The best hiking routes in County Monaghan

County Monaghan lacks the dramatic mountain ranges of western Ireland, offering instead a landscape of low, rounded hills known as drumlins. These small, grassy mounds were shaped by retreating glaciers, creating a dense network of small fields, hedgerows, and quiet lanes. Walking here means navigating a undulating terrain where views are short and constantly interrupted by the next rise, rather than wide and open.

For those seeking more open ground, Slieve Beagh ASSI in the north of the county provides a distinct contrast to the farmland. This upland area consists of blanket bog, heath, and small lakes, where the ground underfoot is dominated by peat, heather, and damp mosses. In late August, the heather turns a deep purple, transforming the otherwise muted brown and green tones of the plateau.

Paths in the lowlands are mostly tarmac lanes and gravel tracks, while the upland routes across Slieve Beagh ASSI require careful navigation over rough, pathless peat and wet ground. It is a working landscape of farming and turf-cutting, where walkers will find quiet, functional paths rather than purpose-built mountain trails.