Tipperary ranked among best counties for a summer stroll

With the evenings long and the summer walking season in full swing, outdoor specialist store Trailblazers has crunched the national data to find the county that offers more to walkers than anywhere else in Ireland.

The company’s pick of a signature route in Tipperary is The Ormond Way, a long-distance route threading through Tipperary's heritage countryside, which is part of the Beara-Breifne Way.

“Ireland is made for walking, from gentle greenways to mountain trails, and interest in getting outdoors keeps growing every year," said Rebecca Ryan, marketing manager at Trailblazers.

“Wherever you are in the country, a great walk is rarely far away, and there's something out there for every age and ability."

Analysing national walking trails alongside Google Trends search data, Trailblazers can reveal that Cork is Ireland's walking capital, topping the table for both the sheer number of trails and the total distance on offer.

But when it comes to where the nation wants to walk, one county pulls clear of the rest.

Kerry is the most-searched hiking destination in the country.

Kerry has an almost magnetic pull for walkers and hikers,” Rebecca said.

“Between Killarney National Park, the Reeks and the Kerry Way, it has the scenery people picture when they imagine a great Irish hike. What's fascinating is that when you look at what's actually on the ground, it's Cork that comes out on top; the Rebel County simply gives you more choice than anywhere else. Kerry may capture the imagination, but Cork quietly offers the most opportunities to get out and explore.”

“For a summer walk,” Rebecca notes, “it's worth knowing that busier spots like Glendalough, the Cliffs of Moher and the Waterford Greenway have visitor centres, parking and cafés close by, while remoter routes such as the Bluestack Way and Sheep's Head reward those who come well prepared."

Whichever trail you choose, Rebecca says that camping and hiking enthusiasts should be well prepared before setting out. Her absolute essentials include strong, waterproof walking boots or shoes with good grip, layered clothing suitable for Ireland's fast-changing conditions, navigation tools, along with food, water and a first-aid kit, and reliable equipment for longer or more remote routes.

“The right gear doesn't just make a walk more comfortable,” Rebecca said, “It keeps people safe and helps them enjoy the outdoors with confidence, whether they're tackling Carrauntoohil or a gentle greenway.”

Trail counts and distances were taken from the National Trails Register, Sport Ireland Outdoors, filtered to trails listed with a walking activity.

Each trail was counted once under its listed county, with trails spanning multiple counties excluded for a clean per-county comparison, leaving 983 single-county walking trails across the 26 counties of the Republic.

Search demand was assessed using publicly available Google Trends data for walking- and hiking-related search terms over a 12-month period.

The combined score sums each county's rank for trail count, total distance and search demand, with a lower score indicating a stronger overall offering.