Each walk is charted on a 1:100,000 map with 50m contour interval, which may be adequate for some walkers without additional maps. While stopping for breath you can read about the geological processes that have created your spectacular view, as well as about local archaeology, social history, flora and fauna. At the end of the day, advice on (limited) public transport and cheap accommodation will help walkers get to the pub faster. For those in need of companionship, there is even information on participating in frequent walking festivals. On the downside, some stretches are on roads, many walks are not circular and the book does not suggest sheltered sightseeing alternatives to cover the likely event of bad weather. Yet, overall, Walking in Ireland is highly recommended. --Rob Hadden

I wonder if the authors of this book actually did the walk as some of the directions are also contradictory. In the end it turned an attempt at a walk into a massively frustrating random tramp including much backtracking and restarting before giving up and going home!

This book did manage to find itself one place... THE BIN!


Suitable for long hikes   April 24, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Like every Lonely Planet guidebook, it's impossible to rate it with less than 4 stars! History, Facts, Health and Safety, where to sleep, and some other important chapters are divided in 90 pages helping the reader, like no other book, in the organization of the trip. I was in Ireland for 6 months and I brought 7 different guidebooks, but I didn't use this one as much as I was imagining, since it is more suitable for those who want to do long (some days) hikes. Besides that I want to ask the writers to don't use so many time adjectives like "astonishing", "breathtaking" and "awesome". It's possible to find them describing too many places and so it gets more difficult to choose a hike. And even if Carrantuohill, Top of Ireland, is really an "astonishing" day walk, it's not include in this book! "Great Walks: Ireland" (David Herman) was my best guide for day walks, but it's not enough to plan your trip.


Compact encyclopaedia for independent walkers   April 2, 2002
 16 out of 17 found this review helpful

For independent walkers planning a trip to Ireland, this portable encyclopaedia is good value. It covers a huge range, from a scenic two-hour stroll to the 122-mile Kerry Way (nine days), from easy walks to some tough mountain circuits. As you would expect from Lonely Planet, the authors are strong on environmental issues and thorough on practical information.

In 424 well-filled pages they cover the whole island of Ireland, both the Republic and Ulster. The secret of easy access is to use their handy 4-page table of walks organised by region. There is a good index and glossary, and even the boxed text and maps are indexed. Each walk is supported by a small-scale contour map (intended for planning purpose only). As a one-stop resource for walking in Ireland, this book is unrivalled.