidly changing weather and faint paths all require careful planning.

Ireland’s mountains seldom provide easy walking simply because they are not especially high. The bog usually sees to that.

Regional signature

Ireland’s Mountain and Trail Legacy

The High Southwest

Ireland’s greatest mountains

MacGillycuddy’s Reeks contain the country’s three highest summits, linked by sharp ridges, steep gullies and the demanding Coomloughra Horseshoe.

The Wild Atlantic Ranges

Mountains beside the ocean

From Mweelrea and the Twelve Bens to Errigal and Croaghaun, western summits rise directly above islands, sea lochs and exposed Atlantic coastline.

The Waymarked Tradition

More than 4,000km of trails

Beginning with the Wicklow Way in 1980, Ireland developed an extensive network of long-distance routes connecting mountains, farmland, forests and coastal communities.

When to visit

Spring

Mar – May

Lengthening days provide better opportunities for longer summit routes. Peat remains wet after winter, but clearer weather windows become more frequent.

Best for: Quieter mountains and improving ground

Summer

Jun – Aug

Long daylight suits the Reeks, Twelve Bens and multi-day routes. Popular mountains become busy, although extensive stretches of the western uplands remain quiet.

Best for: High ridges and long-distance trails

Autumn

Sep – Nov

Cooler air can bring excellent visibility across the western mountains. Shorter days and increasingly unsettled weather require more careful route timing.

Best for: Clear Atlantic views and moorland colour

Winter

Dec – Feb

Snow is irregular but ice, strong winds and prolonged rain can make the mountains serious. Waterlogged peat and swollen streams frequently complicate approaches.

Best for: Experienced walkers and lower-level routes