Are you thinking of coming to Ireland for the first time? You are about to embark on an incredible adventure, because you have chosen a Joyce’s Ireland Hiking Tour! Thank you.
A common query will of course be, what to pack for a hiking tour in Ireland? Well your journey begins here.
Our vehicle space limits us to one suitcase suitable for international travel, plus one day pack for the hikes. So, wheels, or no wheels, bear in mind that many of our accommodations have no elevators. You may be lucky enough to stay on the ground floor, but often you will need to walk up a flight of stairs, so you obviously need to manage your own luggage. Some of our lodgings are small family run guest houses, and there will be no one else to carry your suitcase upstairs!
Once you’ve got the right luggage, you can follow this advisory list of what to bring for hiking in Ireland while keeping things light in a carry on.
The essentials for the flight
Your carry on really should be the day pack that you are bringing for the hikes. But also a good alternative is a stow away bag that can go inside your main luggage once you’re not using it
These are the most important items for your flight:
- Your wallet, cash, credit cards, including ID and, Passport (carry a copy of your main passport page)
- Your Travel documents with travel insurance
- Medications: bring extras & copies of prescriptions
- Chargers & converters for all your tech gadgets.
Also in your carry on bag, include the following. If, by any unfortunate chance, your airline loses your luggage, you will be at least covered for a couple of days until they find it!
- Change of clothes
- Headphones
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Warm thick socks or flip flops
- Scarf
- Contact lenses & travel size solution, or glasses
- Tissues
- Tip – wear your hiking boots on the flight, less weight and space taken up in your hold luggage
Weather
Always expect the unexpected! Packing for walking in Ireland can be a challenge. On any day of winter, spring, summer or autumn – you may need layers, sunscreen, a raincoat, a hat and hiking boots. If you tell yourself that the possibility of rain in Ireland is real every single day, you will be well prepared. Weather can be unpredictable and it’s a good idea to pack for four seasons in one day, no matter what month you are travelling. That means something warm, solid waterproof shoes or preferably hiking boots, and a rainproof outer layer.
Ireland generally has a casual vibe in the restaurants and hotels. There’s no need to pack your fancy clothes. Smart, casual is sufficient for the evenings.
The following items are essential:
- Good strong waterproof hiking boots
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof hiking pants
- Comfortable walking socks
- Comfortable hiking pants (jeans are not recommended at all as they are too hot in fine weather and too heavy if they get wet)
- Small day rucksack for lunch, drinks, coat etc.
- Reusable water bottle
- Gloves (even in summer it can get really cool in some hilly and coastal areas)
- Warm Hat and scarf or buff
- Personal toiletries and medication
- General warm clothing such as sweaters, fleece jacket, etc. Layers are good
- Sun cream / sun block / after sun cream
- Spending money in UK Pounds for first 4 days, then Euros, however, Credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere.
The following items are suggestions:
- Down jacket
- Shorts
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Walking poles
- Book or two
- Alarm clock
- Drawing / painting equipment
- Insect repellent
- Your favourite remedy for blisters. (I highly recommend a product called “Compeed” which is available in most pharmacists. In the USA and Canada it may be sold under a different brand name. It is manufactured by Johnson and Johnson).