Tinahely, Co. Wicklow

The village of Tinahely nestles amidst the rolling hills of south Wicklow in the valley of the Derry River, close to the borders of Co. Carlow and Co. Wexford. This tranquil spot gives walkers access to all manner of stunning walks and hikes.

The Wicklow Way is perhaps the most famous route – and for good reason. This is one of Ireland’s most spectacular way-marked ways, running 132km from Rathfarnham in Dublin as far as Clonegal in Carlow. The trail winds its way through parkland, forests, and unspoilt mountainous countryside over the eastern flanks of the Wicklow Mountains.

It is a demanding hike which requires adequate preparation and takes the average hill-walker between eight and 10 days to complete. However, you might just like to explore one or several of the seven sections, stopping off in cosy spots like Glendalough or Moyne for an overnight stay and a home-cooked evening meal.

For those who fancy something a little less strenuous, don’t miss Tomnafinnoge Wood which lies between Tinahely and Shillelagh. This atmospheric forest is one of the last remnants of the oak woodlands which once blanketed south Wicklow and offers three marked walks of varying distance. The most popular is the 4km River Walk (2km each way) but others prefer the looped options – the Oak Walk (3.2km) and the Hazel Walk (1.3km).

If you’ve eventually had enough walking, other great attractions near Tinahely include horse riding, golf and angling, as well as the annual Tinahely Agricultural Show. This is one of the largest shows of its kind in Ireland or Britain and attracts up to 20,000 visitors and exhibitors every August.