HIKING WITHOUT CARRYING ALL THE LUGGAGE IN IRELAND – WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

Last updated on November 8, 2024

“Hiking could be so nice – if only it weren’t for all that lugging around….”

A 15kg backpack on your back for a week? Does it have to be like that?

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Achill Island (photo: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)

Intro

You’re not alone with this thought – and there are solutions to the problem!
You can also take a hiking vacation in Ireland with only light daypacks. Then you don’t have to carry all the overnight luggage yourself.

Another advantage: In your overnight luggage you can now also pack a second pair of hiking boots and additional clothing and change in between – this is especially practical if something gets wet!

What solutions there are and how it works, I tell you in this article:

Organized hiking group trip with luggage

Of course, everyone knows this form of travel. With a group of like-minded people on the bus, to the hotel, to the starting point of the day, walk route, pick up by the bus, to the hotel, etc….

The info packet is sent home, including packing list and travel information. The route is given – known and proven. The guide is nice, the hotels are good, just get on the bus and then follow the others…. Why not. The luggage goes in the bus – wonderful. Maximum service, that’s fine.

You don’t have to worry about (almost) anything and you get maximum comfort. In case of problems you have a guide on the spot, or a telephone contact who tries to help. You will save a lot of time in organizing your trip and if you don’t speak English well, this option will be the easiest for you.

However, the service also wants to be paid and so this will probably be the most expensive variant of hiking trips – also clear.

Examples of operators (in Germany): Wikinger-Reisen, Highländer Aktiv Reisen, Eberhardt Travel, Schneider Reisen.

Organized Individual Hiking

For those who don’t necessarily want to travel with a group, but would like some organization, the organized individual trip is an interesting option: you hike on a proven route, the accommodations are booked for you and you get an information package sent home.

By the way, you move individually. That means you get on the bus yourself to the hiking location, find your booked B&B and go on the route yourself according to the map. The overnight luggage will be picked up by a luggage service in your accommodation and driven to the next accommodation, so that you hike only with a daypack.

Cliffs of Moher (photo: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)

This solves the organization and the luggage problem, wonderful. Of course, this service also costs something, but already less than the group tour. But you have to be a bit more active and solve smaller problems yourself.

Examples of operators: Hillwalk Tours, Highländer Aktiv Reisen, Abenteuer Wege, Wikinger-Reisen.

Long-distance hiking on your own with luggage transport

In Ireland you can also organize everything yourself and still have your overnight luggage transported. On some routes there are luggage services that you can book yourself. Accommodation can be booked by yourself anyway.

The Irish long-distance trails are well marked and there are good maps online to print out yourself, or to buy as a paper map or hiking guide.

A good example is the Wicklow Way. In my separate article on the Wicklow Way you will also find practical links for accommodation, walking guides, maps and luggage transfer.

The Wicklow Way starts at the southern edge of Dublin and goes south through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. It is easily accessible by public transport and there is a good accommodation infrastructure.

You can find similar possibilities on the Dingle Way, the Kerry Way, or the Beara Way – just google them, e.g. “dingle way baggage transfer”.

Drombeg Stone Circle (photo: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)

Round trip with day hikes

This is also an interesting option: Make a round trip through Ireland with a rental car or your own car and do day hikes in different places. You can use parts of the marked long-distance hiking trails, or local looped walks, which can be found almost everywhere in Ireland.

Your overnight luggage stays in the car, the small daypack comes with you and you can also include some sightseeing or a stroll through the city in your hiking vacation.

Sounds good? Then take a look at this article.

Conclusion

You can hike wonderfully in Ireland. Even without the big heavy backpack with full luggage. I have listed a few possibilities – with tour operators and without.

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any tour operators, because I’m always on my own and therefore have no experience with tour operators. But I have listed a few tour operators for you.

But you can also hike in Ireland very well on your own. This is really no problem in Ireland.

Hiking is a very popular activity in Ireland. Therefore, there are great, well-marked trails, a good selection of accommodation and even luggage services!

You should speak a little English, but it doesn’t have to be perfect at all.
Even if something doesn’t work out – the Irish are very nice and very helpful and will always find a solution for you!

But no matter which way you decide to travel, I wish you a wonderful hiking vacation in Ireland.