Hiking Shoes?

I am doing the Best of Ireland tour next week and grappled with the shoe issue....I decided on Keens and Ecco. I can't comfortably wear a closed tie shoe due to a neuroma issue so I bought the Rose sandal and the Newport Keens, and the soft sneaker 7 Ecco. If I didn't have the issue I would have gone with a light hiking shoe.

I'd say hiking is less important than a comfortable walking shoe that can take some rain. If a light hiker will get soaked through in a rain, it's probably not a good shoe for Ireland (or the UK). You may not get a lot of rain, but that's the way to bet in Ireland.

Poles won't be needed.

For that tour itinerary I'd not need hiking shoes. Even for the Best of Ireland with a full free day in the Dingle area I didn't need hikers. Athletic shoes or something comfortable for your foot is all you need. Cliffs of Moher is a smooth surface. I'm pretty sure it was paved but it was so foggy the day we went we couldn't even see the edge, lol!!

Judging from the itinerary I would think that some waterproof shoes would be a good idea something you would wear to keep feet dry for city walking and thru damp grass. It looks like the Cliffs of Moher are your only uneven surface outing and that will depend on how much time you are there and how adventurous you are feeling. But if it’s rainy and windy you would probably not want to spend much time on the cliffs edge. We spent three weeks in Ireland last summer and are going again this summer. I will bring my Oboz waterproof low hikers, my rockport casual shoe (for drivIng and city walking) , and my Birkenstock gizeh platform (for evenings) plus running shoes. It does feel like I am over packing my shoes but I have found this to be the perfect travel combination of ready for any condition but also looks nice out to dinner and comfortable.

We have visited all the sights on your tour multiple times. Looks like a grand adventure. Wishing you the best on your tour.

Thank you for giving me peace of mind not having hiking shoes on trip. My years old chelsa boots worn on many rainy day walks and comfortable flat dress brogues should be fine. Shoes are black leather, well broken in & polished to preserve leather.