National Parks in Ireland

Ireland has six designated terrestrial national parks, all of which are featured on this page. These parks are Wicklow Mountains National Park, Killarney National Park, Connemara National Park, Glenveagh National Park, Burren National Park, and Wild Nephin National Park. A seventh marine national park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, was established in 2024.

The primary activities in Ireland's national parks are human-powered outdoor sports. Across the six parks, there are more than 500 routes available for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking. Many parks also offer opportunities for running and walking on designated trails.

Wicklow Mountains National Park is the largest of Ireland's six national parks, covering a vast area of mountain scenery close to Dublin. It contains over 200 routes for hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling through its glacial valleys and upland bog.

Killarney National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is known for its lakes, ancient woodlands, and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountains. It was Ireland's first national park and offers over 100 routes, with numerous options for hiking and road cycling around the lakes and through the woodlands.

Burren National Park is characterized by its unique karst landscape of limestone pavement, with distinctive cracks called grykes. This environment supports a rare mix of Arctic, Alpine, and Mediterranean flora. The park offers trails for hiking and cycling to explore its geology and plant life.

There are hundreds of hiking trails across Ireland's national parks, catering to various fitness levels. Wicklow Mountains National Park has over 90 hiking trails, while Killarney National Park offers more than 40. In Connemara National Park, a popular route is the hike up Diamond Hill.

Yes, road cycling and touring are popular activities in several of Ireland's national parks. Killarney National Park has a well-developed network of paths suitable for cycling around its lakes. Wicklow Mountains National Park also features numerous road cycling routes through its mountain passes.

Mountain biking is available in several national parks, though trail availability varies. Wicklow Mountains National Park has the most extensive options, with around 20 designated mountain bike trails. Other parks like Glenveagh and Killarney also have a smaller selection of routes suitable for mountain bikes.

Many national parks in Ireland offer routes suitable for families and beginners. Parks such as Killarney and Connemara have visitor centres and well-maintained, shorter nature trails. These paths often have gentle gradients and provide an accessible way to experience the park's landscape.

Wild Nephin National Park protects one of Western Europe's largest expanses of active blanket bog. It is a remote wilderness area known for its solitude. The park is also a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park, making it an exceptional location for stargazing.

National parks in Ireland are large areas designated to protect entire landscapes and ecosystems, managed for both conservation and public recreation. Nature Reserves in Ireland are typically smaller and established to protect specific habitats, species, or geological features, often with more restricted public access to prioritize conservation.