The Beara Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland is a quieter holiday destination than its northern neighbour, the Ring of Kerry. The Beara Way is a long distance walking route of 196km (120 miles) around the peninsula.
The Beara Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland is a quieter holiday destination than its northern neighbour, the Ring of Kerry. The Beara Way is a long distance walking route of 196km (120 miles) around the peninsula. You will be walking about 85km (55 miles) or 100km (65 miles) of the route.
You walk through low rounded hills, along old bog roads, exploring abandoned copper mines as you go. It is a largely undiscovered area, hilly but not mountainous, with some good open hill-walking sections and very well waymarked. The rocky coastline of the Beara Peninsula is a walking holiday dream. Visit Dursey Island by cable car, walk the green roads of Bere Island.
Price:
£745 per person based on 2 people sharing with luggage transfer.
£180 Single rooms supplement
Note: we can offer a shortened version of the tour (4 nights) and a longer version of 10 or 11 nights that allow you time to immerse yourself fully in the Beara peninsula. Please ask for details if you are interested in these options.
Included:
7 nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis in rooms with private bathrooms
Luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
Maps and route notes
back up if required.
Not Included:
Meals other than breakfast
transfer to Glengariff and from Kenmare
Anything not mentioned above
Day 1 Arrival in Glengarriff Travel to Glengarriff situated on beautiful Bantry Bay. “Glengarriff” means the “rugged glen”, and is now a wooded and attractive valley. You may wish to visit Garinish Island, a planted sub-tropical garden about 10 minutes off the coast by ferry, famous for its Italian Garden and ancient sun temple.
Overnight accommodation in Glengarriff village.
Day 2 Glengarriff to Adrigole Walk through the Glengarriff woods and Glenlough Mountains, following old tracks alongside Coomarkane River, climbing the flank of the Sugarloaf, skirting mountain lakes to descend from Mass Mount and the Holy Well. Distance 16km. Ascents 510m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation near Adrigole. Dinner tonight is in your guesthouse.
Day 3 Adrigole to Castletownbere Wonderful views over Bantry Bay and a series of pre-historic sites close to the route. A series of bog roads, farm tracks and minor roads are linked today to cross the rugged slopes of Hungry Hill. Castletownbere, nestled in the lee of Bere Haven Harbour and sheltered by Bere Island, is the principal town of the peninsula and the largest whitefish port in Ireland. It offers a full range of services. Distance 22km. Ascents 550m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Castletownbere town.
Day 4 Free Day in Castletownbere Visit Bere Island with a resident community of 210 people. Walk through open sheep farming country, visiting Ardnakinna Lighthouse and a Martello Tower. Or on the mainland, visit Dunboy Castle home to O’Sullivan clan who ruled the area for three centuries. Puxley mansion was a 19th century family home of the Puxley’s, who mined copper in the area. Bicycles are for hire in Castletownbere for more exploration. Distance 8km or 24km. Ascents 250m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight Castletownbere town.
Day 5 Castletownebere to Eyeries Walk through the Slieve Miskish Mountains and via the coast at Coulagh Bay. The area is rich in megalithic remains, stone rows, forts, tombs indicating its importance in the Bronze Age period, 1200-700BC, and a stone circle at Derreentaggart. The Way crosses open hill terrain under the peak of Knockgour at 481m, with views to Allihies and Ballydonegan Bay. Eyeries nestles between mountains and sea.
Distance 21km. Ascents 260m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Eyeries village.
Day 6 Eyeries to Lauragh Climb the slopes of Gortbrack hill over the stunning Cleanderry Harbour to the pretty village of Ardgroom. Under the striated glaciated face of Tooreenamna and Coomacloghane there are no less than ten prehistoric monuments. The Owenashagh River meets Killmackillogue Harbour at Lauragh – a glorious sub tropical setting of rhododendron and Scot’s Pine. Dereen House & Gardens are well worth a visit. Distance 22km. Ascents 300m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Lauragh townland.
Day 7 Lauragh to Kenmare A minor road climbs to a saddle at 150m between the hills of Knockatee and Knockanoughanish, before climbing higher through open hillside. Superb views of the Cloonee Lakes descending to Lough Inchiquin and a stone circle from the Neolithic era 3500 – 2000 B.C. Descend into Kenmare town, an interesting market town founded in 1670, on the banks of the Roughty River. Distance 24km. Ascents 470m. Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Kenmare town.
Day 8 Departure from Kenmare.
B+B accommodation in local guesthouses.
From Cork airport. Local bus service to Cork city bus station (Parnell Place). Expressway service to Glengarriff.
Return travel: Bus from Kenmare to Killarney.
Expressway Service, Killarney to Cork.
From Shannon or Dublin airports.
Travel via Cork to Glengarriff and from Killarney on return.
www.buseireann.ie
Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sun block/cream, compass, torch, first-aid kit
Mid-April to mid-September. Accommodation will be difficult to obtain on UK national holidays unless booked well in advance (and may require an alteration to the programme).
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
