Highlights
- Enjoy a coastal walk around Derrynane Bay to Abbey Island
- Immerse yourself in nature as you tramp open hillsides along the Iveragh Peninsula
- Explore ancient monastic sites on the rugged Skellig Islands
- Relax weary muscles in cozy pub settings in Cahersiveen
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Killarney - Transfer to Sneem | Sneem |
| Day 2 | Walk Derrynane and Abbey Island | Sneem |
| Day 3 | Walk Iveragh Peninsula | Cahersiveen |
| Day 4 | Walk Skellig Coast | Cahersiveen |
| Day 5 | Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Killarney - Transfer to Sneem
This afternoon you'll meet your guide and transfer from Killarney to the charming village of Sneem a short drive southwest (45 minutes). Once you have settled into your B&B, you'll join your guide for a briefing on the days to come as well as meet the members of your group. Then it's time to walk to a nearby restaurant for your first dinner together and return later to your accommodation for the night.
Day 2: Walk Derrynane and Abbey Island
After a filling Irish breakfast and armed with your picnic lunch, you'll set off for a day of hiking and sightseeing. Begin the day at Derrynane House to start your coastal walk, where you'll trek around the coast to pristine beaches before reaching Abbey Island. Along the way, your guide will inform you of the local history, including recounting stories of the renowned “Liberator,” Daniel O’Connell. Return to Derryanny House to enjoy some light post-hike refreshments, then return to Sneem for dinner in a cozy pub.
Walking distance: 6.2 miles (10 km)
Details: Beach, sand-dunes, paved roads, narrow forestry tracks with rocky and uneven sections, can be wet and boggy underfoot. Steps up and down and open hillside with no tracks.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Walk Iveragh Peninsula
Depart the village of Sneem and travel west to reach the western-most tip of the Iveragh Peninsula. From here, go on a guided hike with views of the Ring of Kerry and Lough Currane in Waterville, the Skellig Islands, and south to the islands off the Beara Peninsula.
Today's hike is a real immersion into nature and a great way to enjoy the quiet in this part of the world. After you finish hiking, stop for a pint in the nearby pub before driving north to the town of Cahersiveen to spend the next two nights. Check into your hotel, then enjoy a well-deserved dinner.
Walking distance: 8.7 miles (14 km)
Walk details: Boreens (narrow country road), paved roads, tracks with rocky and uneven sections, can be wet and boggy underfoot. Open hillside with no tracks.
Day 4: Walk Skellig Coast
Your base in Cahersiveen offers several options for today's adventure: a rugged trip to the stunning Skellig Islands or a walk along the beautiful Dingle Bay coast.
Skellig Islands are two uninhabited, rocky islands, famous for the 6th-century monastic ruins which perch at the top of the steep cliffs of the larger island. Both islands are crucial for seabirds, and their dramatic landscapes have been used in the filming of several movies. Trips to the Skellig Islands must be booked in advance on your own and is dependent on the weather. An ability to stomach rough seas and exposed heights are a must for visitors who choose this option. Those brave enough to cross the sea are rewarded with ancient medieval ruins, sweeping views, and one of the coolest natural sites in southwest Ireland.
For those who prefer to stay on dry land, your guide will accompany you on a hike around Dingle Bay, which lies north of Cahersiveen. The walk overlooks the bay and skirts the hills around the town. Enjoy the beauty, history, and solitude, reached when you leave the paved road behind. Weather permitting, your walk will take you to the top of one of the Pilgrim Mountains—Knocknadobar. If the cloud cover is thick, a specular coastal walk on the lower hillsides is an attractive alternative option. Return to Cahersiveen.
Walk distance: 7.5 miles (12 km)
Walk details: Mountain tracks with rocky and uneven sections, off-trail walking in open hillside with high growth and bogland; uneven and wet at times underfoot. Some paved roads.
Day 5: Depart
After a final Irish breakfast, you'll bid farewell to the rest of the group and depart the Ring of Kerry with a transfer to Tralee. From here, connections are available to all major airports, cities, and ferries in Ireland.
Map
