Walking Holidays & Outdoor Adventures Across Ireland’s Ancient East

Sacred Valleys, Story-Laden Trails, and a Landscape Woven with Time

Where wooded hills, quiet rivers, and ancient sites invite slow exploration.

Ireland’s Ancient East is a region shaped by human presence — a gentle, lyrical landscape where every step carries echoes of the past. From the forested hills and uplands of the Wicklow Way to prehistoric tombs, monastic round towers, and quiet riverside walks, this is walking country defined by story, settlement, and centuries of movement.

This is a region made for walking holidays, with forest paths, canal routes, upland trails, and heritage-rich journeys linking sacred valleys, hilltop viewpoints, and old pilgrimage sites. It’s peaceful rather than wild — a place where walking reveals layers of myth, memory, and meaning.

Ireland’s Ancient East also offers outdoor adventures, from wildlife-rich riverbanks to forest parks, canoe routes, and quiet uplands perfect for photography and reflective travel.

It’s equally suited to cycling holidays, thanks to long greenways, canal towpaths, and quiet rural roads connecting historic towns, rivers, and valleys. Routes like the Royal Canal Greenway and Waterford Greenway make multi-day bike journeys relaxed, scenic, and accessible.

And when the day slows, you’ll find independent places to stay close to walking hubs and historic sites — from heritage guesthouses and country B&Bs to riverside inns and small hotels in Wicklow, Carlow, Meath, and Longford.

Where to Walk and Explore

Wicklow Way (Counties Dublin, Wicklow & Carlow)

Ireland’s first long-distance waymarked trail (131 km), weaving through the “Garden of Ireland.”
Expect glacial valleys, mossy forests, heather uplands, and sacred landscapes, including Powerscourt Waterfall and the monastic valley of Glendalough — a spiritual centre since the 6th century.

Royal Canal Greenway (Counties Kildare, Meath, Westmeath & Longford)

Ireland’s longest greenway, following the 225-year-old canal from Maynooth to Cloondara.
Flat, peaceful walking and cycling past stone bridges, lock houses, towpaths, and wildlife-rich waters.

Boyne Valley Trails (County Meath)

A landscape of story, legend, and ancient power.
Walk trails linking Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, and the Hill of Tara, exploring riverside routes, rolling fields, and heritage pathways shaped across thousands of years.

Adventure Highlights

• Forest and upland walking across Wicklow’s valleys and hills
• Sacred heritage landscapes at Glendalough, Tara, and Newgrange
• Peaceful canal walking and cycling on the Royal Canal Greenway
• Medieval towns, abbeys, and castles steeped in local history
• Wildlife spotting along riverbanks, lakes, and woodland edges
• Accessible, well-marked routes ideal for slow, story-rich exploration

Ireland’s Ancient East offers walking that feels timeless — not wild, but deeply woven. Step by step, it reveals a quieter beauty shaped by presence, memory, and history underfoot.