Top 5 Mountain Climbing Peaks in Ireland That’ll Make You Feel Like You’re on the Edge of the Earth
Did you know that while Ireland’s highest peak is only a little above 1,000 meters, it’s still a challenge to climb? Not to worry though—there are other best places for mountain climbing in Ireland that are perfect for both beginner and expert climbers.
To help you gauge which mountain you should try climbing, we’ll be listing down five of the most popular ones. We’ll also label them as easy or tricky so you can make the necessary preparations.
How Much Does it Cost to Do Mountain Climbing in Ireland
Climbing mountains in Ireland is technically free. However, if you’re booking through a travel agency for convenience, you must spend money, and the rates vary depending on the company.
In terms of mountaineering gear and equipment, you’ll be spending around €35.00–€200.00. The rates can go up depending on the brand and how serious you are with the hobby.
Most beginner climbers aren’t keen yet on investing in gear and equipment. However, expert climbers spend way more than the average range.
And when we say more than the average range, we mean around €1,800.00–€2,700.00. But it’s pretty reasonable if mountain climbing is going to be a part of your lifestyle.
Top Places for Mountain Climbing in Ireland
We’ll be using the following criteria as we list down the best mountains to climb in Ireland:
1. Diamond Hill or Bengooria
| Safety and topography | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Views | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Weather and temperature | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Traveller reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Centre or Station | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Diamond Hill is your best bet if you want to try mountain climbing and live to tell the tale. We’re not kidding—while it’s dangerous when it rains, it’s pretty easy when the sun’s out!
For one, the topography isn’t that steep. Also, the trails are well-maintained, so it’s easy to follow the rock steps and wooden trails.
In fact, according to some of its regular visitors whom we talked to, they always brought their kids. 9 to 10-year-old kids will find the trails easy even with minimal guide from their parents.
But just like everywhere else when it’s raining, it can get pretty wet, muddy, and slippery. So make sure you wear the right hiking shoes or boots to prevent accidents.
It can also get really foggy when it rains. It’s better to climb slower and with caution when this happens, or better yet, stay put for a bit–it’s better to get wet than accidentally slip.
Another thing we love about Diamond Hill is the spectacular view. Whether you’re on the lower or higher trails, you’ll appreciate the surrounding greenery and even the view of the sea.
And since it’s not that dangerous, you can actually bring cameras without worrying about them. We’re warning you—it’s difficult not to want to take pictures because of how picturesque everything is!
We also love that there’s a visitor centre where you can also find a cafe and clean toilets. This is a must for us because we need a place to go to if there’s an emergency or accident.
Customer Reviews
You can choose your own trail
A must-see! A lovely and free hike with amazing views. You can choose your own distance based on the trails. It is well laid out. The views and how peaceful it was – just amazing. We had a nice sunny day which made it even better. There were quite a few cars and people but it was all spread out. We did the Lower Diamond trail and it was great!
—Julie F, Trip Advisor
Kid-friendly
Drove away from dense fog in Galway city to climb this in the most beautiful sunshine with my family. Kids 9 and 11 years old found it fun and doable. Even the dog had a great day out. Would recommend!
—Wild Atlantic Family, Trip Advisor
2. Brandon Peak
| Safety and topography | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Views | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Weather and temperature | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Traveller reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Centre or Station | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If you’re looking for a challenge, Brandon Peak is the mountain to try! While it has a tourist route for beginners, its other trails are mostly difficult–most especially during a weather-challenged day.
For one, you consistently ascend, unlike easy mountains wherein there are flat paths to walk into. In fact, some of the people we talked to told us to wear trekking boots so we wouldn’t slip at the constant ascend.
Some even told us that it’s a difficult climb even for experts. It gets foggy, and the paths are either slippery or rocky (they warned us about the sharp stones!).
Please be careful when you’re near the top as well. There’s a very steep ascend towards it, and you might want to take extra precautions.
On a good day though, Brandon Peak might still be considered a moderately difficult mountain simply because it’s well-marked.
We like that there are clear markers everywhere. You can find white crosses and stone markers so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
It doesn’t have a proper visitor centre on the mountain itself, but the good thing about it is that it has villages at the foot of the mountain. Any time there’s an emergency, it’s easy to ask for help from the villagers.
Also, the climb is worth it! You can see the breathtaking views of Ireland’s landscapes and seas from the top–you might even be able to spot dolphins!
Customer Reviews
A challenging hike even for experts
This was a very difficult climb. Myself and my father climbed it. Both of us are experienced hikers and very fit. We climbed on a very wet day which I wouldn’t recommend. There is a lot of patches where the path disappeared and we had to keep trying to find it. When you’re close to the top there is a very steep ascent, you will have to scramble up over sharp rocks and boulders. This was very difficult when coming back. Overall it is a challenging hike but I’m sure one a dry day the views are second to none. We unfortunately had none of that. It took us 4.5 hours.
—Deirdre J, Trip Advisor
Has a tourist route for beginners
Great mountain to climb research the routes the tourist route is ok but the other routes can be more challenging but great views of Tralee Bay,
—Traveler 86, Trip Advisor
3. Mount Errigal
| Safety and topography | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Views | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Weather and temperature | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Traveller reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Centre or Station | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Mount Errigal is a difficult mountain to climb, but the new path constructed just recently to protect the flora and fauna makes a difference. In fact, it makes things easier for climbers to tackle the mountain.
However, despite the new path, we’re still classifying it as tricky. Some paths require you to jump from boulder to boulder, or painstakingly climb slippery gravel and rocks.
In fact, the usual visitors attest to this. They told us that the path can get really mushy, slippery, and wet, and there are also smaller stones that would make your feet hurt.
What we love though is that the locals really took great care of the mountain. We appreciate them constructing a new path to preserve the plants, making the trails look more beautiful.
Speaking of beautiful, while this is a tricky mountain to climb, the ascent is worth it! You can get pretty stunning views from the top—and it’s worth taking pictures of!
We think it’s best to warn you that the weather is unpredictable though. Make sure you bring raincoats or jackets to ward off the water.
We also recommend taking a guided tour if you’re a beginner. It’s best to have someone lead the way for you if it’s your first time.
Good news though—there are hotels nearby. You can take a really long, relaxing bath before having good food and retiring in your hotel room.
Customer Reviews
New path makes climbing easier
Really enjoyed the climb. The new path that has been put in across the bog at the start and also most of the way up to the top makes it a much better experience than before.
You still get the thrill at the top of the wonderful view and also the “one man’s path” as the highlight. We are relatively fit and took us about 2 hours to get up and down with plenty of breaks to take in the views
—Colin B, Trip Advisor
Unpredictable weather
Took us over 5 hours from start to finish and we loved every minute of the experience. Weather can be unpredictable so bring a raincoat and sunglasses
—Gillian A, Trip Advisor
4. Slievemore
| Safety and topography | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Views | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Weather and temperature | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Traveller reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
What we love the most about Slievemore is that it has stunning views not only at the top but also on your way to it. So you can already witness the beauty of nature even as you climb towards the top.
The problem though is that it has no trails, so you have to rely on maps. However, some regular climbers told us that it’s still easy to navigate your way around as long as you follow the map.
The paths can go a little tricky in the middle wherein it gets a little steep. There are also more rocks to climb, so they’ll hurt your feet, but otherwise still a relatively easier climb than some mountains.
We recommend wearing hiking boots even though it’s not a difficult mountain to climb. The trick here is that you don’t have trails to follow, only maps, so it’s better to wear the right gear to avoid emergencies.
Slievemore has no centre or station for travellers to go to. But the good thing about it is that you can find some conveniences at the foot of the mountain like a hotel and a beach.
Speaking of the foot of the mountain, you can also find the deserted village of Slievemore. It’s a historical landmark with 100 stone houses still alive to this day.
We think this mountain is good for beginners as long as they wear the proper gear and climb on a nice day. So we’re still classifying this under EASY in terms of level of difficulty.
Customer Reviews
Rewarding walk
Very rewarding walk. Don’t expect clear paths, this is a route where you follow route on the map. The climb starts from the right side of the Strand Hotel. We too 2 hours to the top and then walked back down the far side and along the roads for the return.
—Julian Cox, All Trails
No trails, but still easy to climb
Beautiful hot day with contrasting glorious sun on the north side and fog covering the southern coast. The trail not at all obvious but following previous hikers’ map on the App kept me in line. Views, particularly given the weather were glorious and not available really except by doing this hike
—Alan Hope, Trip Advisor
5. Carrauntoohil
| Safety and topography | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Views | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Weather and temperature | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Traveller reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Centre or Station | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
While Carrauntoohil has varied hikes (which means it has beginner-friendly trails and difficult trails), we recommend trying this only if you’re confident enough. It’s Ireland’s highest peak for a reason—and we shouldn’t underestimate that.
According to some hikers, it’s best to come prepared. Bring all the necessary mountain climbing essentials and dress properly.
The weather can also be unpredictable. It’s best to bring a jacket and a raincoat since it also gets pretty chilly and foggy when you’re near the top.
The paths are easy to follow as well. The thing is, there are also different paths, which make it tricky to navigate—you need to endure sharp stone paths, gravel, wet marsh, and slippery slopes.
The trails are extremely beautiful though—there are waterfalls and streams, and a lot of greenery around. We think it’s best to climb on a good day so you can appreciate the scenery more.
We also recommend staying away from the Devil’s Ladder–if you ask us, that trail is solely for experts! But if you have confidence enough to try it, please do so but with caution!
This mountain has no visitor centre, but it has a picturesque village called Beaufort at the foot of it. It’s a scenic town with pubs and restaurants.
Customer Reviews
Zig Zag trails are longer but safer
We took the Zig Zags instead of the Devil’s Ladder, much longer but much safer. Took us 8h in total but we stopped to take pictures and to eat.
—Ariane Côté-Laniel, All Trails
Stunning views from the climb to the top
Stunning views all the way, very varied hike. From Cronin’s yard to the summit about 2.5 hours, reasonably experienced hikers weren’t rushing it either. Make sure you go left at the fork. Took the heavenly gates down instead of this route – not for the faint-hearted that one
—Gareth Dean, All Trails
FAQs About Places For Mountain Climbing in Ireland
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