Hiking Ireland’s Small Hills

Height: 327m
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 3-6 km with options to lengthen

With one of Ireland’s largest Neolithic cairns crowning its peak, Knocknarea is a feature of the northwest Wild AtlanticWay landscape that’s hard to miss. It dominates the Sligo skyline and is visible from miles around, despite its humble height. There are multiple ways to make your ascent, but we recommend the 6km Queen Maeve trail which starts and ends in Strandhill village.

While at the top, explore the cairn and its surrounding passage tombs – but please do not climb the cairn. Lest you incur the wrath of the ancient Queen Maeve, who, legend has it, is buried inside. The legend also encourages all climbers bring a stone from the bottom to add to the cairn. Knocknarea, along with Sligo’s other Neolithic tombs, is on UNESCO’s tentative list of protected sites.

Views over Sligo, Strandhill, the Atlantic and other nearby peaks are utterly breathtaking. On clear days, you might even spot the huge headland of the Slieve League cliffs rising in the distance.

Once back down, Strandhill village is a tiny but bustling seafront village complete with cafes, ice cream parlours, pubs and even a seaweed bathing site. There’s the beach as well – add the Killasprugsbone loop out to the evocative church ruins where St Patrick is said to have lost his tooth. Try your hand at a surf lesson or simply watch the other surfers bobbing in the waves. Learn more about the walk here.

Stand atop Knocknarea hill and discover Ireland’s surf coast on this flexible self drive trip along the northwest Wild Atlantic Way.

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Height: 442m
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7km with options to shorten

Diamond Hill takes its name from its jewel-like shape jutting out of the earth. And its quartzite composition gives it a shimmering appearance when hit by the sun. Nestled in the surrounds of Connemara National Park, Co. Galway, Diamond Hill is a popular spot for walkers of all abilities.

The 7km route that takes you to the top is challenging but made a little easier with boardwalks and gravel tracks. Hikers will negotiate steeper sections over uneven terrain near the climb’s end. The effort is worth it though. When you reach the top, take a moment to savour the phenomenal views of the Connemara landscape from mountain to sea. Learn more about the walk here.

Learn more about Connemara National Park in our guide to the region.

You will experience this rugged national park on our Hiking Ireland Coast to Coast trip, alongside many other outdoor delights.

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Height: 180m
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7-8 km

The rambling unique geology of the Burren National Park has a lot to offer with its vast limestone plateau and rare alpine wildflowers. Although just 180m high, Mullaghmore Hill is a standout feature on the landscape as it sports a vortex-like appearance created by the distorted and exposed limestone once sitting on the sea floor. You’d be forgiven for thinking that a giant had taken and twisted the landscape into shape.

The Mullaghmore walk is well signposted, and a route blending sections of the red and blue trails creates a fantastic, looped walk for you to explore. Doolin village is a perfect base nearby for delicious, locally-sourced food and incredible traditional music. Learn more about the walk here.

Read our guide to the Burren National Park here.

Hike through the unique Burren landscapes as well as some spectacular island and coastal-scapes while hiking and island hopping along Ireland’s west coast. 

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Height: 218m
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: Relatively short “hiking” but includes 618 stone steps.

This is a special feature. Given that Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Skellig Michael is notoriously difficult to land on for a visit. There are multiple boat tours that scout around the island, but very few gain access to land – making it a good idea to travel with a group trip.

The pyramidal crag rising from the sea 12km off the Co. Kerry coastline is well worth the 2-hour boat journey to get there. Although standing at an unassuming 218m, Skellig Michael’s 618 stone steps up are where the challenge comes in.

For wildlife lovers, you’re guaranteed to spot thousands of gannets hanging out on Little Skellig. You also might have dolphins and other marine wildlife breaching the water alongside the boat.

And if you travel in late spring, you’ll get up close and personal with puffins, adorable and slightly comical birds that descend on rugged, coastal spots each spring for the breeding season. Learn more about the walk here.

Check out our Hiking and Island Hopping Cork & Kerry trip, where we venture out to this magical rock pinnacle alongside other fantastic coastal and island wild places. 

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Height: 342m
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 2 km

An honourable mention for Ireland’s Ancient East is Little Sugar Loaf in Co. Wicklow. This triple-peaked wonder is a perfect extension for those taking on the Wicklow Way Or simply an ideal outdoors excursion south as a day trip from Dublin.

The terrain varies from sturdy earthen trails to uneven shards of gravel – taking you through luscious ferns and vibrant heather the whole way to the top. At the summit, you’ll be spoilt with views of the Wicklow coastline and Snowdonia in Wales, on a clear day. Glance behind you to drink in grand vistas overlooking Wicklow National Park – the largest of Ireland’s six parks. Learn more about the walk here.

Read more about the Wicklow Way.

Hike the Wicklow Way straight from Dublin to enjoy the stunning scenery and ancient wonders like monastic sites, pilgrim’s paths and manor houses along the way (self guided options exist too).

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Height: 437m
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.5 km

Located in northeast Ireland, this volcanic plug is not the longest nor the highest peak you can summit. But this short climb is deceiving and quite steep, requiring rock scrambling in places in order to conquer this notable feature in the Co. Antrim skyline.

Slemish Mountain is said to be where St. Patrick was held captive after being taken as an enslaved person from Wales. This saintly connection makes Slemish Mountain a local tradition to hike this hill on St. Patrick’s Day.

Slemish Mountain is an ideal stop for those cruising along the Causeway Coastal route and seeking some smashing views of the surrounding Glens of Antrim. Learn more about the walk here.

Why not stop here while touring Northern Ireland on a self drive from Belfast through the Glens and along the Causeway Coast? Flexibility on self drive itineraries allows you to travel at your own pace and visit additional sites that interest you. 

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