Kerry Way

Arrive in Killarney, renowned for its three magnificent lakes in the heart of Kerry and spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation.

Beginning in the lively town of Killarney, the Kerry Way enters the Killarney National Park and passes through Muckross Estate, with its historic house, beautiful gardens and pretty Torc Waterfall, with glorious views of the celebrated Lakes. 

It then heads into the hills along the Old Kenmare Road, past Lord Brandon’s Cottage to the bleak and forbidding Black Valley beneath MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountains.

The route leaves Black Valley and passes into the lonely Bridia Valley, where mountain farming communities are all that is to be found. The route takes you along old roads from settlements gone by and past the lower lake of Cummeenduff Lough before a steep descent into the Bridia Valley. It then climbs again and a new vista lies ahead, with Lough Acoose below at the far end of the valley and the Dingle Peninsula on the distant horizon. 

Glencar on the Caragh River is your destination.

The Kerry Way continues through the old woodlands of Glencar and lovely Blackstones Bridge. The trail then climbs above Caragh Lake and crosses Seefin Mountain via the Windy Gap with views of Inch Strand and the Dingle Peninsula. 

Descend to the friendly sea-side village of Glenbeigh.

Today’s walk takes you on the first coastal stretch of the Kerry Way, on the line of a medieval coaching road and past glorious Rossbeigh Beach with spectacular views over Dingle Bay.

Your accommodation will be in the coastal and ancient settlement of Cahersiveen, overshadowed by the 688m peak of Knocknadobar. Your accommodation hosts will collect you from Foilmore and transport you to your overnight stop of Cahersiveen.

This section to Waterville takes you through the hinterland of Cahersiveen. The route passes through turf bogs and pine forest and some short climbs to 300m provide views over Valentia Island and the western end of the peninsula. 

Waterville is a colourful coastal village on the shores of Ballinskelligs Bay.

Today’s walk is a wonderfully scenic route as you travel from one seaside village to the next. The distance is short and there is time to take a detour to visit Derrynane House and Gardens, the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, known as the great Liberator to the Irish people.

Enjoy glorious coastal views out towards the Skellig Islands and Ballinskelligs Bay.

Leaving Caherdaniel, the route to Sneem is on the “Old Butter Road,” from where butter was transported to Cork in the 19th century. The trail will take you through the peat beds and close to the famous 2,000-year-old Staigue Fort, one of the finest ring forts to be found in Ireland. 

Upon entering the town of Sneem, a host of colourful houses provide a warm welcome.

The penultimate section of the Kerry Way is relatively easy, as it takes you along the rocky shoreline of Kenmare Bay and through the forest towards the estate of Dromore Castle. 

A short ascent of Gortamullin Hill is rewarded with splendid views of the Caha Mountains before descending into Kenmare, with its elegant streets and beguiling restaurants and shops.

On the final leg of your journey, the trail leaves the sea and heads through the hills and back through the National Park to Killarney. Celebrate a wonderful walk in one of Killarney’s many traditional pubs. 

After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Kerry Way.