Which natural forests to visit in Ireland?

Hello,

We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots? Thanks in advance for your tips. We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries! Claire and Albert

Hi there,

In my opinion, there aren’t any "ancient natural forests" left in Ireland—everything has been shaped by humans over the centuries, and only a few tiny patches remain. Plus, Ireland isn’t really a forested country, even for managed woodlands.

Michel

Hi there, I just got back from Ireland. I finally found some remnants of ancient forests—though "forest" might be a bit of a stretch. It’d be more accurate to call them woods, or even groves. In **Killarney National Park**, in the southwest: the **Mossy Wood** (which lives up to its name) and **Reenadinna Wood** (a grove of giant yew trees), both on the Muckross Peninsula. There’s also **Tomies Wood** (an oak forest). There are said to be a few remnants in **Wicklow Mountains National Park** (Glendalough) too, which is easier to access, south of Dublin, but I didn’t go (too crowded).

These kinds of forests once covered 80% of the country after the Ice Age. But the actions of those who call themselves "sapiens" have reduced them to less than 1%... One of the reasons for the bogs, whose gradual development wasn’t at all natural but the result of human impact.

In short: even if it’s "tiny," the park is worth the trip. Really eye-opening! And there are some lovely little walks.

Link to the park (well-made site): https://www.nationalparks.ie/killarney/

I also suggest visiting the information center in Killarney town: **Killarney House & Gardens** Killarney National Park, Muckross Road, Killarney, V93 HE3C GPS: 52.056831, -9.508254 PHONE: +353 1 539 3620

Wishing you all some awesome travels! Best regards