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Self-Guided
Walking Holidays/
Cork
and Kerry Mountains Itinerary
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Arriving at airport or
station, you are met by our transport. You will be transferred
to your first night’s accommodation at Glengariff. You
will have time free to acclimatise, perhaps enjoy a walk up to
the Glengariff Nature Reserve and see some of the town before
your meal in the evening.
Starting from your base you join the Beara Way and climb out
of Glengariff. On your way today you are afforded superb views
over Bantry Bay, and the opportunity to see some sites of archaeological
interest, such as standing stones and a wedge tomb. Crossing
peat bogs and through state forests you pass between the Gowlbeg
and Sugarloaf mountains and follow the old Castletownbere to
Glengariff coach road to descend to your accommodation on the
small town of Adrigole.
Leaving Adrigole in the morning you once again follow the old
coach road which initially tracks the Ring Of Beara road before
turning to contour along the slopes of Hungry Hill. Walking
above the farmland you skirt Hungry Hill before descending
toward the north shore of Park Lough. From Hollyhill onwards
you follow a network of bog roads. On the approach to Castletownbere
you pass a wedge grave and have the opportunity of a minor
detour to see some boulder burials before descending to the
coast and harbour of Castletownbere and a well-deserved meal.
This is a very enjoyable visit to the lovely Bere Island. In
the morning take a small ferry from Beal Lough to the hamlet
of Rerrin on Bere Island. There are various options for today’s
walk and these will be outlined in your notes. In essence there
is a circular walk around the island which gives you the option
of exploring the history of this strategic island – from
wedge graves and standing stones to signal and defensive towers.
As you pass along above cliffs you are afforded views back
to the mainland and the mountains of the Beara Peninsula.
Your destination this evening is the town of Eyeries, and you
have the option of a 13km or 24k walk today. On leaving Castletownbere
in the morning you once again walk on the Beara Way. On the way
you have time to see the Derrintaggart stone circle, a large
ringfort, and a megalithic wedge grave. Turning off the Beara
Way, you cross across the centre of the Peninsula to Aughbrack
and rejoin the Allihies-Eyeries section of the Beara Way. You
then continue northwest to the village of Eyeries.
Dropping down from the village to the coast, the Beara Way now
follows the shoreline and you turn northward toward Tranimod
and the Ballycrovane ogham stone. You continue along the shore
before turning inland and head over open hillside toward Lough
Fadda (the Long Lake). Ascending to the hill above you follow
the ridge and drop down to the village of Ardgroom. Running
parallel to the Ring of Beara road you pass above Ardgroom
harbour and as you cross from County Cork to County Kerry you
strike off along a green road and rise to a gap between the
hills. Your route then brings you on past a stone circle at
Cashelkeelty before descending to Lauragh and your stay for
the evening.
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Starting from the lovely harbour of Lauragh, you ascend past
Knockatee Hill and up toward the central spine of the Beara
Peninsula. You are afforded views back down to the coast and
across Kenmare Bay to the Iveragh Peninsula and Ireland’s
highest peaks. Passing the Clonee Loughs you head into the
scenic valley of Gleninchiquin. Turning eastward away from
Lough Inchiquin you follow a back road uphill before breaking
off across country and dropping over the ridge you descend
toward Dromoughty Lake and stone circle. Dropping down toward
the coast again, you follow the Beara Way as it runs parallel
to the coast and onward into Kenmare town.
Your final night is spent in Kenmare itself which
is situated on the Iveragh peninsula and overlooked by the MacGillycuddy
Reeks.
Transfer back to airport or station for your return journey.
7 nights accommodation, based on two adults sharing, in Irish
Tourist Board approved hotels and guesthouses (normally with
en-suite facilities).
Meals consist of a full Irish breakfast each day,
packed lunch, and a two/three course meal each evening. Drinks
are not included.
Luggage transfer each day, route description and
maps.
Transfers to and from Shannon Airport, Kerry Airport, Cork Airport,
Killarney or Tralee train stations.
For more information on Ireland visit the Tourism
Ireland website at www.ireland.ie.
Flight schedules and information on Shannon Airport.
Flight schedules and information on Kerry Airport.
Flight schedules and information on Cork Airport.
For information on trains to Killarney and Tralee, visit the Irish Rail site.
