While Ireland isn’t that far from North America, this magical land can feel a world away. Our friends at Trail Running Ireland advised us on where to find hidden trail-running gems to take you on this seven-day adventure. From the rolling, heather-covered hills of the Wicklow Mountains to soaring Cliffs of Moher to Killarney’s majestic waterfalls, this retreat immerses you in Irish running culture, history and beauty.
Our daily runs, which vary in length from one to 3+ hours, take us along boardwalks, over rolling hills, along serene lakeshores and along breathtaking clifftops. Each day offers up something different: a lively lunch at an historic Irish pub, live traditional music, hearty meals and scenic drives through the Irish countryside.
And of course, to balance out all fun and adventure, we’ve also left time free for shopping, quiet contemplation or a relaxing spa treatment. Let this country’s warm hospitality, natural beauty and tonifying salty air fill your heart and invigorate your spirit.
You’re in for a special treat when you run with us on the Emerald Isle’s most stunning and famous trails like The Wicklow Way, Valley of Glendalough, Cliffs of Moher and Killarney National Park. Even if you’re new to trail running or don’t usually run consecutive days in a row, you’ll surprise yourself with how you feel when you employ the mindful running techniques offered by your retreat leader.
This fully guided running retreat frees you from the burden of having to think about navigating, planning meals or taking care of others, you are able to focus fully on your self and your well-being.
The real journey begins before you’ve even left home! There are some additional steps involved with preparing to travel mindfully in addition to the usual preparation like booking flights, reviewing your packing list and even reading interesting facts and tips about traveling in Ireland. You’re in for a journey that has the potential to open your mind to new experiences, and possibly open your heart to new insights about who you are and what really matters to you. To help you prepare for this process, visit your To-Do list to watch the video called “Travel with H.E.A.R.T.”, which tells you more about the steps shared here. And we encourage you to set an intention for your retreat and write it down. Need some guidance on how to set an intention? Add the Transformational Travel Journal to your retreat package and we’ll mail it to you before the retreat expressly for this purpose.
When your retreat eventually begins, you will meet your retreat leader and fellow retreat participants in Dublin for a short transfer to our first hotel in County Wicklow, one Ireland’s trail running hubs known for its scenic trails and epic running events. At this phase of the journey, it’s normal to feel a bit nervous, simply because you’re in a new place and meeting new people for the first time. At this initial phase of your journey, the newness of it all can affect people in different ways, so notice what feelings and behaviors this brings up for you. Do know that the other women are going through their own process as well, so be curious and set aside any assumptions and expectations you may have in order to observe what is. The retreat’s opening meeting on day 1 is one of the main ways your retreat leader supports this process.
As our journey takes you from County Wicklow to County Clare, home to the Wild Atlantic Way, we encourage you to ask yourself how you can engage more deeply with the people and places through which you're traveling. To support this process, we encourage you to run without a GPS-enabled watch and turn off your phone's notifications (what we call the Presence Policy), using it only to take pictures and videos you can share later. Even in a place as stunning as the Cliffs of Moher, it's possible to miss a lot of the experience due to the distraction of your digital devices. As your retreat leader offers you more mindful running techniques on the trail to help you run more efficiently, you may notice that your mind isn't so busy with thoughts of what's happening back home. You may even start to feel a little lighter physically. You won't even care so much that wifi at the hotels is not so reliable, so you're spending less time online and more time looking into the faces of people around you.
Our retreat draws to a close, your retreat leader will facilitate sharing circles in which you’re encouraged to share with the group what you have shifted or possibly even transformed within you during the week. Openly sharing these insights is a powerful practice in itself (even if it is a little awkward!) because verbalizing your observations and feelings is a powerful mindfulness practice in itself. As always, your retreat holds a safe space for everyone to speak without judgment. You can also process your thoughts by writing in your own personal Transformational Travel Journal.
Not only did you just have a powerful immersion in a foreign culture, but you also took an immense amount of time to focus on your self care, your mental wellbeing and feeding your soul with activities you love (like running!) with an amazing group of like-minded women. You may feel in a hurry to get back home and back to all the responsibilities waiting for you there, however, in the days and weeks to come, do pause to appreciate all this retreat gave you in addition to the Instagram-worthy pictures!
This retreat is rated Level II. This means it’s suitable for you if:
Learn more about how we manage run pacing here: https://runwildretreats.com/about-the-run-wild-retreat-experience/levels/
Located in the Northern Atlantic, Ireland's vast landscape is characterized by agricultural lowlands, hills, lakes and bogs surrounded by coastal mountains. Known as the Emerald Isle for its lush vegetation, this is a diverse island of extraordinary natural beauty and has a deep artistic and historical heritage.
The weather in Ireland is mild and ideal for trail running, as the country typically avoids the extreme temperature fluctuations. In May, the temperatures are typically between 48 and 59 degrees. We undoubtedly will encounter wind and some rain, however. For this reason, we recommend carrying a light wind/rain shell jacket on every run.
We spend most of our time at sea level, so elevation is not a factor in this retreat. A couple of our runs do take us into the "mountains" though these are low mountains that take us no more than a few hundred feet above sea level. The trails we're running are well-established, and some have been in use for millennia. The trail surfaces include dirt road, wide dirt pathways, singletrack trail and boardwalks (to traverse the shoe-sucking mud bogs!).
No visit to Ireland is complete without experience an authentic Irish pub--or two--so that's exactly what we do! With verdant green hills and pastures, there’s a huge opportunity for locally grown produce as well as some of the best beef, pork, and lamb in the world. There’s also some amazing seafood to be eaten, and not just fish and chips. Irish dishes include more than just meat, potatoes, and cabbage. We've sought out some of the coziest, renowned Irish pubs along our travel route for lunches and dinners that don't just satiate but also immerse us in the culture and history that make Irish pubs so cherished the world over.
Most meals are included in your retreat package. We make every effort to accommodate your dietary preferences and restrictions. However, there are occasions when we may face limitations. You'll have a chance to indicate your specific dietary requirements in the retreat participant intake form. Please note that alcoholic drinks are excluded, and snacks and beverages outside of meals are not included.
Indulge in a 2-night escape at an authentic Irish castle just outside Dublin, for a refreshing start to your retreat. Upon arrival at Dublin Airport, a private driver will take you to the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, overlooking Dublin Bay, and close to the historic village of Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire. Spend your first day exploring nearby villages or relaxing in the hotel's jacuzzis and steam rooms. The next morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel before taking a scenic walk or run up Killiney Hill to take in the stunning views over Dublin Bay or take a stroll down to the picturesque village of Dalkey and explore the shops, restaurants and cafes, or visit Dalkey Castle & Heritage Center. On day 3, after breakfast, you will be transported to downtown Dublin where you will meet your Retreat Leader for the start of your retreat. Click on the "Itinerary" tab to learn more and add this extension to your retreat package.
One of the best ways to deepen your experience with mindfulness during and after your retreat is to add the Transformational Travel Journal to your package. This co-branded journal by Run Wild Retreats in partnership with the Transformational Travel Journal provides an intentional space to write, draw, sketch and otherwise creatively express what meaning this travel experience has for you. Filled with thoughtful writing prompts, inspirational quotes and mindfulness-inspired ideas, we highly recommend using this journal to help you enhance your mindful running experience. Price includes shipping.
Dublin, Ireland 
Glendalough is glacial valley best known internationally for its monastic settlement founded that was founded at the turn of the sixth century. There are very few accommodations in this part of the Wicklow Mountains, maintaining it's remote wilderness feel despite its popularity among hikers and trail runners. The Heather House offers large bathrooms with access to a number of common areas that are design to help our guests relax and unwind. Here you'll find tea and coffee making facilities along with more views of the Wicklow hills that could ever need. Each guestroom offers a large bedroom with king size bed, ensuite bathroom with large drench shower, flat screen TV, iPod dock and DVD player. Heather House is located next door to the well-known Wicklow Heather Restaurant.
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The Falls Hotel & Spa in Ennistymon, is at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. This hotel passionately supports sustainable tourism and has been designated as a carbon-neutral property by Green Hospitality Ireland for its use of hydro electricity generated from the river running alongside it. The hotel is just 10 minutes' drive from the majestic Cliffs of Moher, and is the perfect base to explore this beautiful part of the country. The spacious rooms at the Falls Hotel are decorated in warm colors and feature flat-screen TVs. During our stay we'll dine in Cascades Restaurant, which looks out at the river, and offers traditional as well as international dishes prepared from local produce with an emphasis on seafood from west Clare's Atlantic coastline.
This hotel offers a traditional and warm Irish welcome in a truly magnificent setting. In the 1940’s Ms Hilda Huggard became the proprietor of The Lake Hotel and passed it to her four nephews in the late 1990’s, thus ensuring that her legacy of true Irish hospitality was carried on. Experience for yourself the stunning lakeside location and the friendly Irish welcome. In the afternoons, enjoy free time to visit the Lake Wellness Center, which offers a steam room, sauna and outdoor hot tub throughout your stay. Immerse yourself in tranquility and savor breathtaking views lake views from the comfort of the outdoor hot tub. Rest and recharge from our relaxation room with picture perfect surroundings.
Since the past two days have involved a lot of movement and travel, you’ll be ready for the slower pace during our stay in Killarney. After breakfast at The Lake Hotel, we have a 25-minute drive to Kate Kearney's Cottage at the mouth of the Gap of Dunloe, a narrow mountain pass forged between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Purple Mountain. Today's run is a longer run (up to 10 miles) on an historic road that we'll share with hikers and horse-drawn carriages (colloquially called "jaunting cars"), through the Black Valley leading to Lord Brandon's Cottage, a popular stop for hikers and explorers in Killarney National Park.
You're in for a real treat at the award-winning Spa at Muckross, a Gothic-inspired wellness space offering ultimate tranquility and relaxation. Designed to reflect the unique nature of our surroundings, nothing has been spared in the luxurious layout of contemporary monastic elegance. You'll begin with an hour to enjoy the serenity of the Vitality Suite, a sacred space features an indoor swimming pool, steam room, jacuzzi, ice fountain, herbal steam room and more. Then you will meet your specially-trained therapist who will pamper you from head to toe with a 50-minute full-body massage. We will arrange your transportation to and from the hotel to the spa for a seamless experience.
This afternoon you have the option to take a guided tour of Ross Castle, which sits on the edge of Lough Leane, Killarney’s lower lake, not far from the Lake Hotel. This medieval tower house was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century, and then later was occupied by the Brownes, who became the Earls of Kenmare and owned an extensive portion of the lands that are now part of Killarney National Park. On this tour, you'll get a fascinating peek into what life was like in Ireland at this time and the lengths that landowners had to go to protect their families from attackers. (Exact time of the tour will depend on availability).
This morning, you’ll have the option to participate in an early pre-breakfast run from the hotel that takes you through the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Muckross Abbey. This run is no more than an hour and is a great way to get in a few more miles before the day’s long drive back to the city. You'll return to the hotel in plenty of time to have a hearty breakfast, shower and pack up.
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