Clare · 1,500 ha
Burren National Park
Limestone pavement, seasonal wildflowers and exposed upland trails give this compact Clare park a character found nowhere else in Ireland.
- Mullaghmore trails
- Limestone pavement
- Seasonal wildflowers
Protected landscapes
National parks &
nature reserves.
Find Ireland’s national parks and browse the official nature-reserve directory by county. Use this as a planning overview, then confirm access, conditions and visitor notices before travelling.
Seven national parks
From limestone to Atlantic wilderness.
Each park protects a distinctive landscape. Select its county guide for nearby stays, islands and other places worth combining with your visit.
Galway · 2,000 ha
Connemara National Park
Bog, heath, woodland and quartzite mountains meet around the visitor area at Letterfrack, with routes ranging from short nature trails to the Diamond Hill circuit.
- Diamond Hill
- Letterfrack trails
- Connemara landscapes
Donegal · 16,000 ha
Glenveagh National Park
A broad Donegal wilderness of mountains, blanket bog, native woodland and Lough Veagh, centred on Glenveagh Castle and its gardens.
- Lough Veagh
- Castle gardens
- Derryveagh Mountains
Kerry · 29,000 ha
Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí
Ireland’s marine national park brings together Atlantic islands, coastal habitats and internationally important natural and cultural landscapes off County Kerry.
- Skellig coast
- Blasket waters
- Marine wildlife
Kerry · 10,236 ha
Killarney National Park
Ireland’s first national park combines lakes, mountains, native oakwoods and historic estates beside Killarney, with an extensive network of established visitor routes.
- Lakes of Killarney
- Muckross estate
- Native oakwoods
Wicklow · 23,000 ha
Wicklow Mountains National Park
High mountain ground, blanket bog, deep valleys and the Glendalough monastic landscape form Ireland’s largest continuous upland national park.
- Glendalough
- Spinc trails
- Wicklow uplands
Mayo · 15,000 ha
Wild Nephin National Park
A remote Mayo landscape of blanket bog, mountains and dark skies where self-reliant walkers can experience one of Ireland’s least developed wild areas.
- Ballycroy visitor area
- Dark Sky Park
- Nephin Beg range
Explore the map
Protected places across Ireland.
Select a gold marker to identify a national park, or select a green county to open links to its individual nature-reserve guides.
Selectable national park Selectable county with reserves
Nature-reserve directory
76 published reserve entries.
Some reserves are remote, environmentally sensitive, privately owned or have limited public access. Inclusion here does not imply unrestricted visitor access.
Dublin
3+
Kilkenny
4+
Laois
4+
Offaly
4+
Wexford
3+
Wicklow
6+
Clare
4+
Cork
6+
Kerry
14+
- Cummeragh River Bog Nature Reserve →
- Derrycunnihy Wood Nature Reserve →
- Derrymore Island →
- Eirk Bog Nature Reserve →
- Great Skellig Nature Reserve →
- Little Skellig Nature Reserve →
- Lough Nambrackdarrig Nature Reserve →
- Lough Yganavan Nature Reserve →
- Mount Brandon Nature Reserve →
- Puffin Island Nature Reserve →
- Sheheree Bog Nature Reserve →
- Tearaght Island Nature Reserve →
- Tralee Bay Nature Reserve →
- Uragh Wood Nature Reserve →
Galway
8+
Mayo
3+
Sligo
3+
Donegal
10+
- Ardnamona Nature Reserve →
- Ballyarr Wood Nature Reserve →
- Derkmore Wood Nature Reserve →
- Duntally Wood Nature Reserve →
- Inch Levels Wildfowl Reserve →
- Lough Barra Bog Nature Reserve →
- Meenachullion Nature Reserve →
- Pettigo Plateau Nature Reserve →
- Rathmullen Wood Nature Reserve →
- Sheskinmore Nature Reserve →
No reserves match that search.
Plan responsibly.
Check official notices before travelling, stay on permitted routes, keep dogs under control where allowed, leave wildlife undisturbed and take all litter home.
Check the official National Parks and Wildlife Service information →