As long-haul flights to internationally renowned challenges such as the Inca trail, Kilimanjaro and the Everest base camp trek become increasingly expensive and conscience-ridden, many will begin looking closer to home for memorable experiences. The good news is that there is an abundance of these on our doorstep. Ireland offers plenty of memorable challenges that minimise your environmental footprint and avoid the penitential experience of passing through an airport in high season. Some of Ireland’s most captivating challenges for 2025 are below.
In the Footsteps of Saints, Co Waterford
Pilgrim walks offer a gentle environmental footprint, and Ireland has almost 500km of these, with one of the best being St Declan’s Way. A journey in time of more than 1,500 years, Ireland’s answer to the Camino breaks conveniently into six stages. With three stages north of the recently closed Mount Melleray Abbey and three stages to the south, Declan’s Way is perfect for a six-day walking holiday. The entire route is fully waymarked with the blue St Declan’s Way arrows and the Slí Dhéagláin signposts at important junctions. For those wishing to join a guided walk of the entire route, with transport and route-finding taken care of, Knockmealdown Active is organising a six-day springtime hike from Cashel to Ardmore, Co Waterford. The dates are April 12th and 13th and May 10th, 11th, 24th and 25th. stdeclansway.ie
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Down to Earth, Belfast
If an adrenaline rush is your bag, then the Europa Abseil is perfect for you. Rappelling down the Belfast hotel’s great walls is guaranteed to create a flicker of fear. It is sometimes said that a brave person is not someone who feels no fear, but one with the resilience to conquer it. Almost everyone will feel a flutter of anxiety leaving the top for the 120ft descent. This is forgotten, however, with the exhilarating freedom of bouncing effortlessly and weightlessly downwards with nothing but air between you and the curious bystanders on Great Victoria Street. The abseil takes place on seven Sundays in 2025, with some dates already sold out. Participation costs £35, and you can raise funds for the charity of your choice if you wish. belfastactivitycentre.com/adventure/europa-abseil
Walk on Water, Co Antrim
The Gobbins, billed as an experience that leaves visitors “feeling like they are walking on water”, has proven extremely popular since it reopened in 2016. It was originally constructed in 1902 to attract railway-borne day-trippers and consists of a dizzying series of bridges, tunnels, walkways and staircases clinging tenaciously to vertiginous cliffs at Islandmagee. These offer a close and personal experience of the rugged coast that proved irresistible to Edwardian thrill-seekers. The Gobbins is a remarkable place, offering a walk above an edgy, unforgettable seascape that otherwise would remain the exclusive playground of the abundant seabirds. While boots and helmets must be worn during your visit, there is actually little objective danger except for the small possibility of rockfall. Advance booking is essential at thegobbinscliffpath.com
The Roof of Ireland, Co Kerry
The standard route up Carrauntoohil begins from Cronin’s Yard (where restrooms and tea rooms are provided) before traversing the hauntingly beautiful Hag’s Glen. Then, it is up the deliciously titled Devil’s Ladder. A heavily eroded gully, it leads to the final steep path that meanders upwards to the glorious above-it-all viewpoint at the summit cross. If you climb Carrauntoohil on a benign day with lots of walkers about, you may wonder why many warn of hidden dangers waiting to snare the unwary. The answer is, of course, that there are also days of heavy mists, breath-robbing gales and strafing rain. Experienced hillwalkers will have learned to deal with such eventualities, but if you are in any doubt about your abilities, Piarais Kelly and the team at Kerry Climbing will ensure a memorable and educational day as they safely guide you to the summit. kerryclimbing.ie
Camino of the Northwest, Co Donegal
An avid Camino walker, Peggy Stringer found in 2020 that she was unable to undertake the traditional pilgrim walk in Spain due to Covid restrictions. Instead the resourceful Donegal-born businesswoman decided to bring the Camino to her native county while raising funds for Cancer Care West. She raised €5,000 and the Donegal Camino was born. Now a highlight of the Irish walking calendar, it draws hundreds of participants to the northwest each September and has raised almost €280,000 for cancer support services. The event, endorsed by well-known Donegal personalities Deirdre McGlone and Noel Cunningham, offers seven days of unforgettable hiking amid the Donegal uplands. Starting from Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland, the Camino weaves its way south to Europe’s highest sea cliffs on Sliabh Liag with an itinerary designed to showcase the very best of the northwest. It is going ahead this year from August 31st to September 6th, with registration open at donegalcamino.ie.
Go online in Belfast
A delicious frisson of anxiety can be fun, especially when you know you are not in real danger. If you like activities where fear is a light sleeper, then Colin Glen in Belfast is the place for you. The Bull Run, Ireland’s first Alpine coaster, sends you hurtling through tunnels and around a twisting course at up to 40km per hour. The ultimate experience for thrill seekers is, however, the top-class zip lines. On the 250m Forest Flyover, you take off from a height of 50ft and reach speeds of 50km per hour. The ultimate thrill is River Rapid, which is Ireland’s longest zip line. The drop from the 100ft platform will seem daunting at first, but once away, fear is immediately forgotten as you whizz above the treetops at speeds of up to 80km per hour. Book at colinglen.org
Walk the Wall, Co Down
The wall was built a century ago to enclose the catchment area of the Silent Valley Reservoir, and there is something wonderful in the way the edifice mimics the Great Wall of China as it undulates over the great Mourne peaks. An unforgettable outing follows for its entire length. This is a challenge you can take without the danger of getting lost, since the structure itself offers an infallible navigational guide. Be warned, however; the 35km circuit involves 3,000m of ascent, so aspirants to this challenge need to be fit and well-kitted. It can be done in one long 10-11-hour outing or completed over two less demanding days, with one unforgettable night spent camping wild among the High Mournes.
Bike the Burren, Co Clare
The Cliffs of Moher Cycle Challenge has a reputation as one of Ireland’s best-organised biking events. It takes place on April 12th and is open to cyclists of all levels, including families. The event, which is capped at 1,000 participants, brings together regular and first-time bikers for a memorable weekend in west Clare. It is organised by Riverside Cycling Club and based in the charming, old-world town of Ennistymon. It offers a choice of routes through the haunting Burren landscape that are suitable for all abilities. There are three fully supported leisure cycles along the haunting coast of north Clare, taking in attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher, Black Head, Ballyvaughan Harbour and Corkscrew Hill. Register at eventmaster.ie
Walk the Way, Co Kerry
Ireland’s most renowned walking route is shaped like a leaf drooping over south Kerry and runs about 210km through spectacular mountain landscapes, starting and finishing in Killarney. Dramatic peaks and glens, wild moorlands, lakes and high passes blend with extensive coastal panoramas. It is traditionally broken into nine one-day walks; completing the entire route as one continuous outing is a considerable test of endurance and fitness. Aspiring completionists from Ireland have an agreeable option: they can traverse the Way over several, leisurely visits, while, perhaps, making time for side excursions. A nice way to complete the route is a series of three three-day walks: Killarney to Glenbeigh; Glenbeigh to Caherdaniel and Caherdaniel to Killarney. A comprehensive guidebook to walking the Kerry Way is available from rucsacs.com.
Race around Skibb, Co Cork
A great introduction to outdoor adventure, the Skibbereen Charity Adventure Race not only provides an incentive to visit glorious west Cork on an autumn weekend but also offers the opportunity to run, pedal and kayak through breathtaking countryside and along a wild coastline. The event is headquartered in the grounds of Castlehaven GAA and organised on a not-for-profit basis by Skibbereen Lions Club. It caters to beginners and more experienced racers. Going ahead on Saturday, October 18th, there is a beginner’s race consisting of a 20km cycle, 6km run and a 1.5km kayak while the more advanced race consists of a 37.5km 14.5km run, cycle and a 1.5km kayak. Book at thescar.ie.
John G O’Dwyer’s latest book, Great Irish Pilgrim Journeys, will be published by Currach Books at the end of March
