Kerry Way Rambler Fourteen Days

We’ll meet you at Kerry Airport or Killarney train station and take you to your first guesthouse in Killarney. After you’ve had the chance to settle in you can enjoy a 8-13km walk through the national park to Ross Castle where you join the Miners Way. If you have time you could also enjoy a cruise out on the lakes on one of the many boat moored at Ross Castle. Afterwards a short stroll brings you back to your guesthouse. Killarney is the gateway town for the Kerry Way so tonight there are many great pubs and restaurants within 5 minutes walk of your guesthouse. . 

Today’s walk (14km, 170m ascent) takes you out of Killarney across the River Flesk and into the national park to enjoy Muckross House and Gardens. The park also has many lakes, Dinis Cottage and Torc Waterfall. It really is a beautiful setting and one of the highlights of any visit to Ireland. Tonight’s guesthouse is in a beautiful rural setting just back from the national park and there is a great local pub and restaurant serving good local fare.

Today’s walk (16km, 310m ascent) takes you back through the National Park above Torc Waterfall before ascending to the old Kenmare road. A wonderful sense of peaceful isolation is felt as you make your way west towards Galway’s Bridge and along the shores of the most southerly section of the Killarney Lakes. After passing Lord Brandon’s Cottage you begin to enter the Black Valley and your guesthouse for tonight. There are no restaurants or pubs in the Black Valley so dinner is in your guesthouse tonight.

Today’s walk (12km, 270m ascent) is shorter than yesterday but offers an unbeatable route through the heart of the Black Valley. After passing the local church and small shop the Kerry Way passes by some stunning lakes, rivers and waterfalls before reaching the end of the valley. Here the trail climbs over the pass and on a clear day the views over the Bridia Valley could bring a tear to your eye. Descending slowly you reach the valley floor and shortly afterwards you come to your guesthouse for the night, a magical place we think you’ll agree. There are no pubs or restaurants locally so dinner tonight is with your delightful hosts.

The first section of today’s hike is relatively challenging so for those who prefer we offer the choice of transport to the Climber’s Inn, Glencar thus shortening the hike to 13km.

Today‘s hike (13km, 250m ascent or 24km, 550m ascent) begins with a steep climb out of the Bridia Valley up onto the col where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Western Reeks, Lough Acoose and the mountains of Dingle to the north. The way continues onto Glencar where you can stop for a drink in the famous Climbers Inn. Beyond Glencar you are spoiled with stunning views of Caragh Lake and over Glenbeigh and Dingle Bay. A beautiful day that takes you to the coastal village of Glenbeigh with its lively pubs and nearby beaches.

Today’s walk (15km, 300m ascent) is a mix of forests, country roads and mountains tracks. The start of the walk offers wide views over Glenbeigh and across the bay to the Dingle Peninsula. 7km into the walk you reach Mountain Stage and the most dramatic views of the day with wide panoramic Atlantic scenes. The old Dingle railway track can be seen below as you make your west towards Kells. The final section of the walk begins to level off as you move inland and towards you unique guesthouse and charming hosts.

Today’s hike bring you to the lively market town of Cahersiveen (16km, 140m ascent). After only a few minutes hiking, the far west of the Iveragh Peninsula opens up in front of you and then turning inland you cross the Feerta River in the shadow of Knocknadobar Mountain. A delightful day of farm tracks and trails, river crossings and meadows. Cahirsiveen Harbour and the Valencia River herald your arrival in this lively market town. Celebrate your progress tonight with the best choice of pubs and restaurants since Killarney. Note: Cahirsiveen is the gateway for visits to nearby Skellig Michael and Valentia Island. We would be delighted to arrange an additional night here to allow you visit the World Heritage Site or explore Valentia Island.

Today’s walk (15km, ascent 440m) is all about ridges and as the mountains you are crossing stand alone you are rewarded with views over half the western Iveragh peninsula and beyond. As it is a walk along a wide ridge you enjoy 360° views of the surrounding countryside. On arrival in Mastergeehy our driver will meet you and bring you the short distance to tonight’s accomadation.

Today’s walk (10km, ascent 300m) is a wonderful western facing ridge hike that take you to Waterville and Ballinaskelligs Bay. As beautiful as yesterday’s hike was, it is this second section between Cahirciveen and Waterville with its breathtaking views over Lough Currane that may cause the heart to skip a beat. Just when you were thinking the Kerry Way couldn’t get any better, today’s proves us wrong. A marvellous day that sees you arriving at famous Waterville, well known to golfers and Irish holiday home of Charlie Chaplin. Situated on the huge Ballinskelligs Bay, you can see the Skellig Islands in the distance. You have now covered the entire north and west of the peninsula so relax tonight and enjoy the fine food and cosy pubs this coastal village has to offer.

Today walk (13km, 330m ascent) is all about the coast and leaving Waterville you walk south and ascend to the Coomkishta Pass. Take your time to savour just how stunning the views are in all directions. Ballinskelligs Bay and Skellig Michael give way to views over Derrynane and perhaps the finest cove beaches in Ireland at Derrynane Bay. On your descent stop to enjoy a drink at the Scarrif Inn which offers the “Best Pub View in Ireland” before visiting Derrynane House and gardens, ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell. Catherdaniel is a small village with two great pubs and one of the few beach bars in Ireland.

Daniel O’Connell (the great Liberator) is one of the most famous historical figures in Ireland and today’s hike (18km, 400m ascent) follows the old coach road from his ancestral home at Derrrynane to the village of Sneem. Although called a “road” it is a traffic free wide grassy trail and a fine example of an 18th century coach road. You’ll appreciate the sections where his servants used to carry his coach on the steepest parts. With the waters of Kenmare Bay always to your right, today marks the transition to South Kerry and you are rewarded with views towards the Beara Peninsula. Tonight’s destination Sneem is a picture postcard village and a lovely overnight spot with plenty of great pubs and restaurants.

Today’s walk (14km, 160m ascent) follows wide trails through small forests with beautiful views of Kenmare Bay on your right hand side. It all gets particularly scenic around Tahilla and the sections close to the coast are particularly picturesque. The Blackwater River is a major river in this part of Kerry and our driver will you here at the end of your hike and bring you to your nearby guesthouse.

Kenmare is the most beautiful town on the Kerry Way boasting the best traditional music scene and some of the fine seafood restaurants in the west of Ireland. It is a undeniably picturesque and perhaps even worthy of second night to take it all in (Just let us know and we can arrange it for you). Today’s walk from Blackwater Bridge follows close to the coast and where it meets the coast you’ll feel like you’re in a forest paradise. Today’s walk (16km, 540m ascent) we will bring you back to Blackwater Bridge and after  some delightful coastal trails you reach Templenoe.  The Kerry Way climbs to offer panoramic views over Kenmare Bay and the Beara Peninsuala. A great day’s hike finishing in lively Kenmare, what more could you ask for.

Depending on your departure time, you can enjoy a morning taking in the sights and sounds of Kenmare Village. There is a wide choice of craft shops, tea rooms and cafes to visit. If you want a final stretch of the legs you can enjoy a circular walk down to the bay. Whatever time your connection is our driver will come and collect you from your guesthouse and bring you to either Kerry Airport or Killarney Train or Bus Station.