My Ireland
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5 outdoor activities that are always in season in Ireland
Japanese Gardens, County Kildare
1. Walk Ireland's gardens
Thanks to our temperate climate, fertile soil and a little bit of magic, the island of Ireland produces a surprising range of plants, flowers and trees. Spring and summer are glorious, but come in autumn and you'll be wowed by russet tones, richly coloured foliage and autumnal flowers. And that’s not forgetting winter – where the leafless trees and quiet sense of nature at rest has its own unique appeal. A great way to experience the seasons in Ireland is to get out there and explore some of Ireland's gardens. There are tidy city gardens filled with colour and charm, sub-tropical gardens with exotic wonders, and formal gardens of epic scale. Just remember to dress for the weather!
Game of Thrones® Winterfell Experience, Castle Ward, County Down
2. Discover Winterfell
You'll want to make the most of your time in Ireland so why not organise a tour to pack in as much as possible? A great all-year option is to walk in the footsteps of the Westerosi on a Game of Thrones® locations tour in Northern Ireland. You can download a Game of Thrones Driving Tour Map and take in locations such as Winterfell Castle and Melissandre’s cave across Northern Ireland. Stuck for time? There are lots of great day tours from Belfast that will bring you through the main Game of Thrones® locations, with a good amount of trekking through forests and castles along the way – just to set the tone. Finish it all off with a visit to the brand new Game of Thrones Studio Tour, in Banbridge, County Down, with costumes, sets and sketches.
Walking the Poisoned Glen, County Donegal
3. Take a hike
It’s not just our mild climate that makes Ireland an ideal destination for walking – it's that you'll find beauty in the landscape not matter what the season. Follow some of the epic coastal walks along the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route, where waves crash against towering sea cliffs and clouds race across the ever-changing skies. And this really is an all-weather activity, too, from the beauty of a frosty morning walk through rugged hills to the pleasure of the damp woody scents from a forest walk on a “soft day”, as we call it.
Walking around Derry Walls, County Derry-Londonderry
4. Explore a city on foot
A walking tour around one of our buzzing cities will take you on a journey that is sometimes surprising, sometimes heart-warming but always fun. Dress warm, bring a raincoat and a city walking tour is most definitely a great all-year-round thing to do. Take in the colourful character of Galway city, trace Viking footsteps in Waterford city, or roam around the fascinating Walled City of Derry~Londonderry.
Dark Sky Park, Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo
5. Have a night-time adventure
One of the great things you can do all year round on the island of Ireland is simply to… look up. On a clear night, it’s estimated that you can see over 4,000 stars twinkling in the skies above the island so it’s no wonder that the island boasts three International Dark Sky locations. There’s the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory in Northern Ireland, the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, and the Mayo International Dark Sky Park. For the best experiences, take a walk after dark with a guide who can explain what to look at where. You can also try a spot of Star Gazing at the north coast’s only Dark Sky Discovery Site at Carrick-a-Rede, or how about opting for an amazing full moon hike through beautiful County Wicklow? It’s a great way to see things from an entirely new perspective, and the walks take place throughout the year.
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