Ireland: The best wild camping locations

[Extreme Pilgrim]

Can anybody give locations that they would rate as the best wild camping in Ireland? If possible, can you provide lat/log ref's so that a Google Earth database can be established. Many thanks. :thankyou:

[torc]

You can camp just about anywhere you please. I don't know about the legal niceties but that hasn't stopped me so far.
Any place along the western seaboard is great. Practise discretion (stealth) if you are near dwellings and such but the seeking of permission to camp on private property is often fruitful. On high ground generally a lot of the land is commonage so there is nobody really to ask, just don't camp near cows. Sheep-good, cows-bad.
Google Earth and Bing Maps aerial photos and maps are rubbish for most of the country so a database is not of much use to you.
The larger national parks are not patrolled often so camping in them off the beaten track is not a problem but please do not light any fires.
Asking the locals about camping spots is a good way to find a place to pitch. My personal favourites are my local peninsulas and islands in the far Southwest of the country, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Peninsulas_of_County_ Kerry
Irish OS maps are available from http://www.stanfords.co.uk/. If you need any questions answered about a specific place, please feel free to ask me.
Happy trails...torc

[slammer187]

http://www.coillte.ie/

http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/

You can camp almost anywhere legally as long as it is not private land (Most of the best Woodland is owned by the state so you're okay to camp there) And as long as you are away from tracks and water sources, Each area of woodland has one man in charge of managing them, you can get their contact detail for specific areas from the Coillte website...Most of the guys that I have talked to are all nice guys and as long as you're not disturbing nature you shouldn't have a problem, you can also get fire lighting permissions from them I think! :)
Enjoy your visit :)

[Extreme Pilgrim]

I was wondering weather there were many places around the Rings of Kerry.

[torc]

The Ring of Kerry is essentially a circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula on the west coast of County Kerry (Gods own country).
The long distance walking route, the Kerry Way, is probably the easiest way to travel around the area with most of the route planning done for you.
Camp anywhere you please (within reason, see above advice). Transport links to Kerry and around the Kerry Way are very good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Kerry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iveragh_Peninsula
http://www.kerryway.com/index.php
http://www.kerryairport.com/
http://www.cie.ie/home/
OSI map no.s 78, 83 and 84 will cover the whole area.
The Ring of Kerry is probably one of the most photographed places in the world so do a Google Images search to get a feel for the lie of the land. I cannot recommend any one campsite but anywhere by the seashore or on one of the many headlands (next parish west, New York!) are personal favourites.
Happy trails...torc.

[nitrambur]

(next parish west, New York!) .

Erm...Newfoundland
New York is on a similar latitude to Italy

[salad]

I used to live in Ireland and used to spend a lot of time sleeping out in the Wicklow mountains not far from Dublin. I never had any problems doing that and to is very beautiful scenery

[torc]

Erm...Newfoundland
New York is on a similar latitude to Italy
Correct!
The "next parish west" is a local colloquialism often heard down here. I suppose it's meant to help mitigate the heartache that people felt when their loved ones had to emigrate, to make the distance between them seem not so great.
http://www.wicklowway.com/
Wicklow is lovely, very close to Dublin and the same rules apply to camping but it just doesn't compare to the Southwest, it just doesn't have that "wild edge" or truly majestic vistas.
Happy trails...torc.

[Extreme Pilgrim]

Thanks a million Torc. I know Kerry quite well having been there a good few times looking for a potential property buys and it is a fantastic place to visit and live. I love the areas around Dingle Peninsula, especially Brandon Mountain and Slea Head (which I consider to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen when the sun sets) but have never camped out. So thanks again. :thankyou:

[BigM]

There are lots of official "Ways" marked out in Ireland such as the Wicklow Way, the East Clare Way, the West Clare Way, the Connemara Way etc. These are great walks and offer lots of opportunity to set up a bivi after a day's walk and bed down. Up again in the morning and keep walking.

I agree that Kerry is amazing, but so then is Connemara. Just spectacular countryside.

M