Along with their breathtaking beauty and supreme natural majesty, these walks in Ireland are just perfect for your pooch. You can both get your exercise while you enjoy the verdant bounty around you.
As with any ramble through nature, it is important that you protect mother nature by not leaving a trace that you were ever there. Once your walking companion is outfitted with a great lead and you are armed with some treats, it’s time to be off.
Choose one of these eight beautiful walks that feature all the magnificence that natural Ireland has to offer.
1 Gleninchaquin Park, Kenmare, County Kerry
Be warned before you visit this park that it contains a real sheep farm, so be sure to invest in a heavy-duty leash before making the trek out here.
While the park does have a working sheep farm on the property, it is criss-crossed with walks for you and your pup to enjoy. And this park caters to every skill level!
Trails range from a gentle stroll along the edge of a body of water to an intensive hike up a mountain. You get incredible flexibility when you are planning your trip, and you get treated to fantastic scenery.
2 Castletown House, County Kildare
This spot is the perfect venue for a full day out. You can take your dog for a walk on the magnificent location, or enjoy a wide variety of treats at their cafeteria.
The landscape is dotted with paved trails, excellent for walking on, but if you feel up to a challenge there is also an energetic dog run on the property.
This is a great option if you feel like your dog never seems to run out of energy, even when you have.
3 Bray Head, County Wicklow
This walk is a rather steep hike up the side of a mountain on the edge of Bray Beach. It is quite a climb to get to the top, but the view that you will see is unparalleled.
If you do decide to do this walk with your dog, be warned that it can be quite windy, even when the sun is out. You will want to dress appropriately.
A little to the south of the top of the mountain, there is a large clear field where your pup can use up some of their energy.
4 Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin
This park has everything you could ever want, in just 300 square feet. It features a lot of trails and even some woodland areas to ramble through. There is even a hedged-in area where they can be let off leads to show off their puppy gear and make new friends.
For your relaxation benefit, there is a cafe on the grounds as well as a courtyard where you can catch your breath. This park is wonderful, like an oasis in a bustling city and not far from other places of interest.
5 Fitzgerald Park, Cork City
This park is located almost smack dab in the center of Cork City, and it is a fabulous place to take your dog for a walk. The park is right along the edge of the River Lee, giving you a beautiful and tranquil scene to contemplate while your dog runs around.
This is a crowded park in the summer, so you are always sure to meet like-minded dog owners out for a walk themselves.
6 Phoenix Park, Dublin
This huge park is on the outer banks of the city centre and it is one of the largest walled parks in all of Europe. There are many locations within this park, featuring everything from manicured lawns and sculpted landscaping to an overgrowth of vegetation.
In total, there are 1,500 acres where your dog can get lost. It is so big, they can explore a new part each time and always have something new to find. If your dog is prone to wandering off, this is one place your dog should have their GPS tracker on so they are kept safe.
7 Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary
This glen is a marvel of natural beauty, and it has the trailheads of two National Loop Walks, both Lisvarrinane Village and Christ the King Loop Walks.
In addition, this glen features a plethora of mountain hikes and trails for you to choose from. Ranging in intensity and how long they will take to complete, you are sure to find one that is perfect for you.
8 Slieve Donard Walking Route, County Down
While this walk might be a little too demanding for young children, the whole family should enjoy this. This out of the way little walk is middling in length, around 9 km, but it is often uphill, so it can still give you and your dog quite the workout.
If you reach the summit on a clear day, the view is spectacular. This walk is perfectly positioned to give you a view of the Isle of Man as well as Northern Wales.
For over a decade, Adrienne has been a freelance content writer and blogger who’s passion lies in anything related to dogs. Growing up, dogs were a very important part of family life in the Hardwick household. Now, Adrienne is the proud parent to two Swedish Vallhunds called Moose and Pumpkin.