Our @Ease programmes are designed to give walkers an opportunity to unwind, relax and recover with less unpacking and longer stays. This gives you more time to experience each location, helps ease the pressure on our accommodation providers, and offers a more fuel-efficient option.
The Iveragh Peninsula or Ring of Kerry, the second of the five southwestern peninsulas, is one of the most popular tourist routes in Ireland. Instead of seeing it by car with the crowds, we invite you to experience it by walking. This is the best way to fully appreciate the natural beauty and culture of this peninsula.
Walking the Kerry and Beara Ways offers a chance to see Bronze Age forts, early Christian remains and a 6th century monastic settlement. This tour pairs the best of both routes, beginning with the more popular Iveragh and switching to the remote Beara Peninsula in Glengarriff. This region is a haven for walkers, offering splendidly wild mountains and valleys and Ireland’s highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy Reeks. It promises an unforgettable experience!
Price Includes
Optional Extras
Pricing
The 15-day tour is a relaxed combination of our Kerry and Beara Way tours, incorporating more free days so you can choose how often and how much you walk. This walking tour pairs the best of both routes, beginning in Waterville and switching to the Beara Way in Glengarriff to end in Castletownbere.
This tour is split equally between MODERATE and RELAXED days, with one STRENUOUS day towards the end.
See how we determine levels of difficulty for each of our hiking tours by visiting our FAQ page.
Arrive to Waterville by Bus Eireann services.
Overnight accommodation in Waterville.
Free day to enjoy the ancient seaside settlement of Waterville, nestled between mountains, the expansive Lough Currane, and the Atlantic coast. Walk the hinterland overlooking the lake and ocean, returning on the Kerry Way.
Distance 15km (9mi). Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Waterville.
A wonderfully scenic route rounding to the south side of the peninsula. The distance is short and there is time to take a detour at Derrynane and visit Derrynane House and Gardens, home of Daniel O’Connell known as ‘The Liberator’ who was the father of Catholic Emancipation during the 19th century.
Distance 15km (9mi). Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Caherdaniel.
Free day Caherdaniel to walk the Mass Path, a wonderfully scenic route on the shores of Derrynane Bay with a visit to the 6th century Abbey Island and Derrynane House.
Distance 12km (7mi). Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Caherdaniel.
Walk on the old “Butter road” – from where butter was transported by cart to Cork in the 19th century. The Way climbs again on the foothills of Eagle Hill and an optional detour takes you to the 3rd century, stone built Staigue Fort. Your route stays above the main Ring of Kerry road, following rocky paths through sheep country to Sneem.
Distance 17km (11mi). Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Sneem.
Free day in Sneem with a choice of loop walks into the foothills of the Macgillycuddy Reek Mountains.
Distance 10-15km (6-9mi). Approximate walking time 3-5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Sneem.
Your host can arrange a taxi transfer to Blackwaterbridge (additional €25), then walk the Kerry Way to Kenmare. The delightful Blackwater Bridge spans the Blackwater River coming from high in the Macgillycuddy Reeks. Kenmare is an interesting and colourful market town, on the banks of the Roughty River where it opens up into Kenmare Bay. It was founded in 1670 and settled by Englishmen, who built a prosperous fishing industry and an ironworks.
Distance 15km (9mi). Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Kenmare.
Free Day in Kenmare, with options to explore the Reenagross Woodlands, take a seafaring trip on Kenmare Bay, or walk the Kenmare Heritage Trail around a 16th-century town.
Overnight accommodation in Kenmare.
You depart Kenmare and the Kerry Way to begin your walk along the Beara Way through the Esk and Barraboy Mountains to Glengarriff.
Distance 19km (9mi). Approximate walking time 6 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Glengarriff.
Free day in Glengarriff to enjoy a trip from the Blue Pool to Garinish Island and the famous Peto Italian Gardens.
Overnight accommodation in Glengarriff.
The Beara Way follows old tracks and roads through Glengarriff Woods and the Coomarkane River, through low lying sheep pasture before climbing to an old pass by Gowlbeg mountain and following the sheep trails to meet an old cart road down to Adrigole village.
Distance 16km (10mi). Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Adrigole.
Free Day in Adrigole, a quiet corner of the country where sheep trails and coastal quays await exploration. There are numerous megalithic stone remains within easy access. A local loop walk of 8km (5mi) accesses Adrigole Harbour.
Overnight accommodation in Adrigole.
This walk is harder work because of the ascent and descent. Your day is well rewarded in fine weather with wonderful views 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. A gentle climb from Adrigole takes you above Bantry Bay with stunning views south to Sheep’s Head. The Way descends from 200m into a glaciated valley at 100m, before climbing again to 350m across the slopes of Maulin 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 24km (15mi). Approximate walking time 7 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Castletownbere.
Free Day in Castletownbere to explore Bere Island and follow the Island Loop Ways
Distance 9km (6mi) or 15km (9mi) for the loop ways.
Overnight in Castletownbere.
Depart Castletownbere by public bus for Cork.
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July 2021 – Jim, California
We are leaving Killarney today, I just wanted to thank you for everything. We had an incredible walk along the Kerry Way. Everything was perfect. We loved the variety of b & b’s along the way and all of the owners were wonderful to work with. We could not be happier.
+353 86 814 3156
info@tailor-madetours.com
