Ireland offers many beautiful hiking and walking trails for which are every bit as glorious as the Cliffs of Moher, Croagh Patrick or Sliabh Liag but just don't get the same air time. There is a great thrill in travelling Ireland in your campervan and discovering new places, so we went on a mission to find some truly magical destinations for you to add to your bucket list.
Here is our handpicked selection of stunning trails in Ireland with nearby parking for campervans, and we even made a special effort to include some flat ground walking trails for those of us who don’t quite have the same yearning for more challenging hikes.
Lough Curra
The main trail at Lough Curra pictured above is called the Galtymore Loop, it’s approximately 13km of medium difficulty and takes approximately 6 to 7 hours with breaks. It is a little more strenuous if you wish to set a good pace and you need a decent level of fitness to complete. A stunning hike with so many rewarding views from different vantage points. The terrain is over mountain bog, so you will need your hiking boots and wind breaker. There is also another trail which takes you directly to the lake and this is 10K round trip of moderate difficulty and not as challenging. All in all a highly recommended hike with the most glorious vistas, but it's important to know that dogs are not allowed on this trail due to the high population of grazing mountain sheep.
Location: This trail head is located in Co. Tipperary near the stunning Glen of Aherlow, and access roads for campervans are pretty good, but can be a bit tight in spots.
Facilities: Basic amenities are available, but it's advisable to come prepared with water, snacks, and any necessary hiking gear.
Campervan Parking: There are several car parks to choose from, but the one closest to the trail head is Clydagh Bridge Car Park See Google Maps for location, a narrow road adjacent to the bridge takes you to the car park, but thankfully only a short distance to get there.
Lough Key Forest Park
With distances of 1.5km to 4km Lough Key forest park in Boyle, Co. Roscommon offers interesting walking trails which include the tree Canopy Loop (300m) an elevated walkway through the treetops, Bog Garden Trail 1.3km with boardwalk, Nature trail 2.5km and the wishing chair loop (4km). It's accessible for all ages and fitness levels, providing informative panels along the way. If this all sounds too leisurely, there is always the option of the Miners Way and Historical Trail to get the heart pumping, it takes 1 to 3 hours to complete depending on which section you decide navigate. The following link takes you to a list of recommended trails on the AllTrails Ireland Website. Lough Key Forest Park has its own campsite and is situated by a forest and lake with plenty of land based activities and is also part of Ireland's blue ways, which makes it the perfect base as a motorhome stopover.
Location: Lough Key forest park, Boyle Co. Roscommon (see directions on getting there)
Parking: There is a dedicated Campsite with excellent amenities, but note that it is very popular and booking in advance is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Facilities: Features all the facilities you would expect from a campsite, such as waste disposal, laundry, restrooms, electrical hook up etc.
Glenveagh National Park
A magnificent 110 Square Kilometres of natural and wild protected habitat above Glenveagh Castle which boasts the largest herd of red deer and golden eagles in Ireland. Highlights include magnificent walking trails, nature, wildlife, the Scottish baronial style castle itself with exotic gardens showcasing delicate plants from Chile, Madeira and Tasmania including native pine trees and ornamental rhododendrons. The two most popular walks only way and because they are not looped, you can arrange to get the walkers bus from Glenveagh visitor centre at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays for €3 and this will take you to your choice of starting points. One is Lough Inshagh a 7km walk with stunning lake views of the lake and a chance to spot red deer. The other is Glen Walk (8km) with spectacular views of Lough Veagh and surrounding mountains. It is possible to book the Walkers’ bus privately (€5 per person), for more information on this contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01 539 3232. There are various other trails for all ages and abilities and more detail on each of these trails can be found on the following Glenveagh walking trail link.
Location: County Donegal
Trail: Glenveagh Castle Trail (4 km) Glen Walk (8km) see web for trail information.
Highlights: Glenveagh Castle, Lough Veagh, and rugged mountain landscapes.
Campervan Parking: Overnight Motorhome parking is not permitted but daytime parking is available. See how to get there on google maps.
Glencar Lough and Waterfall
Glencar Lough is a great starting point for your Leitrim motorhome adventure. The lake offers stunning views and opportunities for leisurely walks or picnics. There are several trails around the lake, offering varying levels of difficulty and length from 3km to 7km with plenty more hillwalking opportunities nearby.
Park up at Glencar's free carpark, which is wheelchair friendly with public toilets, picnic area, children’s playground and a tourist information point. There are three routes to choose from, the bog road, the waterfall and the lakeshore. See web for details on all three trails. Glencar waterfall is certainly worth the trek at 50ft and is very enchanting.
Location: Glencar, Leitrim, County Leitrim, Ireland.
Campervan Parking: Large car park with public toilets. No restrictions. positioned opposite lake and 5 minutes’ walk to waterfall. Total of 3 larger motorhomes can park in small areas either side of coach park area.
The Beara Peninsula
The Beara way is 206km in total and can be done in sections as day hikes, as each route has something very different and unique to offer, it is difficult to recommend one specific route. The following website is worth a visit and points to 15 different looped walks on the Beara Peninsula, the routes are clearly defined with a nice snapshot of distance, difficulty level and well outlined maps. There is also good information on how to get to your starting points with instructional route navigation tips. The beauty about the Beara way is that it doesn’t have the same volume of visitors as the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle way, but is every bit as alluring and somewhat more serene.
Location: County Cork/Kerry
Trail: Beara Way (206 km total, but sections can be done as day hikes)
Highlights: Coastal scenery, ancient stone circles, and picturesque villages,
Campervan Parking: Various spots along the route, including Glengarriff and Castletownbere.
Conclusion
Owning a campervan in Ireland is a truly rewarding experience and this is just a small sample of the many hiking and walking trails in Ireland that are accessible to motorhome and campervan owners. It’s simply a matter of navigating your way to your desired location and embracing the lure of the wild. After a rewarding hike, your cosy den is at the ready to envelope you into a sense of relaxation, where you can feet up with a warm cuppa and a hearty bite.
If you are interested in becoming a campervan owner or purchasing a motorhome, come and visit us to see the range at our showrooms in Shannonside Business Park, Birdhill, Co. Tipperary V94VY98. Anchor Point Motorhomes is your trusted dealer in Ireland for Burstner, Carado, Weinsberg and Westfalia. All our brands carry the hallmarks of German Manufactured Quality and we enhance this with a 5 star back up after sales service to each and everyone of our customers.
Feel free to call us on 353 (0)61 379903 or pop in to say hello. A warm welcome awaits!
