I have backpacked multiple trips on the Camino and Via Francigena, but I have always enjoyed meeting Irish people. So, I'm considering an Ireland trek! Thanks for the info.
I was just thinking that it was nice that my old hometown Birr was famous for fifteen minutes. Then you announced that you needed to get a bus out out of there to safety🤣. I was back there September last, and I didn't think it was that bad really...😄😄. Some great info on the granular stuff about bus routes. If I ever get round to doing the Dingle Way, I might find those sites invaluable! Thank you.
Hi, we just came across your channel. We think it is amazing, we are really looking forward to the videos of the hike. We are planning a few thru hikes in the next few years. We have liked an subbed Chelsea and Mike
Really, really enjoy all of Tough Soles hiking videos. Some of us have done The Ireland Way and I don't remember if you've touched on that particular long distance hiking/camping/B&B trek. If not, it would be great to hear it promoted on your channel. It's a fantastic experience! And maybe it would help spur the Ulster Way portion to invest in more signage for those poor Pilgrim souls in need of the reassuring Yellow Arrow.🙏
Thanks so much Joyce! We've done videos on I think nearly every individual section of the southern half of that route, and have a video explaining the Beara Breifne Way, which the Ireland Way uses much of for the southern half too. I'm looking forward to doing more of the Northern Ireland trails - while I've heard signage isn't great in the Sperrins area, in general I think they have some fantastic trails to offer. All ahead of us anyway!
So glad you mentioned that the hostels aren't generally open til after St. Patrick's day. On my E8 hike last year I didn't find a single hostel (outside of Dublin) open along the way. I started really early, so no surprise. I did the Famine Way back to Dublin from Strokestown, and I'm curious if you know of a route from Strokestown to Galway, I want to walk through Athenry on the way, and haven't been able to find a trail that goes that way. I'd like to complete my second cross country hike the next time I come over. (Also looking at the Ireland Way) Also, I found that for hikers like me who are used to tent camping I have a few thoughts. I found the ground often so hard and rocky it wasn't easy setting up my trekking pole tent. Even though the weight is more, a free standing tent probably would have been more practical. Another thing, if you're used to old growth forests, you don't get a lot of them in Ireland. Many forests where I thought I could set up my tent (Which is a one person tent and very slim width wise) I found that the trees were planted so close together that you couldn't set up a tent in them. So just be aware that some places where you might think you could camp you may not be able to. It will mean adding some miles ( Km) to your day to find a spot. I love you guy's videos, but one more question. Have you guys thought about doing a Thru-Hike in the US? I would love to see videos of you guys on the Pacific Crest Trail! Or the Appalachian Trail would probably be very similar to what you're used to as far as rain is concerned. haha Having done all three in the US I would definitely suggest the PCT though.
Thanks for the comment - really interesting to hear your experiences! 😊 So unfortunately, from Strokestown - Athenry - Galway I don't really know of any trails that you could use to link your way across. South Galway is a bit devoid of trails, or at least of trails that I know of! Yes, there is a lot of plantation forest in Ireland at the moment of spruce trees. There is a shift starting to happen in many areas towards more biodiverse and natural forestry, but it's going to take many many years for those changes to fully take effect, and the new forestry grow up in the place of the felled plantations. So I agree, a freestanding tent is definitely worth it for Ireland. And as for the US trails: yes, I'd love to do one of the big three over there at some point! I don't really know when, as it's quite a financial commitment, but hopefully I'll get to do at least one of them in the coming years 🤞 - ellie
Nice! Do you have or would consider information on practicalities during actual hike. Be curious to know on longer hikes where get water, fill up on gas for stove, laundry etc.
Yeah can definitely run through that in a follow up video if we get enough interest! But basically in summary - in Ireland any of the super long trails will have a couple of campsites, where you can buy extra gas. Otherwise, we usually have enough with us to last a full trail, and spin into a town to grab more before the next one. Laundry - the cheapest and easiest is actual laundrettes, they wash, dry and fold your clothes for you, for somewhere near a tenner? And then water is a trickier one, we usually fill up in villages and make it last until the next one!
Hey there Tough Soles, love the channel. I am finishing my second Camino right now and have fallen in love with the Inn to Inn hiking. With that in mind, which trail in Ireland should I do first?
For the albergue style of hiking, your best bets are to look to The Dingle Way, The Kerry Way, or the Wicklow Way to start. Not all towns have hostels or accommodation where you can turn up without a reservation, so any trail here would require some level of planning and pre-booking. On the three trails I mentioned, there are hostels, B&Bs and hotels along the routes. I hope that helps! Buen Camino! Ellie
@@ToughSoles Thanks so much for the reply. I will probably stay in hotels (it is what I do on the Camino). Either of the ones you mention the best to see history of Ireland?
So I think both of the trails in Kerry feature a lot of history along the way, and Wicklow has less - but a lot of really amazing history around Glendalough! :)
Are you looking for something similar to Dingle or Kerry? There is the Beara Way, which is one peninsula below the Kerry Way. It’s a similar distance to the Kerry Way, and I think a little more remote feeling. There’s also the Slieve Bloom Way, a 75km loop in the middle of Ireland (so very different). Or you could look at the Mourne Way in Northern Ireland 😃
Bang on time to watch this whilst I demolish a sausage and bacon sandwich for breakfast
I have backpacked multiple trips on the Camino and Via Francigena, but I have always enjoyed meeting Irish people. So, I'm considering an Ireland trek! Thanks for the info.
I would love to see how you plan a specific trail.
I was just thinking that it was nice that my old hometown Birr was famous for fifteen minutes. Then you announced that you needed to get a bus out out of there to safety🤣. I was back there September last, and I didn't think it was that bad really...😄😄. Some great info on the granular stuff about bus routes. If I ever get round to doing the Dingle Way, I might find those sites invaluable! Thank you.
Great info! 🙂
Hi, we just came across your channel. We think it is amazing, we are really looking forward to the videos of the hike. We are planning a few thru hikes in the next few years. We have liked an subbed Chelsea and Mike
Awesome! Thank you! ☺️
Really, really enjoy all of Tough Soles hiking videos.
Some of us have done The Ireland Way and I don't remember if you've touched on that particular long distance hiking/camping/B&B trek. If not, it would be great to hear it promoted on your channel. It's a fantastic experience! And maybe it would help spur the Ulster Way portion to invest in more signage for those poor Pilgrim souls in need of the reassuring Yellow Arrow.🙏
Thanks so much Joyce!
We've done videos on I think nearly every individual section of the southern half of that route, and have a video explaining the Beara Breifne Way, which the Ireland Way uses much of for the southern half too.
I'm looking forward to doing more of the Northern Ireland trails - while I've heard signage isn't great in the Sperrins area, in general I think they have some fantastic trails to offer. All ahead of us anyway!
I’d love to hear how you plan for a new trail 😊
So glad you mentioned that the hostels aren't generally open til after St. Patrick's day. On my E8 hike last year I didn't find a single hostel (outside of Dublin) open along the way. I started really early, so no surprise.
I did the Famine Way back to Dublin from Strokestown, and I'm curious if you know of a route from Strokestown to Galway, I want to walk through Athenry on the way, and haven't been able to find a trail that goes that way. I'd like to complete my second cross country hike the next time I come over. (Also looking at the Ireland Way)
Also, I found that for hikers like me who are used to tent camping I have a few thoughts. I found the ground often so hard and rocky it wasn't easy setting up my trekking pole tent. Even though the weight is more, a free standing tent probably would have been more practical. Another thing, if you're used to old growth forests, you don't get a lot of them in Ireland. Many forests where I thought I could set up my tent (Which is a one person tent and very slim width wise) I found that the trees were planted so close together that you couldn't set up a tent in them. So just be aware that some places where you might think you could camp you may not be able to. It will mean adding some miles ( Km) to your day to find a spot.
I love you guy's videos, but one more question. Have you guys thought about doing a Thru-Hike in the US? I would love to see videos of you guys on the Pacific Crest Trail! Or the Appalachian Trail would probably be very similar to what you're used to as far as rain is concerned. haha Having done all three in the US I would definitely suggest the PCT though.
Thanks for the comment - really interesting to hear your experiences! 😊
So unfortunately, from Strokestown - Athenry - Galway I don't really know of any trails that you could use to link your way across. South Galway is a bit devoid of trails, or at least of trails that I know of!
Yes, there is a lot of plantation forest in Ireland at the moment of spruce trees. There is a shift starting to happen in many areas towards more biodiverse and natural forestry, but it's going to take many many years for those changes to fully take effect, and the new forestry grow up in the place of the felled plantations. So I agree, a freestanding tent is definitely worth it for Ireland.
And as for the US trails: yes, I'd love to do one of the big three over there at some point! I don't really know when, as it's quite a financial commitment, but hopefully I'll get to do at least one of them in the coming years 🤞
- ellie
Nice! Do you have or would consider information on practicalities during actual hike.
Be curious to know on longer hikes where get water, fill up on gas for stove, laundry etc.
Yeah can definitely run through that in a follow up video if we get enough interest!
But basically in summary - in Ireland any of the super long trails will have a couple of campsites, where you can buy extra gas. Otherwise, we usually have enough with us to last a full trail, and spin into a town to grab more before the next one. Laundry - the cheapest and easiest is actual laundrettes, they wash, dry and fold your clothes for you, for somewhere near a tenner? And then water is a trickier one, we usually fill up in villages and make it last until the next one!
@@ToughSoles Nice one, cheers!
I am a bit late for this one, but I would love to know when would be a good time to hike Ireland (fewer mosquitos).
The midge is worst here I think through June - August/September so early May is probably the best time! Or late September ☺️
Curious about how much cell service there is along these trails. Are there long stretches without service?
Hey there Tough Soles, love the channel. I am finishing my second Camino right now and have fallen in love with the Inn to Inn hiking. With that in mind, which trail in Ireland should I do first?
For the albergue style of hiking, your best bets are to look to The Dingle Way, The Kerry Way, or the Wicklow Way to start. Not all towns have hostels or accommodation where you can turn up without a reservation, so any trail here would require some level of planning and pre-booking. On the three trails I mentioned, there are hostels, B&Bs and hotels along the routes. I hope that helps!
Buen Camino! Ellie
@@ToughSoles Thanks so much for the reply. I will probably stay in hotels (it is what I do on the Camino). Either of the ones you mention the best to see history of Ireland?
So I think both of the trails in Kerry feature a lot of history along the way, and Wicklow has less - but a lot of really amazing history around Glendalough! :)
Hi I’ve already walk the dingle and the Kerry way ... May I ask you witch one do you recommend ? I have around two weeks to walk or explore
Are you looking for something similar to Dingle or Kerry?
There is the Beara Way, which is one peninsula below the Kerry Way. It’s a similar distance to the Kerry Way, and I think a little more remote feeling.
There’s also the Slieve Bloom Way, a 75km loop in the middle of Ireland (so very different).
Or you could look at the Mourne Way in Northern Ireland 😃
@@ToughSolesthat’s the problem ... so many possibilities 😉
So very true! 😆
How diffucult is it to get accomodation now with influx of Assylum seekers. Ive tried a few Hostels and they are full. Anyone any tips.
Hi I’ve already walk the dingle and the Kerry way ... May I ask you witch one do you recommend ? I have around two weeks to walk or explore