Welcome to the Sheeps Head Way.
Tour Highlights
- Your B&B hosts. Dedicated Sheep’s Head enthusiasts! They have worked tirelessly for many years to make this walk the Waymarked success it is. This is real walking country. The only traffic is local or four footed.
- Walking along the ridge to Seefin mountain…the world falls away on each side to water, Dunmanus Bay, Bantry Bay, the Atlantic.
- Coffee & cake in Bernie’s café, right at the tip of the peninsula!
- Bantry House & Gardens, stately 17th century untouched beauty with a quirky 1796 French Armada museum in the stable yard.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival to Bantry
Travel by scheduled bus service to Bantry from Cork city. Lying sheltered behind Whiddy Island, Bantry is the market town of southwest Cork and an ancient port facility. The deep waters have hosted a succession of fleets, French, Spanish and British which add to the good looks of the natives! In order to make the best of the walking route, your first night is spent 5km from Bantry at the start of the Sheep’s Head Way.
Overnight accommodation at Dromcloc farm guesthouse. Dinner is in your guesthouse.
Day 2 – Dromcloc to Glanlough
The route starts on small farm access lanes from Dromcloc Farmhouse and climbs one of the mountain roads that cross the peninsula. At the top, it is out onto the hills, a glorious ridge walk through sheep grazing country to 223m, before descending to Glanlough and Seamount Farmhouse.
Distance 14km. Ascents 285m. Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Glanlough farm guesthouse. Dinner is in your guesthouse.
Day 3 – Glanlough to Kilcrohane
The ridge walk continues over Gouladane, from where you can descend to Gortnakilly or continue on the ridge to Seefin, the highest point of the peninsula at 345m. The walk finishes at Kilcrohane village from where your hosts will transfer you back to Glanlough.
Distance 13km. Ascents 385m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Glanlough farm guesthouse. Dinner is in your guesthouse..
Day 4 – Kilcrohane to Tooreen, the end of the peninsula
Your hosts will return you to Kilcrohane. The Way follows the exhilarating coastline of the western end of the peninsula through ruined villages, the Gortavallig Copper Mines to Bernie’s Café at the edge of the world! Your host for tonight will collect you at this point and transfer you to Reenmore.
Distance 14km. Ascents 110m. Approximate walking time 4 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Reenmore farm guesthouse.
Day 5 – Tooreen to Kilcrohane
Your hosts will transfer you back to Tooreen. Walk to Kilcrohane along the southern coastline of the peninsula. After the initial climb to the remains of a 17th century signal tower, today’s walk is on lower ground through farms and townlands to return to Kilcrohane village. Your host will collect you and transfer you to Reenmore.
Distance 16km. Ascents 200m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Reenmore farm guesthouse.
Day 6 – Reenmore to Durrus
The route follows old paths and droving roads through hillside farms to Durrus, the largest village on the peninsula. There are many pre-Christian remains, standing stones, wells, burial grounds, indicating the ancient importance of the area.
Distance 16km. Ascents 280m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Durrus village.
Day 7 – Durrus to Bantry
Leaving the seascapes behind, the route follows the Four Mile Water valley before climbing through forest to Barr na Gaoithe, the Top of the Wind. A short climb completes the hill walking before descending on minor roads to Bantry town, through the grounds of majestic 17th century Bantry House.
Distance 17km. Ascents 190m. Approximate walking time 5 hours.
Overnight accommodation in Bantry town.
Day 8 – Departure from Bantry
Scheduled bus services from Bantry to Cork for onward connections.
Prices & Booking
€245 single supplement.
What’s Included
* Seven nights Bed & Breakfast guesthouse accommodation;
* Luggage transfers each day;
* Detailed route descriptions;
* Relevant 1:50000 maps.
What’s not included:
* Other meals.
* Entries or excursions.
* Transfers to and from Bantry.
Guest Reviews
September 2019 – Elke & 2 friends, Hamburg, Germany
It was great! We really enjoyed our holidays. The landscape was wonderful, the weather fine and our hosts just marvelous – every single one of them. We are looking forward to do some walking holidays again in the future. Thanks for planning the trip and your kind support!
June 2019 – Diane, Gauteng, South Africa
I watched Dympna’s son bring the cows in from the field for milking and watched him feed the newborn calves – one from that morning and one born the day before. One of my highlights!! I did lots of walking whenever I got the chance and loved the light late into the night. I felt safe. There were cows and sheep everywhere, and I love sheep!! Probably spoke to them the most. I met wonderful and warm people wherever I went, especially the people of the B&Bs – they were always helpful and the rooms were all really lovely, warm and comfortable. So how was it? Better than I anticipated. Epic, in fact!
Thanks for all your help,
Location & Grade
