The Kerry Way - 11 Days & 10 Nights

Fáilte! Your Kerry Way adventure starts here! Killarney is where the trail begins and ends, a lively town right on the edge of Killarney National Park, Ireland’s first national park. Drop your bags and head straight out.

Wander the gardens of Killarney House in the heart of town, or walk out through the park to 15th-century Ross Castle on the shore of Lough Leane. Browse shops full of Irish crafts and knitwear, and listen for the clip-clop of jaunting cars, the traditional horse-drawn carriages, heading for the park.

Finish by finding a cozy pub for dinner and live music.

Your first big mountain day! After a short transfer to Galway’s Bridge, drop through the Derrycunnihy oak woods to the Upper Lake and follow the shore past Lord Brandon’s Cottage and its six-arch bridge into the remote Black Valley. Then the real adventure begins, on paths people have walked for over 5,000 years. Climb to the rocky Bridia Pass, drop into the hidden Bridia Valley and zigzag up the old Lack Road, a former cattle route, to the day’s high point. Lough Acoose shimmers below and the Dingle Peninsula lines the horizon.

At Derrynafeana, choose between the wild cross-country route through bog and forest or the easier road along Lough Acoose to reach Glencar. If the weather turns, take the road. Then relax in Glencar, a tiny, remote village at the foot of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, where the 150-year-old Climbers Inn has long been a favorite stop for hillwalkers.

It is possible to shorten this walk by getting transferred a little further along the trail in Black Valley. This would make your total walking distance 21km (13 mi). If you are interested, please let us know at the time of booking so we can arrange this for you. 

There is only one accommodation in Glencar, The Climbers Inn. In the busier months, this may be full. If this is the case, you will be booked into alternative accommodation outside of Glencar, affecting your daily mileage. Refer to accommodation directions on confirmation for accurate distances.

Ascent: 656m (2,152ft) / Descent: 672m (2,205ft)

Today the Kerry Way heads for the Atlantic! Follow the Caragh River through quiet Lickeen Wood, with Caragh Lake glinting below, then climb onto open mountain. The highlight is the Windy Gap, where the whole coast opens up at once: Rossbehy Creek, Inch Strand, Dingle Bay and, on a clear day, the Blasket Islands.

It’s a shorter day, with one rocky climb. Prefer easier footing? The longer Seefin route follows the slopes of the “seat of Fionn” and is our pick in bad weather. Finish in Glenbeigh, a small Wild Atlantic Way village with traditional pubs and Blue Flag Rossbeigh Beach just down the road.

Windy Gap: Ascent: 369m (1,211ft) / Descent: 422m (1,385ft)

Alternative Route: Ascent: 437m (886ft) / Descent: 496m (1,083ft)

A long day, but one of the most spectacular on the Kerry Way! Start above Blue Flag Rossbeigh Beach, then follow the Old Coach Road, built in the 1790s, up to the Gleensk saddle. Suddenly Dingle Bay, the Blasket Islands and Valentia Island are laid out in front of you, with the old Gleensk railway viaduct below. Continue along the slopes of Drung Hill, a mountain steeped in myth, then down through farmland and over the River Ferta to Cahersiveen, the lively main town of the Iveragh Peninsula.

Want a shorter day? Finish at Foilmore and take a taxi into town – the details are in your map.

Depending on availability, you may stay at Strandsend, located 2 miles (3.2km) before Cahersiveen. Your map for the day will end in Strandsend instead.

We recommend: After some of the toughest days on the Kerry Way, we recommend an extra night in Cahersiveen to rest your legs and explore. Take a boat trip to Skellig Michael, the UNESCO World Heritage island monastery. You could also hire a bike and cycle Valentia Island. Closer to town, cross the river to the Cahergall and Leacanabuaile stone forts and the ruins of Ballycarbery Castle, or visit the Old Barracks Heritage Centre. Finish with a tasting at Skellig Six18 Distillery and dinner in one of the town’s lively pubs.

You’ll set off on the next stage refreshed and ready to go!

Ascent: 531m (1,742ft) / Descent: 536m (1,759ft)

Today’s all about wild, open country! After a short transfer to Foilmore, follow grassy ridges into some of the most remote walking on the Kerry Way. Climb to Knockavahaun, at 1,217 ft (371 m) the highest point of the Kerry Way’s coastal route, with views east to the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and west to Valentia Island and the Skelligs. Cross the River Inny near Mastergeehy, then climb to the Dromod ridge, where Lough Currane, with its tiny Church Island, and Ballinskelligs Bay spread out below.

Drop down through Termons into Waterville, the seaside town where Charlie Chaplin spent his family holidays. Look out for his bronze statue on the promenade. It’s a long, rolling day, so pace yourself.

Ascent: 752m (2,467ft) / Descent: 766m (2,513ft)

A shorter coastal day with big Atlantic views! Leave Waterville across the Currane River and climb over farmland to Coomatloukane, at around 790 ft (240 m) the day’s high point. From the top, look back over Ballinskelligs Bay and out to the Skelligs, then ahead to Scariff and Deenish Islands. Then choose your way to Caherdaniel.

The Derrynane Beach route follows the old Mass Path around the harbor, past Abbey Island and its ruined abbey, to the sands of Derrynane Beach and the grounds of Derrynane House, home of Daniel O’Connell, “The Liberator.”

The shorter inland route winds over rocky ground and through quiet woodland, passing Caherdaniel’s ancient stone fort. 

Follow a quiet road for the last stretch to your accommodation. Both routes finish at Glanbeg, right on the shore.

There’s only one place to stay in Glanbeg, The Derrynane Coast Hotel, and it may be full in busier months. If so, we’ll book you into alternative accommodation in Caherdaniel, which will change your daily mileage. See the accommodation directions in your maps for accurate distances.

Derrynane Beach: Ascent: 290m (951ft) / Descent: 281m (922ft)

Inland Route: Ascent: 285m (935ft) / Descent: 297m (974ft)

Today you’ll walk through the solar system! Leave Caherdaniel on the Walk of the Planets, a scale model of our solar system laid out along a grassy path in Kerry’s International Dark Sky Reserve. From Coad, follow the old Butter Road east, with views across Kenmare Bay to the Beara Peninsula. Climbing over the shoulder at Bohacogram, you’ll look down on Staigue Fort, one of Ireland’s finest stone ring forts, and a short detour if you’d like a closer look. One more ridge, then forest and quiet back lanes lead down into the village of Sneem, with its pubs and cafés waiting for the evening.

Expect three steady climbs and some road walking, with a short stretch on the busy N70 at the very end.

Ascent: 405m (1,329ft) / Descent: 444m (1,457ft)

A gentler day on the sheltered shores of Kenmare Bay! After a short transfer to Templenoe, walk west through the lush Dromore woods, where the mild Gulf Stream climate keeps everything green, and past the turrets of Dromore Castle. Views stretch across the bay to the Beara Peninsula. Cross the river at Blackwater Bridge and climb over bog and rocky outcrops to the day’s only real high point, then follow an old grassy road past peaceful Lough Fadda to the little church at Tahilla. Quiet lanes bring you back into Sneem for a second night in the same accommodation, so there’s no packing up today. Expect some road walking, including short stretches of the busy N70.

Ascent: 261m (856ft) / Descent: 294m (965ft)

Today you complete the southern half of the Kerry Way! After a short transfer back to Templenoe, quiet lanes climb gently past the Ring of Kerry Golf Club, with views across Kenmare Bay to the Beara Peninsula. An old road fades into bog track and forest near Dunkerron, once the seat of the O’Sullivan Mór clan. Then comes the day’s highlight: the climb to the top of Gortamullin, 673 ft (205 m), with Kenmare and the Kenmare River spread out below. A steady descent brings you into Kenmare, a lively town full of pubs, cafés and restaurants, with an ancient stone circle a short stroll from the center.

Choose the longer route from Templenoe, or the shorter route, which starts on the N70 below Templenoe Church. All you need to do is let your driver know. It skips the first 3.4 miles (5.5 km) of mostly paved lanes.

Depending on availability, you may stay in Mucksna, located over one mile (2.4km) from Kenmare. Your map for the day will end in Mucksna instead.

Longer Route: Ascent: 344m (1,129ft) / Descent: 372m (1,221ft)

Shorter Route: Ascent: 254m (833ft)/ Descent: 265m (840ft)

The grand finale! Climb out of Kenmare onto the Old Kenmare Road, once the main route between the two towns, and cross its high, lonely saddle. Oak woods, boardwalks and the sheltered Esknamucky Glen lead to Cores Cascade, then one last climb opens up views of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest peak, and Mangerton Mountain.

Drop down beside Torc Waterfall into Killarney National Park, past the gardens of Muckross House and the ruins of Muckross Abbey, and walk back into Killarney, where your Kerry Way adventure began.

It’s a long day, with the hardest climbs early and a remote stretch. Celebrate finishing the Kerry Way in one of Killarney’s pubs!

Ascent: 643m (2,110ft) / Descent: 629m (2,064ft)

After breakfast your walking holiday will come to an end. See the Travel Info section for some useful details for your onward travel.