Ireland · best-of list
The 9 Best Outdoor Spots in Ireland
All 9 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Ireland, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
9 outdoor spots in Ireland, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Connemara 4 picks
Connemara National Park
Connemara · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Moorland park with free trails; Diamond Hill gives views to the islands.
Tip: The full Diamond Hill loop takes 2.5–3 hours.
Photo: Misik Péter Neo7 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Derrigimlagh Bog
Connemara · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Bog loop walk past the 1919 Alcock and Brown landing site and Marconi station ruins.
Photo: Duncan Roe · Google
Dog's Bay
Connemara · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
White shell-sand beach curving around a narrow headland near Roundstone.
Tip: Pair with lunch in Roundstone village.
Photo: Tomasz Gil · Google
Killary Fjord
Connemara · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Long sea inlet between mountains; cruises run from Nancy's Point near Leenane.
Photo: Killary Fjord Boat Tours · Google
Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher 2 picks
Burren National Park
Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Limestone pavement and wildflowers; waymarked trails at Mullaghmore.
Tip: Start at the park info point in Corofin.
Photo: David Heath Williams · Google
Cliffs of Moher
Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Sea cliffs rising over 200m above the Atlantic, with a visitor centre and path.
Tip: Book the visitor centre online; late afternoon light is best.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dublin 2 picks
Glendalough
Dublin · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Monastic site and twin lakes in the Wicklow Mountains, about an hour south.
Tip: Walk the Spinc trail for views over the Upper Lake.
Photo: Denzillacey · CC BY-SA 4.0
Howth Cliff Walk
Dublin · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Loop around Howth Head with sea views and a lighthouse, 30 minutes by DART.
Tip: Finish with fish and chips on Howth pier.
Photo: Dominik Kučera · Google
Galway 1 pick
Salthill Promenade
Galway · On our Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way route
Two-mile seafront walk over Galway Bay; locals kick the wall at the end.
Tip: Walk at sunset toward Blackrock diving tower.
Photo: Emma Kubecka · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Ireland?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Ireland has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Connemara has the most (4 of 9), followed by Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher (2) and Dublin (2).
Are any of these free?
7 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Connemara National Park, Burren National Park, Glendalough, Salthill Promenade, Dog's Bay, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Ireland
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Connemara 4 on this list
- Doolin & the Cliffs of Moher 2 on this list
- Dublin 2 on this list
- Galway 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.