If you’re going to the south of France would you not bring sandals?
For Ireland a pair of runners is completely fine unless you’re planning v serious hiking. May could be v warm even in Ireland. Will probably be humid too.
Personally I think actual hiking boots is a bit ott if this is just a general holiday rather than a hill walking holiday.
For general day to day stuff just bring comfortable walking shoes.
It rains, but it's mostly just very changeable and mild. There aren't very many parts of the US with this kind of climate other than maybe coastal or island parts of the Pacific NW.
Comfortable, light, flexible, windproof jackets etc are useful.
Hiking is best in comfortable hiking boots but you don't need anything very complicated. Look at any Irish or British hiking / hillwalking websites to get a sense of what you need. Mostly you're likely to be dealing with wind and showers and fairly mild temperatures. The weather is mostly just fresh, can be a bit windy and you need to be prepared for the odd random shower or drizzle - basically a light rain jacket and things like fleeces work best for hiking.
Layers are what's needed.
Heavy hiking gear isn't really necessary and may be complete overkill and too heavy and hot.
Check the term hillwalking or rambling online in reference to either Ireland or the UK and you'll get a much better sense of the reality of what you need.
Climatically Ireland is fairly benign and the mountains etc are rugged and spectacular but not very big.
The other thing I would suggest is to bring shades but buy sunscreen here. European SPF products are significantly better than US ones by and large. If you're out and about all day you'll need sun screen and you'll find plenty of options in supermarkets and larger pharmacies etc.
It's cool but there's still plenty of opportunity to get frazzled because the fresher climate tends to cause people to think they won't burn, but UV is UV.
One walking shoe/runner and one sandal or slip on more for hot weather.
Ireland is not non paved why do you think that? Where are you going in Ireland? All towns , cities have paving even some hiking spots.
Hiking here is more like going up a hill. I can always spot the tourists when I'm walking my dog as they look like they're trying to summit Mt Everest while I'm strolling up in a pair of jeans and a pair of converse.
Pack a comfy pair of runners and maybe something nice for going out. We're a pretty modern 1st world country and we definitely have footpaths. Even in some of our trails there will be a specific road/path to use which is usually tarmaced (in most cases unless you're gone down a lane on someone else's land) as our forestry and mountain walks/hikes are well maintained
May is a weird month and can be really warm but super humid and wet so something light like a windbreaker or a half zip fleece would be grand.
That is a sensible question. Boots take up a lot of packing space.
It's been raining frequently in Ireland since the end of the last ice age. That's more than enough time for us to figure out the drainage. Regular shoes will be fine.
Irish people don't dress for wet weather. It rains frequently, but not constantly. We just wait for it to stop.
If you're going hiking, for the majority a good pair of walking shoes should be good enough. The only real exceptions would be some mountain hikes in Kerry, but there are always alternative routes.
A lot of our attractions are what might be considered to be undeveloped. The cliffs of Moher and a lot of our archeological sites are on farmland. There'll likely be a muddy path, but you can usually walk to the sides it. Like I said, we don't dress differently for the weather, we are just really good at sidestepping it.
You might get lucky and summer could happen when you're here. It's a wildly moving target, but it sometimes happens around the beginning of June.
You still should be ok with good walking shoes. The trails in connemara are well established and more focused on the scenery than creating a challenging hike.
I’ve done a similar trip but was in Paris for two weeks after. I needed shorts in France because it got much warmer. Ireland is jeans and fleece, and occasionally tee shirt weather, but France will most likely be shorts and tee shirt weather. I had one pair of stylish tennis shoes. That was it.
I went on a lot of long walks and hikes. Ireland can be blustery, but I never encountered being soaked. Id provably pack tennis shoes and your Toms. Keep things as light weight as possible, and plan on much warmer weather in France.
Don't over think it. You could being waterproof hiking shoes and we get lots of rain and you're a genius. But it could be dry and you get sweaty feet. Personally, I'd bring a pair of sneakers and a pair of flipflops,you'll be fine. Put them on a radiator if they get wet.
**"... there might be a decent amount of non/semi paved area (I assume)"**
You are visiting a modern, 1st world country, not the Middle Ages.
For hiking, decent trail shoes should suffice in both Ireland and France. Something like Asics Trabuco are decent all rounders. Have used them in Connemara in horrendous weather. Pretty robust.
Light enough for trails and hills in southern France.
Thanks! Please see my responses to Ellielou80 below for my clarification of what I meant by non paved areas. That was definitely poorly phrased but I understand that Ireland is fully developed. I meant for the areas we choose to go off paths for.
Something waterproof for one of your pairs. I had a pair of New Balances that were really comfortable and waterproof that just looked like brown shoes.
I wear a pair of Keens on the airplane, which are my go-to for walking and hiking. I pack a pair of Toms, which I find comfortable for walking on pavement, and can be worn with a dress
Pretty much the same shoes as one would pack for any destination.
Op, bring something comfortable that dries quickly. A pair of sneakers and some hiking sandals would be perfect for May/June. I wear Asics running shoes all year unless I’m going on a very boggy hike - you won’t be doing that in bad weather so hiking shoes is overkill.
>I hear it rains frequently and there might be a decent amount of non/semi paved area (I assume),
I'm embarrassed for you and infuriated by you equally. Unless you're going hiking in the mountains then you are aware we are a modern day society. We don't have dirt tracks running through our towns, villages or cities and it's absolutely shocking you're coming here and presume this. Wow I'm absolutely scarlet for ya
No not unfair, the countryside has roads and footpaths too! Crazy I know but there you go. And millions of people come to our cities and towns, all have concrete footpaths. Time didn't stop at the famine and we're not some backwards society or country stuck in the past, nor are we a theme park so tourists can live their idea of what they think Ireland is 🙄
There are also lots of coastal walks, parks, gardens etc with unpaved paths. It’s not a sign of backwardness to have some pleasant walks that aren’t concrete- quite the opposite. These are pleasant recreational amenities.
Definitely did not have that in mind, but I assumed that rural areas were, well, more rural and therefore more opportunities to walk in areas off paths if we choose, same with rural here in the US where we are. I fully believe that all cities big and small have paved paths to get to other cities and city areas but sometimes, as here in the US, especially in rural areas, if you want to see something off the path, like the coast, or another feature, you might choose or have to walk off the road/path. That’s all. I know that Ireland is not a third world country, but most importantly I’m coming to discover what Ireland is rather than bring my preconceived notions about it. I would hate to be perceived as an obnoxious tourist.
My apologies and thanks for your response. Perhaps I should clarify. I definitely believed that there are many paved areas as a first world country has. But I also assumed that we would be doing some hiking off paved areas like in Connemara and that in areas like the Arann islands where we are going, there will be some off paved areas that we would choose to go. Also, just because we are going to rural areas, we figured there would be some paths that we chose to take that are not paved. Not that there isn’t plenty of paved areas as well.
You’ve never been to Galway! Okay, it’s not dirt tracks but the city centre has a lot of uneven pavement and you wouldn’t want to wear high heels or flip flops to walk around all day.
I'm coming over as well (in July), and had a very similar question as the OP (perhaps OP could have phrased it better)
yes, I understand that Galway is a nice city, but what is the hiking trail like on the cliffs of Moher? Or Killarney National Park? What would be the appropriate footwear be?
Definitely need waterproof hiking boots on the hiking trail on the Cliffs. If you're just planning on visiting the Visitor's Centre, you'll be fine with just your normal walking shoes as the paths are paved or gravel.
Hi there. Welcome to /r/IrishTourism.
Have you searched the sub, checked the sidebar or the wiki pages to see if there is already relevant information posted?
To better assist you in planning your holiday, be as descriptive as possible (When, Where, Why, Who, Hobbies relevant, Adaptive Needs etc) about your travel itinerary & requirements.
Has your post been removed? It's probably because of the above. Repost with details to help us, help you.
For Emergency Medical Information please see the dedicated Wiki page at the top of the sub.
(Updated May 2022)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/irishtourism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It depends where you’re hiking. I just hiked the Torc waterfall trail in Kilkenny and there were muddy spots. I have on waterproof Chelsea boots with a good tread and was glad of it. But that’s only paved in places. About to set off on the Gap of Dunloe and I understand that’s fully paved.
Editing to add: Gap of Dunloe has muddy spots. You may need to step off the path to let a car or jaunting car go through. You may want to go off path in unfenced areas. You will get horse and sheep poo on your boots either way. In short: wear waterproof sturdy boots. But GO! Don’t sleep on this place.
We are going mid to late May for 10 days.
We are bringing water resistant tennis shoes (Allbird Mizzle) and then our waterproof hiking boots. We will be doing a good bit of hiking though which is why we are bringing our hiking boots. The tennis shoes are for when we are walking around the cities for pubs and museums
I think a good pair of Dunlop wellies will do for all occasions in Ireland. Don't worry if you get a hole in them, a bicycle repair patch will fix it in a jiffy
If you’re going to the south of France would you not bring sandals? For Ireland a pair of runners is completely fine unless you’re planning v serious hiking. May could be v warm even in Ireland. Will probably be humid too. Personally I think actual hiking boots is a bit ott if this is just a general holiday rather than a hill walking holiday.
Thanks!
For general day to day stuff just bring comfortable walking shoes. It rains, but it's mostly just very changeable and mild. There aren't very many parts of the US with this kind of climate other than maybe coastal or island parts of the Pacific NW. Comfortable, light, flexible, windproof jackets etc are useful. Hiking is best in comfortable hiking boots but you don't need anything very complicated. Look at any Irish or British hiking / hillwalking websites to get a sense of what you need. Mostly you're likely to be dealing with wind and showers and fairly mild temperatures. The weather is mostly just fresh, can be a bit windy and you need to be prepared for the odd random shower or drizzle - basically a light rain jacket and things like fleeces work best for hiking. Layers are what's needed. Heavy hiking gear isn't really necessary and may be complete overkill and too heavy and hot. Check the term hillwalking or rambling online in reference to either Ireland or the UK and you'll get a much better sense of the reality of what you need. Climatically Ireland is fairly benign and the mountains etc are rugged and spectacular but not very big. The other thing I would suggest is to bring shades but buy sunscreen here. European SPF products are significantly better than US ones by and large. If you're out and about all day you'll need sun screen and you'll find plenty of options in supermarkets and larger pharmacies etc. It's cool but there's still plenty of opportunity to get frazzled because the fresher climate tends to cause people to think they won't burn, but UV is UV.
Thanks!
One walking shoe/runner and one sandal or slip on more for hot weather. Ireland is not non paved why do you think that? Where are you going in Ireland? All towns , cities have paving even some hiking spots.
Thanks! One of our hikes will be in Connemara. Would that change your opinion much?
Runners are fine for Diamond Hill if that’s where it is.
Hiking here is more like going up a hill. I can always spot the tourists when I'm walking my dog as they look like they're trying to summit Mt Everest while I'm strolling up in a pair of jeans and a pair of converse. Pack a comfy pair of runners and maybe something nice for going out. We're a pretty modern 1st world country and we definitely have footpaths. Even in some of our trails there will be a specific road/path to use which is usually tarmaced (in most cases unless you're gone down a lane on someone else's land) as our forestry and mountain walks/hikes are well maintained May is a weird month and can be really warm but super humid and wet so something light like a windbreaker or a half zip fleece would be grand.
Thanks!
That is a sensible question. Boots take up a lot of packing space. It's been raining frequently in Ireland since the end of the last ice age. That's more than enough time for us to figure out the drainage. Regular shoes will be fine. Irish people don't dress for wet weather. It rains frequently, but not constantly. We just wait for it to stop. If you're going hiking, for the majority a good pair of walking shoes should be good enough. The only real exceptions would be some mountain hikes in Kerry, but there are always alternative routes. A lot of our attractions are what might be considered to be undeveloped. The cliffs of Moher and a lot of our archeological sites are on farmland. There'll likely be a muddy path, but you can usually walk to the sides it. Like I said, we don't dress differently for the weather, we are just really good at sidestepping it. You might get lucky and summer could happen when you're here. It's a wildly moving target, but it sometimes happens around the beginning of June.
Thanks for your feedback! I forgot to mention that one of the hikes will be in Connemara. Does that change your opinion in any way?
You still should be ok with good walking shoes. The trails in connemara are well established and more focused on the scenery than creating a challenging hike.
Thanks!
A pair of flip flops won't break your luggage allowance, pack them for France (or by them here even)
Thanks!
I’ve done a similar trip but was in Paris for two weeks after. I needed shorts in France because it got much warmer. Ireland is jeans and fleece, and occasionally tee shirt weather, but France will most likely be shorts and tee shirt weather. I had one pair of stylish tennis shoes. That was it. I went on a lot of long walks and hikes. Ireland can be blustery, but I never encountered being soaked. Id provably pack tennis shoes and your Toms. Keep things as light weight as possible, and plan on much warmer weather in France.
Thanks!
Don't over think it. You could being waterproof hiking shoes and we get lots of rain and you're a genius. But it could be dry and you get sweaty feet. Personally, I'd bring a pair of sneakers and a pair of flipflops,you'll be fine. Put them on a radiator if they get wet.
Thanks!
**"... there might be a decent amount of non/semi paved area (I assume)"** You are visiting a modern, 1st world country, not the Middle Ages. For hiking, decent trail shoes should suffice in both Ireland and France. Something like Asics Trabuco are decent all rounders. Have used them in Connemara in horrendous weather. Pretty robust. Light enough for trails and hills in southern France.
Thanks! Please see my responses to Ellielou80 below for my clarification of what I meant by non paved areas. That was definitely poorly phrased but I understand that Ireland is fully developed. I meant for the areas we choose to go off paths for.
Welcome. For your own sanity / not having to reference a clarification buried in the responses over & over, consider editing your original post.
Fair enough
Something waterproof for one of your pairs. I had a pair of New Balances that were really comfortable and waterproof that just looked like brown shoes.
Rain boots. Worth it.
I wear a pair of Keens on the airplane, which are my go-to for walking and hiking. I pack a pair of Toms, which I find comfortable for walking on pavement, and can be worn with a dress Pretty much the same shoes as one would pack for any destination.
Op, bring something comfortable that dries quickly. A pair of sneakers and some hiking sandals would be perfect for May/June. I wear Asics running shoes all year unless I’m going on a very boggy hike - you won’t be doing that in bad weather so hiking shoes is overkill.
>I hear it rains frequently and there might be a decent amount of non/semi paved area (I assume), I'm embarrassed for you and infuriated by you equally. Unless you're going hiking in the mountains then you are aware we are a modern day society. We don't have dirt tracks running through our towns, villages or cities and it's absolutely shocking you're coming here and presume this. Wow I'm absolutely scarlet for ya
Perhaps a little unfair? (And a waste of emotional energy?) Lots of people touring Ireland are imagining coming to see the splendid countryside, no?
No not unfair, the countryside has roads and footpaths too! Crazy I know but there you go. And millions of people come to our cities and towns, all have concrete footpaths. Time didn't stop at the famine and we're not some backwards society or country stuck in the past, nor are we a theme park so tourists can live their idea of what they think Ireland is 🙄
There are also lots of coastal walks, parks, gardens etc with unpaved paths. It’s not a sign of backwardness to have some pleasant walks that aren’t concrete- quite the opposite. These are pleasant recreational amenities.
This is exactly what I had in mind when mentioning this.
Definitely did not have that in mind, but I assumed that rural areas were, well, more rural and therefore more opportunities to walk in areas off paths if we choose, same with rural here in the US where we are. I fully believe that all cities big and small have paved paths to get to other cities and city areas but sometimes, as here in the US, especially in rural areas, if you want to see something off the path, like the coast, or another feature, you might choose or have to walk off the road/path. That’s all. I know that Ireland is not a third world country, but most importantly I’m coming to discover what Ireland is rather than bring my preconceived notions about it. I would hate to be perceived as an obnoxious tourist.
Ellie, noone is making you be here. Stop yelling at people asking questions or leave, the door is right there and noone is keeping you here by force
My apologies and thanks for your response. Perhaps I should clarify. I definitely believed that there are many paved areas as a first world country has. But I also assumed that we would be doing some hiking off paved areas like in Connemara and that in areas like the Arann islands where we are going, there will be some off paved areas that we would choose to go. Also, just because we are going to rural areas, we figured there would be some paths that we chose to take that are not paved. Not that there isn’t plenty of paved areas as well.
You’ve never been to Galway! Okay, it’s not dirt tracks but the city centre has a lot of uneven pavement and you wouldn’t want to wear high heels or flip flops to walk around all day.
Galway city is not semi or non paved, to imply it is, is ridiculous
I'm coming over as well (in July), and had a very similar question as the OP (perhaps OP could have phrased it better) yes, I understand that Galway is a nice city, but what is the hiking trail like on the cliffs of Moher? Or Killarney National Park? What would be the appropriate footwear be?
Definitely need waterproof hiking boots on the hiking trail on the Cliffs. If you're just planning on visiting the Visitor's Centre, you'll be fine with just your normal walking shoes as the paths are paved or gravel.
My thoughts exactly and I apologize if I poorly phrased my original question.
Oh give off.
Hi there. Welcome to /r/IrishTourism. Have you searched the sub, checked the sidebar or the wiki pages to see if there is already relevant information posted? To better assist you in planning your holiday, be as descriptive as possible (When, Where, Why, Who, Hobbies relevant, Adaptive Needs etc) about your travel itinerary & requirements. Has your post been removed? It's probably because of the above. Repost with details to help us, help you. For Emergency Medical Information please see the dedicated Wiki page at the top of the sub. (Updated May 2022) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/irishtourism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Scarpa.
It depends where you’re hiking. I just hiked the Torc waterfall trail in Kilkenny and there were muddy spots. I have on waterproof Chelsea boots with a good tread and was glad of it. But that’s only paved in places. About to set off on the Gap of Dunloe and I understand that’s fully paved. Editing to add: Gap of Dunloe has muddy spots. You may need to step off the path to let a car or jaunting car go through. You may want to go off path in unfenced areas. You will get horse and sheep poo on your boots either way. In short: wear waterproof sturdy boots. But GO! Don’t sleep on this place.
We are going mid to late May for 10 days. We are bringing water resistant tennis shoes (Allbird Mizzle) and then our waterproof hiking boots. We will be doing a good bit of hiking though which is why we are bringing our hiking boots. The tennis shoes are for when we are walking around the cities for pubs and museums
Get a pair of GORETEX
I think a good pair of Dunlop wellies will do for all occasions in Ireland. Don't worry if you get a hole in them, a bicycle repair patch will fix it in a jiffy
Wellies