E8
Description
- Name E8 (E8)
- Length of trail 4,390 km, 2,728 miles
- Length in days 220 days
- Start of trail Dorsey Head (Irl)
- End of trail Rhodopen (Bg)
- Traildino grading MW, Moderate walk, backpacking trail
- Hut tour grading T1, Walk
E8: Dorsey Head (Irl) - Rhodopen(Bg), 4390 km
Irish Sea – Rhein – Main – Donau – Karpaten – Rhodopen
For 4390km this trail will lead you from the Atlantic coast of Ireland eastward, across the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland, where you will come to an abrupt halt on the Beskid Pass which is the Ukrainian border. Follows a gap in the trail: the portion through Ukraine and Romania and the first stretch in Bulgaria is non-existent. You can then continue again on the last 400km stretch through Bulgaria's Rhodope range to Mezek near the Turkish border.
As with all European long distance paths, the waymarking reveals the different national policies. This is Europe! And this is the best reason to love the continent!! Anyway, in Ireland, England and Holland the trail is made up of existing, well documented, and very good waymarked trails. Germany offers a mixed deal: the E8 partly uses some existing long distance trails, but mostly local paths. Austria again has a wide network of trails, also accommodating the E8. In Eastern Europe, local paths and roads are used, and generally the waymarking is very good, but often you have to knit the color schemes together yourself. Unfortunately, in Ukraine and Romania hiking facilities are largely extinct. In Bulgaria however, some good waymarking has been done.
Well, let's put things together now. This is the complete string of trails making up your complete E8-hike:
Ireland (620 km)
- Dursey Head, start
- Beara Way, Dursey Head - Kenmare, 100 km, 5 days
- Kerry Way, Kenmare - Killarny, 40 km, 2 days
- Local trail, Killarny - Shrone, few km
- Blackwater Way, Shrone - Clogheen, 168 km, 10 days
- East Munster Way, Clogheen - carrick-on-Suir, 75 km, 3 days
- South Leinster Way, Carrick-on-Suir - Kildavin, 104 km, 5 days
- Local trail, Kildavin - Clonegal, few km
- Wicklow Way, Clonegal - Dublin, 129 km, 6 days
- Ferry Dublin – Liverpool (United Kingdom)
United Kingdom (300 km)
- Trans Pennine Way
- Ferry Kingston upon Hull – Hoek van Holland (Netherlands)
Netherlands (276 km)
- First village in the Netherlands is Hoek van Holland
- Grote Rivierenpad (LAW 6)
Note: this trail is a recent combination of Oeverloperpad (LAW 6-1) and Lingepad (LAW 6-2) - Pieterpad, bits (LAW 9)
Germany (1.500 km)
- Rheinhöhenweg
- Goldsteig
- Altmühltal Panoramaweg
- Partly the HW3 in the Schwäbische Alb, or Main-Neckar-Rhein-Weg
- And many other, local trails, waymarked
Austria (500 km)
- Connecting trail from Germany
- Ostösterreichischer_Grenzlandweg, Weitwanderweg 07 (WWW 07)
Slovakia (740 km)
- Border Austria / Slovakia – Bratislava - Baba Pass (527 m), hut (33 km)
- Baba Pass – Chata Brezinky, hut (30 km)
- Chata Brezinky - Dobrá Voda, village (23 km)
- Dobrá Voda – Myjava, town (22 km)
- Myjava - Holubyho chata (950 m), hut (18 km)
- Holubyho - Nové Mesto nad Váhom, town (29 km)
- Nové Mesto nad Váhom - chata pod Inovcom (840 m), hut (24 km)
- chata pod Inovcom – Trenčín, town (19 km)
- Trenčín - Trenčianske Teplice, spa (13 km)
- Trenčianske Teplice - Vápeč (955 m), (27 km), path to Homôlka hut (5 km)
- Vápeč – Čičmany, village (23 km)
- Čičmany - Vyšehradské sedlo (579 m), pass (30 km), bus to Nitrianske Pravno (8 km)
- Vyšehradské sedlo - Kremnické Bane, village (33 km), bus to Kremnice (5 km)
- Kremnické Bane - Kráľova studňa (1280 m), hotel (30 km)
- Kráľova studňa – Donovaly, tourist centre (19 km)
- Donovaly - Zámostská hoľa (1612 m), hut (22 km), path to Magurka (5 km)
- Zámostská hoľa - Chata gen. M.R. štefánika (1727 m), hut (19 km)
- M.R. štefánika - Honzovské (1171 m) (17 km), path to Dobšinskej hotel (4 km)
- Honzovské – Skalisko (1293 m), hut (31 km)
- Skalisko - Štós-kúpele, spa (28 km)
- Štós-kúpele - Jahodná chata, hut (31 km)
- Jahodná – Košice, town (10 km)
- Košice - Kysak, village (19 km)
- Kysak – Cemjata, village (22 km), path to Prešova (6 km)
- Cemjata - sedlo Čergov (917 m), hut (29 km)
- sedlo Čergov – Bardejov, town (22 km)
- Bardejov – Zborov, village (17 km)
- Zborov – Svidník. town (31 km)
- Svidník - Dukliansky priesmyk (502 m), pass, border Slovakia / Poland (26 km)
- Last village in Slovakia is Vyšný Komárnik - Dukliansky Priesmyk
VKÚ maps
127 Malé Karpaty-Bratislava
128 Malé Karpaty-Záruby
129 Malé Karpaty-Bradlo
130 Považský Inovec-Piešťany
107 Biele Karpaty-Trenčín
119 Strážovské vrchy-Trenčianske Teplice
131 Vtáčnik-Horná Nitra
120 Malá Fatra-Martinské hole
132 Kremnické vrchy
121 Veľká Fatra
122 Nízke Tatry-Chopok
123 Nízke Tatry-Kráľova hoľa
124 Slovenský raj
125 Volovské vrchy-Krompachy
136 Volovské vrchy-Košice
115 Šarišská vrchovina-Branisko
104 Čergov
105 Ondavská vrchovina-Bardejov
106 Laborecká vrchovina-Dukla
Poland (195 km)
- First village in Poland is Barwinek near Dukla, border Slovakia
- Barwinek – Dukla, connecting trail (yellow), 20 km, 1 day
- Beskids Trail / Główny Szlak Beskidzki, from Chyrowa to Wołosate, 171 km, 10 days
- Wołosate to border Ukraine, 3 km. Here, the trail and markings end
- Last village in Poland is Wołosate
Ukraine
- First village in Ukraina is Lubnya
- Trail is non-existent
Romania
- Non-existent
Bulgaria (400 km)
- First part non-existent
- Start of current trail in Borovec, small town 80 km from Sofia in Rila Mountains, waymarked
- Svilengrad near Greece / Turkey, finish
Turkey?
- Currently no trail
- Istanbul, future finish?
Map
Hike Reports
Links
Facts
- E8 – Outdoor Wiki (German)
Good overview.
- Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8: Nijmegen - Obernburg / Main (German)
Excellent page by Fernwege.de on the German part of the E8, with sketch maps, route description, GPS donwload, documentation.
- Wiki Beskids Trail / E8 in Poland (Polish)
Excellent page, describing all details of the trail. Print it out, and use it as a trail guide.
- British Ramblers
Description of the British portion of E8/Trans Pennine Trail.
- Der Europäische Fernwanderweg E8 (German)
Umfassende Webseite mit Karten, Wanderberichten, Unterkünften, Verkehrsverbindungen, GPS-Tracks und anderen Tipps zum E8.
- E-Route 8 UK Section - Hull to Liverpool - LDWA Long Distance Paths
Fact sheet for the Brittish section of the E8: maps, accommodation, downloads.
- E8 in Ostbayern, Germany (pdf) (German)
Leaflet with map.
- Európska diaľková trasa E 8 - Klub slovenských turistov (Slovak)
Information sheet for the Slovakian part of the E8: maps, itinerary. The E8 crosses the entire country from west to east.
- Europ. Fernwanderweg E8 (German)
Info sheet for the European Long Distance Path E8, running through Austria.
- European Long Distance trails on Wanderbares Deutschland (German)
Wanderbares Deutschland offers the trail information for Germany on behalf of the Deutscher Wanderverband (German Ramblers' Association). Click on "Übersicht Europäische Wanderwege" on the left, to get to the information of the E-Paths.
- European Ramblers Association
General overview of trail E8 per country.
- Klicktipps E8 (German)
Collection of information on the E8 - with geocaches along the path.
- LDWA Long Distance Paths - E-Routes
Overview of the E-routes in the United Kingdom.
- E8 European Long Distance Route
Short intro on E8 and Trans Pennine Way
- Internationale routes | Wandelnet (Dutch)
Short intro to the E-paths running through The Netherlands (E2, E8, E9, E11).
- Walkingworld on E8 Bulgarian section
Good general description of the Bulgarian section of European Long Distance Trail E8, through Rila en Rhodope ranges.
Reports
- E8 - Wyler - Obernburg (pdf 14 MB) (Dutch)
Trail report of the West-German part of the E8.
- E8, Passau - Eichstätt (pdf 5,3 MB) (Dutch)
Trail report of a part of the E8, starting in Passau, walking north. With handy maps.
- Several parts of the E8 in Germany (Dutch)
Links to several pdf documents containing trail reports of the E8.
- Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8 (Dutch)
Henri Floor walked parts of the E8.
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
- Österreichischer Touristenklub (German)
One of Austria's Alpine Organisations, and also responsible for the E-paths in Austria.
- Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU) (Bulgarian)
The Bulgarian Tourist Union is involved in creating and maintaining long distance hiking trails in Bulgaria. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation.
- Deutscher Wanderverband (German)
Platform for hiking in Germany. The Wanderverband is an association for the many local German hiking organisations. Germany has a rich hiking tradition, and many many local organisations. The website offers a good overview of hiking possibilities. However, the description of the different trails should be looked for at a different website: Wanderbares Deutschland (http://www.wanderbares-deutschland.de). The Deutscher Wanderverband is member of the European Ramblers' Association.
- Klub slovenských turistov (Slovak)
The Slovak Tourist Club is the umbrella organisation that marks and maintains the trails in Slovakia. The STC intself cooperates in the European Ramblers' Organisation and looks after the E3 and E8 on Slovakian territory.
- Long Distance Walkers’ Association
As they write: "The LDWA is an Association of people with the common interest of walking long distances in rural, mountainous or moorland areas." The Long Distance Walking Association is member of the European Ramblers' Association.
- Mountaineering Ireland
Official website of Mountaineering Ireland, previously known as Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI). They have a good section on Hillwalking. The organisation is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation.
- Naturfreunde Bundesorganisation (German)
The Austrian Branch of the Naturfreunde organisation. They cooperate in the maintenance of the E-paths in Austria.
- Oesterreichischer Alpenverein Sektion Weitwanderer (German)
Austrian Alpine Association, dept. Long Distance Walkers, with everything you need to know about long distance hiking in Austria.They offer information on the European Long Distance Paths too.
- Polish Tourist Organisation (Polish)
The umbrella organisation maintaining the trails in Poland. Member of the European Ramblers' Organisation. Four European Long Distance Paths cross Poland: E3, E8, E9, E11.
- Stichting Wandelnet (Dutch)
The Dutch Long Distance Hikes are called LAW, the equivalent of the French GR. This organisation - Stichting Wandelnet - plans and maintains the paths, and publishes the guides of the 40 or so long distance hikes. Recent route changes can be found here. There is a section with all trails loaded in Google Maps. Stichting Wandelnet is member of the European Ramblers' Organisation and maintans the E-paths in The Netherlands.
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Maps
United Kingdom
- Stara Planina Western: Belogradchik to Berkovita Domino Map
- Stara Planina Western: Belogradchik to Berkovita map at 1:50,000 from Bulgarian publishers Domino, contoured and GPS compatible, with hiking trails, accommodation options including a list of local mountain refuges, etc. The map is double-sided and covers the mountains from the peak of Byala Voda near Belogradchik eastwards to just beyond... Read more
United Kingdom
- Stara Planina Western: Berkovita to Zlatitsa Domino Map
- Stara Planina Western: Berkovita to Zlatitsa map at 1:50,000 from Bulgarian publishers Domino, contoured and GPS compatible, with hiking trails, accommodation options including a list of local mountain refuges, etc. The map is double-sided and covers the mountains from Varshets (directly north of Sofia) to just beyond Etrepole.Maps in the... Read more
United Kingdom
- Rila Mountains Domino
- Rila Mountains at 1:50,000 on a large, double-sided, contoured map with GPS waypoints for shelters and chalets, peaks, etc. and highlighting hiking routes. Topography is shown by contours at 50m intervals with additional relief shading and graphics and colouring for scree, single rocks over 5m high, marshlands and pine scrub and forests. An... Read more
United Kingdom
- Pirin Mountains Domino
- Pirin Mountains at 1:50,000 on a large, double-sided, contoured map with GPS waypoints for shelters and chalets, peaks, etc. and highlighting hiking routes. Topography is shown by contours at 40m intervals with additional relief shading and graphics and colouring for sandstone stacks, single rocks over 5m high, marshlands and different types of... Read more
United Kingdom
- Western Rhodope Mountains Domino Map
- Western Rhodope Mountains at 1:100,000 on a contoured GPS compatible map from Domino extending from just west of the Pirin National Park to Asenovgrad in the north-east. The map is double-sided with a good overlap between the sides. Topography is shown by contours at 50m intervals with relief shading and spot heights, plus colouring for... Read more
United Kingdom
- Strandzha Mountains: Burgas to the Turkish Border Domino Map
- Strandzha Mountains in the south-eastern corner of Bulgaria between Burgas to the Turkish border on a contoured and GPS compatible map from Domino showing local hiking trails and highlighting various interesting sites, with three more detailed enlargements at 1:25,000. Most place names are in both Latin and Cyrillic alphabet; map legend... Read more
United Kingdom
- Transrhodopi - Long distance hiking and biking trail From Trigrad to Ivaylovgrad
- Western Rhodope Mountains at 1:100,000 on a contoured GPS compatible map from Domino extending from just west of the Pirin National Park to Asenovgrad in the north-east. The map is double-sided with a good overlap between the sides. Topography is shown by contours at 50m intervals with relief shading and spot heights, plus colouring for... Read more
United Kingdom
- Stara Planina Central: Zlatitsa to Kalofer Domino Map
- Stara Planina Central: Zlatitsa to Kalofer map at 1:50,000 from Bulgarian publishers Domino, contoured and GPS compatible, with hiking trails, accommodation options including a list of local mountain refuges, etc. The map is double-sided and covers the mountains from just west of Ribaritsa and Zlatitsa eastwards beyond Kalofer to the peak of... Read more
United Kingdom
- Stara Planina Central: Uzana to Vratnik Domino Map
- Stara Planina Central: Uzana to Vratnik map at 1:50,000 from Bulgarian publishers Domino, contoured and GPS compatible, with hiking trails, accommodation options including a list of local mountain refuges, etc. The map is double-sided and covers the mountains from just west of the Uzana massif, the geographical centre of Bulgaria, eastwards to... Read more
Forum
- Anthony 2013-12-09 10:37:57
Stage 1 of the E8
- I am planning to walk the Irish - English parts of the E8.
Does anyone have any advice on the route? This is my first long distance hike so I am planning to take things pretty easy.
My biggest problem at the moment is finding the maps OS and OSi for the routes (It doesn't help that the Trans-Pennine trail website is down. -
- Anthony 2013-12-09 10:38:12
- Oh, forgot to say, thanks in advance!
- Anthony 2013-12-11 10:43:44
- Also the map of Ireland is very wrong. The trail starts much further south than that.
- Ken@thepathwayporter 2014-03-06 19:03:14
- Anthony, if you're still planning the walk the government owned Irish Trails website have maps for pretty much the whole Irish section in PDF format. They're not the highest scale but they should be fine for the majority of walkers as the trails are well signposted on most of the route. I did it heading south from Dublin using a book by Paddy Dillon, Ireland Coast to Coast by Cicerone press. I took maps but barely used them, using the ones in the book instead. Paddy chooses to end in Portmagee in Kerry rather than Dursey Head so you will need maps or a guide book for the section on the Beara.
- David Flanagan 2013-02-13 17:55:23
Anyone walked all the E8?
- I'm a freelance journalist writing a piece about the E8 and I'm looking to talk to someone who has walked all or at least a lot of the E8 walking route?
- Craig 2012-08-15 16:00:31
E8 Trail
- Hello ppl
I just wondered if it's possible to chat to someone here with great knowledge of the E8 trail, through Netherlands, Germany and Austria.
Thanks
Craig 
- Henk Nouws 2012-08-31 11:29:32
- Craig, I know the Dutch part very well, and past month I hiked a part in Slovakia, well marked, easy to find. Just ask me what you want to know.
- katika 2015-02-16 13:59:34
- Hi, Henk, we planning to walk the E8 from England to Slovakia from April 2015. I looking for a good books or guides which can help us to plan the route. Maps, places where to stay or anything what can help us. If you can give us some informations about Dutch and Slovakia it can help. We walked last year the Camino de Santiago in Spain.We have some practical experiences but we stil struggling with a preparation part. If anybody can help us please contact me on z.katika@gmail.com.
Thank you :)