Celtic Camino
Suggested Routes
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail
Mayo - 63 km, from Balla to Murrisk
In County Mayo, in the west of Ireland, the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail extends from the town of Balla, an early Christian monastic site, westwards to the small seaside village of Murrisk which sits at the foot of the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. It is here that Ireland's patron saint, St Patrick, is said to have fasted for forty days and fought against the devil.
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The route follows parts of an older pilgrim route and also the steps of St Patrick himself on his way to the mountain, passing by a number of historic monuments and buildings including early churches, holy wells and castles. Pilgrims may want to visit the Romanesque Abbey of Ballintubber or linger in the village of Aghagower, a monastic site where they will find a 12th-century church and the remains of a round tower. Also on this route is Brackloon Wood, a rare oakwood, and a survivor from the time when much of Ireland was covered with such trees.
Bray Coastal Camino
Wicklow / Dublin - 30.5 km, Bray to Dublin
This route starts on the seafront in Bray and finishes in St James’ Church, James Street in the heart of Dublin (. It runs along a spectacular coastal path and offers magnificent views as well as interesting sites along the route. Highlights include Killiney Beach, Dalkey Village with its two harbours and Sorrento Terrace, Sandycove’s James Joyce Tower & Museum, Dún Laoghaire with its Victoria Fountain, Blackrock’s Martello Towers, the Diving Bell and Famine memorial along the Liffey Quays, and Christ Church Cathedral.
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The route also passes by the gate dedicated to St James in Dublin which was used by pilgrims departing to Santiago de Compostela and was located not far from shore of the River Liffey. Though the original medieval gate was demolished in the 18th century, the current one leads to the city’s landmark Guinness Storehouse and keeps its original name in memory of its history. It is at this gate that modern-day pilgrims can have their passports stamped before moving on to obtain their final stamp and the Celtic Camino Compostela from the information centre of the Camino Society Ireland, located at St James’ church.(www.caminosociety.ie/infocentre)
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Boyne Valley Camino
Louth - 25km, Drogheda Circular
Starting at the impressive St Peter’s Church in the medieval town of Drogheda, the Boyne Valley Camino is a journey through history. The route begins on a mixture of riverside and woodland paths at Belnumber and Townley Hall before leading along quiet country roads, canal paths and green fields on its way from Drogheda to Old Mellifont Abbey and back.
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The walk follows alongside the legendary Boyne River, site of the Battle of the Boyne (fought in 1690 between Protestants and Catholics) and home to the mythical goddess Boann who, according to legend, created the river. Meanwhile, Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland and was built in 1142. It is here on the banks of the river Boyne that Amergin and Colphta first landed from Galicia. These descendants of Breogán were known as Milesians and are the ancestors of Ireland’s Celtic population.
Coalisland Camino
Tyrone 26 km, Coalisland Circular.
This walk begins and ends at the Community Hub, located at St. Patrick’s Hall Coalisland. The route proceeds into the low-lying, scenic expanse of Derrytresk and Derryloughan. These areas are not only visually striking but also ecologically significant, containing vital habitats for the endangered Curlew, Irish Hare, and Native Irish Honeybee. The trail continues past Port Naomh, a site of spiritual and cultural importance, and moves toward the Maghery Ferry, an area with deep historical resonance in local memory.
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At Mullaghmoyle Road, you will be looking across a valley and hill, behind which is the Crannóg on Roughan Lough (1.2km), and to your right, towards Stewartstown (3km), is the famous Creeve Lough Crannóg from where Hugh O’Neill departed on the epic Flight of the Earls in 1607, a pivotal moment in Irish history. Walkers obtain their
penultimate stamp at St. Mary and St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church,
Tóchar Phádraig
Mayo - 35 km, Ballintubber Abbey to Murrisk
Tóchar Phádraig stretches from Ballintubber Abbey to the summit of Croagh Patrick (764 m), the site of St Patrick's legendary first battle with the Devil's Mother and a flock of demonic birds. An ancient pagan pilgrimage route, the pre-Christian origins of which are attested by a large rock in Boheh known as St Patrick's Chair, decorated with small circular holes and probably dating from the Bronze Age. Each year, hundreds of pilgrims walk Tóchar Phádraig and thousands more climb the sacred mountain, especially on the last Sunday in July, Reek Sunday. Croagh Patrick is known as The Reek.
Slí ár Sinsear -The Way of our Ancestors
Kerry – 29 km, Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen
The Camino of our Ancestors covers a total distance of 29km, starting in Glenbeigh at the church of St James to Cahersiveen in County Kerry, encompassing a mix of quiet country roads and trail walking. It follows ancient paths such as those through the ancient Kingdom of Drung which shares its origins with the time of the Milesians who came to Ireland from Galicia. The ancient pilgrim path leads to the summit of the 690-metre-high Cnoc na dTobar, a sacred site since prehistoric times. Long before the arrival of Christianity, the mountain was used for assemblies, especially the harvest festival of Lughnasa.
Kerry Camino
Kerry 57 km, Tralee to Dingle
The Kerry Way follows in the footsteps of St Brendan the Navigator along the Dingle Way through 6000 years of Irish history and along the Wild Atlantic Way . During the 3 days, you cross rugged mountain and coastal landscapes, through towns and villages until you reach the final destination at the church of St James in Dingle .The walk revives Kerry's links with pilgrims of the past.
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The Kerry Camino logo is a pewter scallop shell with a bronze-gilded statue of St James attached and mounted on a brooch, representing a pilgrim’s badge. It’s based on an original, discovered in 1992 during an archaeological dig at the ruined Ardfert Cathedral, just north of Tralee. The artefact was found underneath the wall of a late medieval tomb, suggesting that the deceased person had been on a pilgrimage to the apostle’s burial place in Santiago. Pilgrims used to depart for A Coruña from St James’ Church in Dingle.
St Kevin's Way
Wicklow 32 km, Hollywood to Glendalough
St Kevin's Way follows in the footsteps of St Kevin through the hills of Wicklow to the haunting and mysterious valley of Glendalough where he spent the rest of his life in solitary prayer and contemplation. After Kevin's death in AD 618, what had been a humble hermit's retreat developed into an impressive monastic city which was to continue as a centre of piety and learning for many years to come. Medieval pilgrims came from far and wide to visit Kevin's tomb.
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The main route starts in Hollywood and then climbs towards the spectacular Wicklow Gap, the highest point on the way. The flagstones of the old pilgrimage road are still visible in some sections. The route then follows the descent of the Glendasan River into the Valley of Glendalough. Little remains of the early monastery that grew up around St Kevin's tomb, with most of the monastic buildings dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, the golden era of European pilgrimage.
St Declan's Way
Tipp/Waterford - 115 km, Cashel to Ardmore
St Declan's Way follows the path that Declan took when he went to Cashel to meet St Patrick in the 5th century. Since then, it has become the route that pilgrims have taken to visit St Declan's monastery, holy well and grave in Ardmore for the past one and a half thousand years.
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A walk along St Declan's Way brings you through the heart of Ireland's Ancient East. The trail starts at the Rock of Cashel and passes Cahir Castle and Lismore Castle. The trek over the Knockmealdown Mountains, taking in Mount Melleray Abbey, offers great vistas north and south and is one of the highlights of the trail. The path finishes at the early Christian monastic site at Ardmore with its stunning round tower.
St Finbarr's Pilgrim Path
Cork - 35 km, Drimoleague to Gougane Barra
This walk begins at the Top of the Rock, Drimoleague, where local tradition states that St Finbarr in the 6th century admonished the people to return to Christ, then went on his way to Gougane Barra. Since that time, local people have walked this path, particularly on the saint’s feast day, the 25th of September. The entire walk is steeped in Celtic history and archaeological remains.
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The walk is a two day long, demanding but beautiful stretch with an overnight stay in the lovely village of Kealkil. Three significant mountain and valley systems are crossed by St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Path: the Ilen, Mealagh and Ouvane, with impressive views over Bantry Bay and stretches of the West Cork coastline. The walk culminates in a spectacular descent with the hermitage of St Finbarr visible below in its serene lake island setting in Gougane Barra.
Credit to Tourism Ireland for all the photos on this page - they have been sourced from Tourism Ireland's Content Pool.
More information on most of the routes can be found at sportireland.ie and pilgrimpath.ie.
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Camino Society Ireland CLG - Disclaimer
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The majority of outdoor activities involve risk to both persons and property. There are many variables including, but not limited to, weather, fitness level, terrain features and outdoor experience that must be considered prior to walking.
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Be prepared for your journey and be sure to check the current weather and conditions before heading outdoors. Always exercise common sense and caution.
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When we present a list of, or give information as to, Pilgrim routes in Ireland, Spain or elsewhere or any individual route, we are only making suggestions for the walker to consider. We do not in any way represent that these routes are generally safe, or safe for a particular individual, or safe in particular circumstances.
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It is for the individual walker, and not for Camino Society Ireland CLG, to decide whether a route is safe for walking. We are not responsible for the safety or well-being of any one who chooses to follow these routes. This applies also in the case of organised walks by Camino Society Ireland CLG.
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In no way shall the Camino Society Ireland CLG be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, or consequential damages arising out of, or in any way connected with the use of the information contained in or the activity described within this guide or on our website.
Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
All and any of the activity of Camino Society Ireland CLG, which is a not-for-profit Company registered in Ireland, is intended as part of the enduring conversation and sharing between Pilgrims and is not intended to give rise to any legal liability whatsoever.