By Conor Phelan
Even though the Island of Ireland is only 480 Km long and 270 Km wide, our little island boasts over 3000 km of rugged coastline. The Atlantic Ocean has spent its time battering the West coast to create more cliffs, beaches, and hidden coves to fill a lifetime of discovery.
With everybody staycationing this year, Irish people are starting to discover what tourists have known for years, Ireland is absolutely stunning. This has sites like the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant’s Causeway, and Carrauntoohil become almost as busy as normal times.
I’ve put together a list of places that are a little off the beaten track, where you can find some moments of quiet solitude and really drink in the raw beauty that Ireland has to offer.
Horn Head, County Donegal
Donegal might have more hidden gems than anywhere else in Ireland. Of the rocky outcrops, Malin Head is the household name, it being the most northerly point in Ireland. It also has a large car park and a well-maintained path.
Horn Head on the other hand only has a small pull-in off the road, and once you get to the Signal Tower you’re pretty much on your own. The going can be a little boggy underfoot so good hiking boots are required.
I was there for a sunset recently, and I was rewarded with one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen on our little island. It was a Saturday evening in the middle of July and I was all alone to soak in the stunning light. If you are hoping to take in the sunset here, make sure to bring a torch and be extra conscious of where the edges are.
Coumshingaun Loop, County Waterford
When thinking of hiking in Ireland, places like MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, The Mournes, and maybe the Wicklow Mountains spring to mind. The Comeragh Mountains are a range that simply isn’t as well known.
You could even argue that the whole County of Waterford is an underrated county since it offers amazing coastlines, rolling hills and two mountain ranges.
For me, the pick of the hikes here is the Coumshingaun Loop which is a ridge hike that brings you up and around the corrie lake. The views are spectacular (if the weather plays nice) but the incline on the way up is unrelenting.
If you don’t fancy a full-blown hike, you can walk from the car park to the base of the lake in about 40ish minutes. It’s a lovely place for a picnic and a sneaky wild swim.
Nohoval, Cork
Much like Vegans, people from Cork will tell you that they are proud Corkonians within seconds of meeting them. I don’t think anyone in Ireland is more fiercely proud of their home county than the Rebels, but despite this, they have been keeping very quiet about quite a few spots!
One such place is Nohoval Cove, which is only a 25-minute drive from the tourist hotspot of Kinsale. The roads to there are small and winding and meeting another car can result in long stints of reversing, but it’s worth it for the views of these odd sea-pyramids.
Clare Island, County Mayo
This list could have been a list of Islands that are unexplored off the Irish coast, and Islands like Achill and the three Aran Islands are now getting the recognition they deserve. Clare Island is famous as the home of the fearless Gráinne Mhaol, and you can go visit her Castle while you’re there.
Despite this fame, much of the island is unexplored by the majority of people and there are some great hiking and photographic opportunities all over the island. You can get the ferry out and back in the same day if you want to just do a fly-by visit. That said, there’s a lovely little campsite and a few hotels and hostels which allow you to really experience the island.
Carlingford Co. Louth
I was hesitant to put Carlingford in this list because it’s somewhere I used to visit quite a lot growing up, so to me it doesn’t seem to be “undiscovered”. I was really surprised when I moved away from the area that people around Ireland just don’t seem to know much about it!
It’s a little village that has so much to offer in such a tiny area. Slieve Foye is a rewarding hike that gives you views of the whole Cooley Peninsula, and across the bay into Northern Ireland.
You can jump off the pier into the sea right across from King John’s Castle, you can go paddleboarding, kayaking and any other water activities you can think of here. They also have a great high rope and football golf course, and a few options for mountain biking too!
