Kerry Way Short Break
- Walk from the bustling city of Killarney to Glenbeigh along the Kerry Way
- Jaw-dropping views to Muckross Lake and Lough Leane from Torc Mountain
- Enjoy lively Irish music and the ‘craic’ of authentic old-world pubs
- Vistas of the Dingle Peninsula from Windy Gap
- Have a packed lunch with a view in the fresh mountain air
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive KillarneyFáilte! Or welcome to Ireland! The lively town of Killarney is the official start of the Kerry Way. Relax into the Irish ‘craic’ at one of the many pubs or bars, or sample some of the country’s excellent seafood in one of the great restaurants you’ll find here. Check into your accommodation and enjoy exploring the narrow streets and colourful shops for the rest of the day.
Toni and Danny look forward to welcoming you to Larkinley Lodge situated just a 2 minute walk from the town centre of Killarney in County Kerry. The B&B has elegant ensuite guestrooms furnished with LCD flat screen TV, crisp linen, power showers, and luxury breakfasts. Guests will also be able to make use of complimentary wifi, and free parking. The B&B also run Killarney Private Tours which is a service provided by the accommodation taking guests on very bespoke tours of the region. Please contact the B&B direct if interested.
Abbey Lodge is a family run, newly refurbished B&B located just a 3 minute walk from the town centre.
This 4-star guesthouse boasts 15 luxurious bedrooms with private bathroom, TV, direct dial telephone, power showers, trouser press. The house is tastefully decorated throughout and features many interesting antiques and art.
All guestrooms are spacious, en-suite with direct dial telephone, television and trouser press. The accent is on friendly personal service backed by the highest standards throughout.
A short local bus ride (15 min, payable locally) will take you from Killarney to Muckross House, the starting point of today's loop walk. This mansion has an impressive setting on the shores of Muckross Lake surrounded by the mountains of Killarney National Park. Walk through the colourful gardens and breathe in the fresh scent of the trees. Stop at Torc Waterfall to watch the water endlessly plunge over the 20-metre drop.
If you have a little more energy we have also prepared a route that takes in Torc Mountain, which has jaw-dropping views across Lough Leane and Muckross Lake (total distance: 19.5 km/12 mi).
Toni and Danny look forward to welcoming you to Larkinley Lodge situated just a 2 minute walk from the town centre of Killarney in County Kerry. The B&B has elegant ensuite guestrooms furnished with LCD flat screen TV, crisp linen, power showers, and luxury breakfasts. Guests will also be able to make use of complimentary wifi, and free parking. The B&B also run Killarney Private Tours which is a service provided by the accommodation taking guests on very bespoke tours of the region. Please contact the B&B direct if interested.
Abbey Lodge is a family run, newly refurbished B&B located just a 3 minute walk from the town centre.
This 4-star guesthouse boasts 15 luxurious bedrooms with private bathroom, TV, direct dial telephone, power showers, trouser press. The house is tastefully decorated throughout and features many interesting antiques and art.
All guestrooms are spacious, en-suite with direct dial telephone, television and trouser press. The accent is on friendly personal service backed by the highest standards throughout.
You will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to the start of your walk in the beautifully remote Black Valley (40 min).
Encounter some of the most rugged landscapes of the Emerald Isle. Ascend out of the Black Valley to find views of Bridia Valley ahead. Walkers will need to take care on a couple of steep and bouldery descents from the two passes on this section. Follow quiet tarmac and gravel roads, as well as paths through forest and fields.
Take in views to the wide Caragh River Valley and the range of hills beyond, dominated by the tilted triangular peak of Mulaghanattin (773m). Soon you’ll reach the shores of Lough Acoose, with views beyond to the Dingle Peninsula, western Reeks and Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain (1,039m). Finally, you approach Glencar on the main road.
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.
The Climbers Inn Glencar, dates back to 1879, it is one of the oldest walking and climbing establishments in Ireland. The Climbers Inn has been extensively refurbished throughout providing excellent en-suite rooms. The Climbers Inn affords guests spacious and clean rooms, onsite traditional bar and free wifi.
A warm welcome awaits you at the Stepping Stone B&B. In a stunning location and the nearest accommodation to Carrauntoohil. All rooms have ensuite facilities and each room comes with a hospitality tray in each room, tea, Coffee, Mineral water & Confectionary. A laundry service is available from €8.
Blackstones House B&B is an old style award winning house scenically situated beside Blackstones Bridge on the Upper Caragh River. There are 6 en-suite bedrooms. All bedrooms are en suite with powered showers, tea/coffee making facilities, with satellite television, hairdryer and free WiFi. Each of the rooms are decorated to the highest of standards and are spacious. Each room has a panoramic view of the Caragh river, mountains and woodlands together with the soothing sound of the Blackstones Falls.
Easy trails characterise this section as you follow a ‘boreen’ (small road) and then gravel forestry tracks to Lickeen Wood. Panoramic views of the wooded valley of Glencar and Lough Caragh enchant you as you round the hill and then ascend the gentle lower slopes of Seefin.
You have a choice of (both delightful) paths to Glenbeigh; either descending on a more relaxed but longer approach (9km), or following a shorter rocky track to Glenbeigh (4km) ascending 100m to the saddle at Windy Gap, from where you will enjoy vistas over beautiful Inch Strand beach and the Dingle Peninsula. Glenbeigh is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is a great place to revel in traditional music and old-world pubs.
Ascent/Descent:+369m/-422m
Liosderrig House B&B is a family run accomodation that offers cozy rooms with wonderful sea views. The bright and airy bedrooms are individually decorated. All rooms are en suite. Full Irish breakfasts are served daily at Liosderrig House B&B.
Your hosts extend a warm welcome to this small traditional hotel. They have 12 well-appointed rooms and a bar and restaurant where you are sure to get a hearty meal and a drink and perhaps some live music!
Established in 1895, the family run Towers Hotel is located in the heart of the picturesque village of Glenbeigh. The cosy rooms all include bathrooms with baths, showers and hairdryers. They also feature TVs and tea/coffee-making facilities and rooms either have views of the village or the beach. The Curra Restaurant serves modern Irish cuisine and sources its meats from local suppliers and seafood from Dingle Bay. The lounge bar has a baby grand piano and artwork from Irish artists. Towers Old Bar has a range of bar food, a real log fire and a large-screen TV showing live sports. There is also an outdoor seating area in the garden.
After breakfast you will take a bus to Killarney where your walking holiday will come to an end. See the Travel Info section for some useful details for your onward travel.
This trip has a carbon score of 19kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 19kg is equivalent to 1 pair of men’s jeans. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This 5-day itinerary on the Kerry Way is perfect for those with a little less time and with an interest in exploring some of the most photogenic parts of Killarney National Park and the first sections of this national trail. If you would like to see some of Ireland's most dramatic mountain scenery on a generally low-level walk, then this is the trip for you. You will get a real flavour of Irish culture while staying in beautiful and remote places. The itinerary has been graded easy to moderate, with a moderate first walk to Glencar to bring you to the heart of rural Ireland. Tip! This trip is easily combined with the neighbouring Dingle Peninsula and our Beara Way itineraries.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 15 Years
This Kerry Way walking trip is graded easy to moderate with the exception of a more moderate walk to Glencar on Day 2 (21km) which can be completed at your own pace. The last two walks a more gentle with distances between 12-14km. It is advisable to do several longer walks to build up your fitness before setting off on any section of the Kerry Way. If you would like to have some flexibility it is possible to add some additional rest days, please let us know if this is of interest.
The Kerry Way uses a variety of routes, from forest tracks, farm tracks, and paths across moorland and fields to historic old roads through villages. Overall about 35% of the Kerry Way follows tarmac roads (also known as bitumen) which is less than most Irish national trails. This reflects the fact that rights of way are almost non-existent in Ireland. The road walking is scenic and mostly along quiet lanes with little traffic, although a few short sections are along busier main roads where extra care and attention are needed.
If you are thinking of travelling solo, please consider that mobile phone coverage may be patchy in remote areas along the trail. We also welcome small groups on the trail, ideally no bigger than 6-8 travellers due to accommodation limitations in remote areas along the Kerry Way. Booking in advance is a must!
The accommodations along the Kerry Way are small and varied, you will stay in family-run B&Bs, guest houses, and hotels. A warm welcome is guaranteed as well as traditional Irish hospitality. We will always try to accommodate you at the locations that are detailed in the itinerary, but this may sometimes be difficult due to limited availability. Some of the overnight locations are in remote valleys and for this reason, we might sometimes have to accommodate you elsewhere. If this is the case, you will always receive directions to and from the trail in your route notes or in some cases, return transfers from the path. Please be aware that this may result in slightly longer or shorter walking days.
We will be happy to accommodate your party with single rooms if requested and this trip is also available to solo walkers.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Alternatively, you can buy lunch at local shops or stop in a café. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs or restaurants.
The route is well-waymarked throughout and easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:
- Kerry Way (Rucksack Reader)
- Hand-picked accommodation in B&B's guesthouses and small hotels
- Breakfasts
- Baggage transfer
- Transfers as listed in itinerary
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office
- Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Equipment
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Extra nights before, during and after your walk.
Irish weather is typically unpredictable year-round so be prepared for any conditions and you will be pleasantly surprised. No matter what month you choose to travel, being close to the coast and in remote valleys between mountains, means it can get wet and windy at any time of year (particularly at the start and towards the end of the season). It is important that you check the local weather forecast before setting off each day. It is safe to walk along coastal stretches in most weather, as long as you are well-prepared.
The Kerry Way conveniently start and finishes in Killarney and there are a number of different ways to get there.
Flights are available to Kerry Airport with Ryanair from London Luton, London Stansted and Frankfurt. If you can't fly into Kerry Airport directly, there is an Aer Lingus flight between Dublin and Kerry Airport. There is a bus (25 mins) from Kerry Airport to Killarney. For bus timetables, check the website of Bus Eireann.
You could also fly into Cork Airport with Aer Lingus from Bristol, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. From Cork Airport it is a short bus ride (20 mins) to Cork Kent train station, then a 1h30-2hr train ride to Killarney. For train timetables, check the website of Irish Rail.
Another option is flying into Shannon Airport with Aer Lingus from Dublin, Bristol, Manchester, London Heathrow and Birmingham, as well as Boston and New York JFK. Ryanair fly to Shannon from Liverpool and London Stansted. Air Transat fly from Toronto and US Airways fly from Philadelphia to Shannon. From Shannon Airport take a bus (approx. 2h50-3h40, via Limerick) to Killarney.
It is also possible to take a ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, please check Irish Ferries for more information.
There is a direct bus connection by intercity coach between Glenbeigh (Towers Hotel) and Killarney Bus Station. Please find more information on tickets and timetables on the Bus Eireann website which has a handy travel planning tool.
Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes a transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jackets and pants), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking/cycling gear such as good walking shoes or boots, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes, and a day pack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the Kerry Way is extremely popular especially over April/May and July/August. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc. Our info packs have a list of all equipment to bring on your walk.
Traditionally April through to August is a very pleasant time of year to walk.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets and several sections of the way are closed to dogs as they are permissive paths through farm land.
You can use public transport, local taxis or our baggage van may be able to move you to the next overnight stop. Full details are included in your info pack.
This route is well way-marked and much of it does follows a path. It is always advisable that you are know how to navigate with a map and compass although the Way is largely very straightforward to follow, especially with the maps and guidebook we provide.
At up to 33km a day for the more strenuous tour, and up to a total of around 210km for the complete circuit, the Kerry Way is a fair distance and the higher your level of fitness the more you will enjoy the experience. Most of our itineraries involve an average of around 5-6 hours of walking daily so you should be comfortable walking on good tracks and paths over undulating terrain. If you currently don’t enjoy that level of fitness regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardio-vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your walk is recommended. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.
Our itineraries are mostly graded moderate and are suitable for regular walkers. Youll be walking along green roads, historic old roads, farm and forest tracks, paths across moorland and fields and minor roads. It is generally a low-level (albeit undulating) walk, interspersed with several ridge and spur crossings of between 200-300m. The highest point of the route is the summit of Knockavahaun at 371m.Overall about 35% of the Kerry Way follows tarmac (bitumen) roads, which is less than most Irish national trails. This reflects the fact that rights of way are almost non-existent in Ireland. The road walking is scenic and mostly along quiet lanes, however there are from time to time some busier stretches where you will need to be cautious with traffic.
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