CIE Tours launches Ireland hiking trips as demand for walking holidays grows

Ireland specialist CIE Tours has rolled out its first hiking and walking tours this year, saying demand for active itineraries is growing. Its Ireland programme covers counties Cork and Kerry, combining daily walks with cultural visits, and is part of a wider trend among tour operators toward exploring a destination on foot.

Key facts

• CIE Tours launched hiking and walking itineraries in Ireland this year and is starting with two itineraries
• The Ireland walking and hiking trip covers counties Cork and Kerry, with near-daily walks rated easy to moderate
• Bags are transferred between hotels so guests carry only a light daypack
• Intrepid Travel says bookings of hiking itineraries are up 16% this year
• Macs Adventure says business has more than doubled since the pandemic, with Americans now making up more than half of its customers

What does the Ireland itinerary include?

The Cork and Kerry trip mixes trail time with sightseeing. Walks described in the trip report include Lady Bantry's Lookout in County Cork, a climb of about 262 feet with views over farmland and a lake, plus routes through farmland dotted with cows and stone ruins, and across bogs.

Cultural stops on the itinerary include a boat trip to Garnish Island in County Kerry, a soda bread baking demonstration and a peat-cutting demonstration at Molly Gallivan's Cottage & Farm, the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, and a boat tour of Lough Leane while visiting the Ring of Kerry. Trips also leave time for pubs, tea and local hospitality.

How demanding are the walks?

Walks on the itinerary range from easy to moderate and run near-daily. CIE's head of product, Conor Wall, said the walks are "intended to be achievable and enjoyable, not endurance hikes", with the aim of letting guests feel a sense of accomplishment without the trip becoming only about physical challenge.

Groups mix different ages, levels of agility and walking speeds. The trips are classed as soft adventure: activity during the day combined with comfortable hotels and luggage transfers between stops.

Why are operators adding hiking trips?

Intrepid Travel and Backroads both report that hiking trips are among their fastest-growing segments. Frank Cheshire, Intrepid's senior product manager of active tours, said hiking bookings are up 16% this year, with its John Muir Trail itinerary in California's Sierra Nevada up 75% and its Kilimanjaro trek up 63%.

Macs Adventure, a self-guided operator that has focused on walking tours since it launched in 2003, said business has more than doubled since the pandemic and that Americans now account for more than half of its customers, up from about one-third before Covid. Founder Neil Lapping attributed the growth to travellers wanting health, challenge and a sense of achievement.

Operators also report strong repeat business. CIE said some guests on its first year of trekking itineraries have already booked their next one.

What this means for travellers

Travellers considering an Ireland walking trip can expect near-daily hikes rated easy to moderate, with only a daypack to carry during the day. Since difficulty varies by distance, terrain, elevation and weather, matching the grade of the walks to your own fitness is the main planning step.

What happens next

CIE is keeping its hiking programme small for now, with two Ireland itineraries. Wall said Scotland would make sense for expansion because of its scenery, walking traditions and appeal to guests. No expansion dates have been announced.