Kilometers walked: 628
Nights in a tent: 20
Nights in hotel: 9
Days walked: 26
Zerodays: 5, Bailey Bhuirne, Fermoy, Clonmel, Tinahely and Dublin (travel day to England)
Local attitude towards free camping: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
They don’t care that you free camp, they want you to be safe. In the villages we got offered a place in the town park!
Local hospitality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
The most friendly people we’ve met! Almost everyone has a chat with you, people randomly ask about your travels, and the atmosphere is generally welcoming wherever you go. We’ve been invited into people’s homes for tea, had random chats in pubs, we truly loved the Irish spirit of curiousity and hospitality!
Local attitude of traffic towards hikers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
Although locals complained to us about crazy driving, we found them very considerate. Everyone slows down, almost all of them use their indicator to show they’ll make a curve around you and everyone greets you!
Trail conditions: ⭐⭐ (2 out of 5)
From muddy hell to roadwalking and perfectly fine trails. Ireland in March wasn’t as wet as we thought it would be, but we never considered what the winter rains would have done to the trail conditions….
Trail markings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5)
Trails were well marked, all with the same green and yellow hiker. this made it very easy to navigate. The styles were often also green and yellow and therefore part of the signage. Well done Ireland!
Trail views and impressions: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5) We loved the wild and rugged trail of the Beara way and Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai through West Cork, and really enjoyed the forest and hills of the Blackwater way. The South Leinster way felt more like a connection trail and the Wicklow way was a great summary of our time in Ireland with a bit of everything!
Favorite drink/snack/meal: Scones and eggs Benedict, Guinness and Whiskey
Best memories: The Holy water in the cable car, everything about our hiking day on the Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai from the Maunghanasilly stone row to Ballingeary park, Rein getting a new hat from Eileen, singing at the campfire with Rein. Oh and Marks face when he found out that a breakfast roll was actually a full Irish in a roll…😂
Would do it again: Absolutely! We might go in a different month though 😅
Would recommend this trail to: Everyone who is not afraid to get wet, and who loves a bit of a rough adventure. I’d recommend the Wicklow way part to all hikers who’d like a bit of everything and I’d recommend the Beara way and the Blackwater way to more experienced hikers who’d like the rugged side of Ireland.
Tips for when you go: Plan your resupply and water points, for there are no water points on trail, and shops/ cafés are often far apart.
Will do this after we get home because of the trail: Look into going to Kerry, because we’ve been told we should visit there. Go back to Ireland, because we loved it there!
