3.9km, easy, 1 hour  

If you want a walk that includes historic sites, an easy to follow trail and cracking views out over the sea, the Ardmore Cliff Walk is just the ticket. Starting (and finishing) at the Cliff House Hotel, this well-trodden trail weaves along the top of the cliffs, with a gentle elevation that gives you great views over the waters of Ardmore Bay, the craggy cliffs and the rocky outcrops far below. You’ll pass by the site of St Declan’s Well, which dates back to the 5th century, two lookout posts and the hulking ruins of the Samson shipwreck, all on a trail surrounded by thickets of heather and fern. Plus, the raised edges along the path make excellent lookout posts for your dog, if they like to keep watch.  

Stay at the dog-friendly Cliff House Hotel and you’ll have the trail right on your doorstep – and dogs can join you for meals on the terrace.   

10.3km, moderate, 2 hours 

There are four walking trails in Portumna Forest Park, from quick woodland loops to longer, more strenuous hikes. The Bonaveen Looped Trail falls somewhere in between, for a walk that combines sections along the shore of Lough Derg with plenty of forestry and a good variety of native trees. When you get out along the edge of the lake, you’ll find some of the best views in the park, and there are plenty of places where you can get a coffee in Portumna, either before or after your walk.  

Stay in The Stables Birr, a dog-friendly townhouse about a 25-minute drive away.  

3km, easy, 1 hour  

Dogs are welcome at the luxurious Carton House, where they’ll find treats, a bowl and a mat in your room – you can even book a dog minding service if you want to go for dinner in their Michelin-starred Morrison Room. There are three walking trails that weave around the grounds, and the Red Walk is a great option if you want to see the estate highlights. You’ll walk by the boathouse and along the river, past a limestone bridge and beneath the historic folly Tyrconnell Tower, and nature spotters will find some rare trees in amongst the native varieties.  

If you fancy a longer stretch, the 7km-long Yellow Walk starts in the same spot as the Red one but wends its way around the southern edge of the estate, skirting the Montgomerie Course through gorgeous woodland.  

9.25km, strenuous, 3 hours 

Nothing beats a good stroll by the sea, and the Ballycotton Cliff Walk is one of the best in Cork – you’ll get uninterrupted views across the Atlantic and back to the iconic black lighthouse on Ballycotton Island. Starting in the village, the trail passes through meadows and along the top of the cliffs, following the coastline all the way to the sandy Ballyandreen beach, where you’ll turn and walk back to the starting point. And while the ever-present sea views are tough to beat, the wildflowers along the edge of the path are just as pretty, with thickets of bright yellow gorse and pink sea thrift along the way. Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars, as you’ll often see dolphins playing in the waves, and note that there are a few stiles along the route, so your dog will have to do a bit of leg work.  

Stay in Castlemartyr Resort, a 15-minute drive away, where there are dog-friendly rooms and lodges, as well as a Pet Concierge service, a welcome gift and loads of great walks around the estate.  

4km, strenuous, 1 hour 

There are a few steep bits to contend with, but the views you get at the top of each climb make it well worth the effort. The Slish Wood Forest Walk loops through the thick woodland, past giant oak trees (some of which are 250 years old) and along the edge of Lough Gill, with views out over the water and the mountains on the other side. In the spring, there are loads of bluebells and wild garlic, too.  

Sligo Southern Hotel is roughly a 10-minute drive away, and their dog-friendly rooms include a dog bed, a bowl and a special treat upon check-in. And if you go out to Strandhill, Shells Café has an outdoor terrace that’s dog-friendly, too.  

2.6km, easy, 30 minutes 

Though the Great Western Greenway doesn’t allow dogs, this smaller stretch leading into Westport town does. Following the old railway line from the town out to the quay, the Westport Greenway is an easy, off-road route that leads you through woodland until you reach the water, where you can pick up a coffee in one of the harbour cafés and sit on a bench before you walk back. If you fancy taking a different route back into town, walk through the grounds of Westport Estate using their Quay entrance, and stroll through the woodland back into Westport.  

The Wyatt Hotel is right in the heart of the town and has some dog-friendly rooms with easy access to the outside.   

15km, moderate, 4 hours 

There are several walking trails in Killarney National Park, but to really see it in all its glory, the Muckross Lake Loop is the perfect route. It’s a long one, but ticks off plenty of pretty scenery along the way, starting in Muckross House before cutting around the lakeshore, over the peninsula into Reenadinna Wood, before passing the 200-year-old Dinis Cottage. You’ll also tick off three of the park’s best known landmarks – the Meeting of the Waters, where Killarney’s three famous lakes converge; the curved stone of the Old Weir Bridge; and Muckross Abbey, where a 400-year-old yew tree (Ireland’s oldest) stands in the middle of the 15th-century friary. The full route also incorporates the 4.5km Torc Waterfall Loop, for a great view of the 360-foot cascades – you can skip this if you’d prefer to knock a couple of hours off the walk.  

Stay in Muckross Park Hotel & Spa, where there are pet-friendly apartments, a welcome ‘doggie bag’ and access to dog walkers and sitters. Dogs are also welcome in The Danny Mann Pub, if you fancy a bite to eat.  

12km, easy, 2.5 hours 

Sometimes, you just need an easy flat surface where your dog can get a good walk without bringing back half the forest on their paws. The Royal Canal Greenway has 130km of towpath to explore, but the Maynooth section makes for a great walk, the pathway running right along the edge of the water, past the docked canal boats and locks and under pretty stone bridges. There’s a 6km linear stretch between Maynooth and Kilcock, so you can either walk the whole way there and back for a longer walk, or simply stroll as far as you like before turning around.  

The dog-friendly hotel Cliff at Lyons is less than 20 minutes away, and there are plenty more country walks on their estate and nearby. Plus, dogs are welcome to join you if you dine in their al fresco Mill Garden & Terrace.  

30km 

Unless you’re a long distance runner with a greyhound in tow, you probably won’t be walking the full 30km of the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway. But no matter – the joy of any greenway is that you can join at whatever point you please, and walk for however long you like. This full route runs from Navan in Co Meath to Kingscourt in Co Cavan, and if you start in Navan, you can make use of the Park Beo Greenway Hub – their outdoor café is great for coffee, açai bowls and homemade protein balls. It’s also right by the start point of the Greenway, so you can head straight onto the quiet path, with rolling green fields on either side of the trail.  

If you do choose to start in Navan, stay in the nearby Bellinter House, where you and your dog can stay in the Stable Rooms and eat together in the bar or study.  

3.2km, easy, 1 hour  

There are three easy trails here, each going through the woodland – the middle ground option is the Long Loop. As well as taking in all the different tree varieties, there are archaeological monuments throughout the forest, which you can spot along the way. Take a brief detour to see Sunday Well, in the middle of a ringfort, or take the shorter Sunday Well Loop (2.1km) on its own.  

Stay in the nearby Mustard Seed, a previous winner of Georgina Campbell’s 'Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year' award. And if you’re in Limerick city, the Milk Market welcomes dogs of all sizes, with water bowls dotted around and excellent bakery, sandwich and bagel stands for the humans.  

5km, easy, 1 hour 

Want you and your four-legged companion to walk in the footsteps of St Patrick? Well, you can do so in Cloonfad, where a pre-Christian pathway once ran along the top of Slieve Dart. There are seven walking trails for you to explore, and the Cloonfad River Walk is a great loop that starts and ends at the Derrylahan Resource Centre, with an ancient sweathouse next door.  

Gleeson's Townhouse is in Roscommon town, about a 40-minute drive away, and your dog can stay with you and dine by your side in the reception lounge.   

Photo credit: @gleesonsroscommon

8.9km, moderate, 2 hours 

There are no shortage of great walks in West Cork, but the trails in Kilbrittain village are great all-rounders. The Rathclaren Walk weaves through woodland and along the edge of the estuary, and you get great views of the ocean, too.  

For more of the same, check into Dunmore House Hotel, where all of the dog-friendly rooms have a superior ocean view, so you (and your pup) can look out over Clonakilty Bay from your balcony. It’s less than a 30-minute drive away from Kilbrittain, too.