While the Cliffs of Moher, Guinness Storehouse, and Ring of Kerry continue to draw the crowds, there are still a few spots in Ireland that you can have nearly all to yourself. From the Northern Lights dancing over a headland in County Donegal to the wild orchids and hawthorns blooming on an often overlooked Aran Island, here are five off-the-beaten-path experiences to weave into your next trip to Ireland.
Go for a Wildflower Walk on Inis Meáin in the Aran Islands of County Galway
The lesser-visited of the three Aran Islands, Inis Meáin harbors some of the best spring bloom in the country. Starting in late April and typically running through the summer, the karst landscape comes alive with wildflowers. Expect both the rare sort and the more common, from hawthorns and purple orchids to blue-petaled spring gentians, Irish saxifrage, red clover, and more. Join local guide Aédin Ní Thiarnaigh of Bláthanna Fiáine Wildflower Walks for a guided walk across the colorful spring and summer Inis Meáin landscape. You’ll learn not only the names of each plant, but their age-old uses in traditional Irish cooking, medicine, and craft along with the flora lore that still perseveres on this less-touristed Aran Island.
Slip into a Hot Seaweed Bath in County Sligo
Partake in an Irish indigenous tradition with a seaweed bath in County Sligo, where the seaweed bathing boom began more than 100 years ago. It’s not just for pampering, either: Seaweed is packed with naturally occurring chemicals and mineral-rich ingredients that, when heated in seawater, do everything from soothe the aches of rheumatism and arthritis to regulate the body’s metabolism to treat wounds, bruises, and inflammation. Seaweed also has natural anti-aging and anti-cellulite properties that detoxify, tone, and moisturize the skin. You can head to the Kilcullen Seaweed Baths in Enniscrone for a soak at one of the original bathhouses, or go for a luxury spa-like experience at VOYA Seaweed Baths in Strandhill.
Walk the Slieve Bloom Way in County Laois and Offaly
Just over an hour from Dublin is the 44-mile Slieve Bloom Way, a lesser-known loop trek through the Slieve Bloom Mountains that connects County Laois with County Offaly. This three- to four-day route takes you from the heathery high ridges of Europe’s oldest mountain range to its beautiful glens, forested tracks, old roadways, majestic waterfalls, and muddy moorland. Along the way, you can wild camp or book a stay in one of the rural villages that dot the mountainscape and brim with charm and even better craic. You can join this easy-to-follow and waymarked trail at any of its six trailheads: Kinnitty, Cadamstown, Clonaslee, Glenbarrow, Capard, or Monicknew.
Wild Camp by the Heart-Shaped Lough Ouler in County Wicklow
Blessing the northeastern slope of Tonelagee Mountain in the Wicklow Mountains, the heart-shaped lake known as Lough Ouler is the perfect excuse to pitch your tent in County Wicklow. While the Tonelagee & Lough Ouler Hike is recommended only for experienced hikers with at least some navigational skills, it’s a rewarding way to spend a few days and nights in the Irish wilderness. Think: grazing deer, wild heather, and Wicklow Mountain silhouettes at sunrise and sunset. Just keep in mind that campfires are strictly forbidden in Wicklow Mountain National Park and no camping is permitted in Glendalough Valley.
Catch the Northern Lights at Malin Head in County Donegal
Few travelers realize that you can see the Northern Lights in Ireland—but it’s true. The best spot to do so is Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula, Ireland’s most northerly point. On a clear night, the dark skies dance with color comparable to anything you’d find in Norway or Iceland, but without the subzero temperatures. The best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Ireland is during the winter months, between November and February. If Malin Head isn’t putting on a show, Fanad Head and the Rosguill Peninsula are some other prime light-pollution-free viewing spots in County Donegal.
