Welcome to Run Ireland: The Northwest Route!

Please see below for pretty much everything that you need to know in advance of your upcoming adventure. You can also click "My Trips" at the top of this page to access and edit your personal information, register for early arrival or a private room and view/pay your remaining balance at any time.

 And of course, feel free to refresh yourself on the full itinerary and inclusions/exclusions any time at this link: https://www.roguexpeditions.com/running-tours/europe/ireland/northwest-route/

GUIDES + CONTACTS

Your main RE contact for any pre-trip questions or concerns is [email protected].

Your Rogue Expeditions guides will be Alain Pernau and Ciaran Lennon. Phone and email contact info will be provided for both guides prior to departure.

FLIGHTS & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Once you have booked your flight, please submit your flight details here.

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This trip begins with a meet-up in central Dublin at 1pm on June 26th, 2026, which is where you will meet your guides and the rest of the group (exact location and details will be shared with registered runners). We will load up and head straight out to Sligo, located on the beautiful west coast!  

Please note that we do not provide airport pickup for this trip, as the meet-up point is within easy walking distance to most central hotels, and there are plenty of taxis and buses available to get you into the city (we will provide a list of your options). Everyone is strongly encouraged to arrive in Dublin at least one day prior, which gives you a chance to explore the city & recover from jet lag and also provides a buffer in case of flight delays. 

If you choose to arrive that morning then please ensure that you land no later than 10:30am. Note that if your flight is late and you miss our departure from the city, you will be responsible for arranging your own transport to Sligo. We will do our best to assist you, but options are limited and there will be added expense. If you go this route, please make sure that you have travel insurance!

Regardless of when you arrive, taxis are plentiful but this airport shuttle is an extremely inexpensive, efficient, easy way to get into the city center: https://www.aircoach.ie/

We will provide transfers back to the Dublin airport on July 3rd, 2026 arriving by 1pm. From there you can catch a flight or transport links into the city; please ensure that your flight departs no earlier than 3pm.

Want tips & tricks for landing flight deals? Check out this article.

READ THIS: Packing (light) tips for your next adventure

GENERAL THINGS TO CONSIDER 

*This is an active trip with lots of time outdoors. While you’ll want to pack some non-running attire for dinners or drinks at the pub there is no real need for anything dressy.

*Any type of luggage is fine, but remember: no one ever wishes they’d brought more stuff! Stick to the essentials and pack only what you need. A good general rule: if your luggage is too big or heavy for you to carry and lift by yourself, it’s too much stuff :)

*Have some sort of ‘day bag,’ whether it’s a small backpack, messenger bag, etc. It should be big enough to carry money, a camera, a water bottle, and a jacket – something you can keep with you in the vehicle.

*Though we always hope for great weather, Ireland is a wet place! Waterproof rain gear is a must, and two pairs of running shoes is recommended so that you can alternate and let the other pair dry out.

*We will do our best to arrange at least one laundry opportunity towards the middle of the week, but please know that it will all be schedule-dependent.

* A “warm” day in Ireland is around 65F / 18C – pack with the assumption that you’ll generally be too chilly rather than too warm!

CLOTHES 

*2-3 pairs running shorts and/or  1-2 pairs running tights/capris

*2-3 short sleeve running shirts/tank tops + jog bras and 1-2 long sleeve running shirts

*2-3 non running shirts/tops

*2 pairs pants or jeans or skirts

*1 warm jacket

*1 rain jacket (can double as a running jacket)

*1 lightweight jacket or pullover

*Underwear

*1 set of sleepwear

ACCESSORIES + SHOES 

*2 pair running shoes (1 trail + 1 road recommended, but if you only bring one then trail will be the most useful) + 1 pair flip flops + 1 pair non-running shoes

*6-7 pairs socks 

*Running hat

*Sunglasses

*Buff and/or warm hat

*Day bag 

*Shower towels are provided by the hotels but please bring a small pack towel for sweat/rain.

*Gloves 

*Large handheld (16+oz) or hydration running pack (we like hydration packs because it makes it easy to carry extra layers, camera, a snack, etc)

TOILETRIES 

*Shampoo/soap/conditioner 

*Toothbrush/toothpaste

*Brush/comb

*Feminine products

*Razor

*Contacts/solution if needed

*Moleskin or bandaids – we’ll have some of this for the group, but blisters are a common problem and it’s good to have some of your own on hand

*Any other medication you may need (we will have a basic first aid kit for the group)

DOCUMENTS 

*Passport (US citizens must have 3 months validity from your departure date from Europe)

*1-2 credit/debit cards (make sure to call your bank the week before departure, tell them the dates that you will be overseas, and make sure to tell them about any other stops that you have planned. This way they won’t put a security hold on your card).

*Copies of flight itineraries

OTHER STUFF 

*Phone and/or camera + charger 

*Reading material

*Journal/pens if desired

*Ziploc bags for waterproofing phone/camera during the runs + plastic bags for separating wet gear in your bag

*Ear plugs or headphones if you are a light sleeper/your roommate snores

*Electrical adapter (three prongs, UK-style, like this). Can find these at REI, Target, Amazon, etc. Bring more than one to account for multiple devices, and because it’s likely that you’ll leave one in a hotel room at some point!

Country: Ireland 

Language:  English, Irish (Gaeilge, Gaelic) 

Currency: Euro

Landscapes:  Dramatic sea cliffs, rugged mountain ranges, sheep-covered hillsides, thick bog, quaint villages, castles and the most brilliantly green grass as far as the eye can see.

Food:  Irish cuisine typically features hearty comfort food that reflects the locally available ingredients and the wet, chilly climate. Stews, meat, potatoes, cabbage & other root vegetables are widespread, as are excellent dairy products and fresh seafood. 

Drinks:  You already know the answer to this - beer! In a typical pub you’ll most frequently come across perfectly poured pints of Guinness, Smithwicks, Murphy’s and Harp, though you can also find craft brews making an appearance in bigger towns and cities. Ireland is also known for its whiskey, and you’ll find no shortage of tea and coffee options throughout the country.  

Weather:  The weather in Ireland is unpredictable at best as it rolls in off of the Atlantic and it can change in an instant, no matter the season. Wind, rain and fog are always a possibility, but so are brilliantly clear days where the landscapes glow green beyond belief. Temperatures in summer will rarely rise above 65F/18C with lows typically around 50F/10C.

Connectivity:  Wifi is good and abundant in hotels as well as most restaurants, coffee shops, etc. For those with international cell phone plans, data coverage is excellent most everywhere.

Accommodation: The accommodation is a mix of in-town bed & breakfasts, lakefront lodges,  a cozy pub (yes they have rooms!) and a grand finale manor house that feels an awful lot like a castle! We use unique, family-run establishments whenever possible for an authentic experience with local impact; you can expect clean, cozy, welcoming places each night, and we'll often have the whole place to ourselves!

Most everything is already paid for and credit cards are widely accepted, so you shouldn’t need much in the way of cash (though it’s always smart to carry some!). ATMs are easily found throughout the country, and the currency is the euro. 

Things you’ll want to plan for:

> Airport arrival transport: There are airport shuttle buses that will take you into the city center for about 8 euro, and taxis run closer to 25-30 euro. Shuttle tickets can be bought online or upon arrival, and taxis take both cash and credit.

> Alcohol, coffee and other drinks/snacks that you might find along the way. Pubs are found in every town and village, and you are likely to find yourself in one most (if not all) evenings. Coffee & tea will always be included with breakfast but is otherwise up to you to purchase.

> Tips. Tipping is not common in pubs or bars, and we'll take care of restaurant gratuities at dinner. Tips for your guides and drivers are not expected, but always appreciated and completely at your discretion; any gratuities at the end of the trip will be split amongst the team.

A FEW FUN FACTS!

 > Although the Cliffs of Moher get all of the attention, the Sliabh Liag cliffs are actually three times taller, rising nearly 2000 ft above the ocean! They are considered the highest 'accessible' sea cliffs in Europe, and yes - you'll run them!

 > The largest Gaeltacht in Ireland is in Connemara, County Galway. A Gaeltacht is a an area which Gaeilge is the primary language. Most place names in Ireland are anglicisations of Gaeilge words e.g. Inishbofin, an island off Galway, means literally: Inish - Island, Bo - Cow, Fin - blonde/white. Island of the white cow!

> Legend says the St. Patrick (yes that excuse for a party on March 17th) drove all the snakes from Ireland. Whilst it is true that there are no snakes, there are also no snakes in New Zealand, Greenland, Hawaii, Iceland - perhaps there is some other reason besides Ireland’s beloved national saint...?

> Potatoes are a staple of the traditional Irish diet. They were brought to Europe by the Spanish the late 16th century. Which begs the question, what were we eating in Ireland before then?

The home of Guinness, the St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin produces 810 million pints of the black stuff per year! Every single day 10 million glasses of Guinness are sold around the world: this is enough to fill the Zambezi River twice over.

> In 1919, aviators Alcock and Brown flew the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Clifden in Connemara, County Galway. It took them almost 16 hours as they got lost in thick fog!

> In parts of west Ireland, where the Atlantic Ocean dictates the weather, there can be up to 225 days of precipitation per year. Make those dry days count!