Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Ireland: walking the Kerry Way, Dingle and Beara
8 days walking in Kerry and west Cork: three nights in Killarney for the Old Kenmare Road and the Gap of Dunloe, three in Dingle for Mount Brandon and the Dingle Way, and a night on the Beara Peninsula with Bere Island and Allihies.
8 days · Killarney to Cork · up to 12 guests
Cromaglan Mountain from the slopes of Torc, Killarney National Park Photo: Nunulark, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cromaglan_Mountain_NE_from_Torc_S_240_IMG_20250801_1137.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Killarney to Cork
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4 h on day 7No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Active
Five days of 4 to 6 hours on foot, about 10 to 15 km a day, on old roads, forest tracks, bog paths, beaches and open hillside, with climbs of about 250 to 500 m; the active option on Mount Brandon reaches 952 m. Paths are often wet and muddy, and some are rough and stony. Every walking day has a shorter variant of about 2 hours from the same start, and the van can collect you partway on most days. Days 7 and 8 have about 2 hours of easy walking.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 830 (estimated price)
- Season
- May to September
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Old Kenmare Road on the Kerry Way, an old track over the hills behind Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park
- Walking the Gap of Dunloe end to end, then a boat back through the three lakes of Killarney to Ross Castle
- The Dingle Way along the coast by Minard Castle, after a morning on Inch Beach
- The Saints' Road from Kilmalkedar church to the foot of Mount Brandon, with the summit for those who want it
- The Dingle Way from Ventry to Dunquin, high above the sea, with the Blasket Islands ahead
- The Healy Pass over the Caha Mountains and a walk on Bere Island
- The old copper mines above Allihies at the far end of the Beara Peninsula
- Luggage moved every day, and a van waiting at the end of every walk
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 830 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4 h, on day 7.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Killarney
Shannon Airport to Kerry Airport and Killarney, then the Lough Leane shore to Ross Castle
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Killarney
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
Your See Sight Tours guide meets the group at Shannon Airport (SNN) at about 12:30 pm, after the morning flights from North America. We drive south through County Limerick by Adare and Abbeyfeale into Kerry, about two and a quarter hours, collecting anyone flying into Kerry Airport (KIR) at Farranfore on the way; if you come by train from Dublin, we meet you at the hotel in Killarney town. After check-in, the first walk is a gentle one to stretch the legs after the flight: from the edge of town into Killarney National Park and along the shore of Lough Leane to Ross Castle, a 15th-century tower house we see from the outside, about 5 km there and back on level paths. It is a chance to try your boots and learn names.
Evening
In the evening we sit down together for a welcome dinner and a briefing on the week: how the walks are paced, the shorter variants, what goes in the day pack and how the luggage moves.
Included
- Group transfer from Shannon Airport (SNN), with pickups at Kerry Airport (KIR) and Killarney station
- Walk with your guide along Lough Leane to Ross Castle (outside)
- Welcome dinner and walking briefing
Easier option: Skip the walk and rest at the hotel before dinner.
Free time: Free between check-in and the late-afternoon walk
Activity: About 1.5 hours on level park paths.
Torc Waterfall and the Old Kenmare Road
Killarney to Torc Waterfall, the Old Kenmare Road on the Kerry Way to the Kenmare side, and back by Moll's Gap
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Killarney
- Drive about 1 h
Our first full day on the Kerry Way, the waymarked trail of about 200 km around the Iveragh Peninsula. The van drops us at Torc Waterfall, a short climb through oak and holly woods, and from the top we join the Old Kenmare Road, an old track between the two towns long since replaced by the road below. It climbs gently up the Owengarriff valley between Torc and Mangerton mountains, then runs for hours through open bog and moorland with hardly a building in sight, crossing streams on stepping stones and boardwalks. This is the stretch where red deer are most often seen.
Afternoon
We eat a packed lunch on the trail, then drop through woodland to the Kenmare side, about 15 km and 5 to 6 hours in all, where the van waits. The drive back crosses Moll's Gap and passes Ladies View over the Upper Lake. The shorter walk climbs above the waterfall to the open valley and returns, with time at Muckross House.
Evening
The evening is free in Killarney.
Included
- Guided walk on the Kerry Way: Torc Waterfall and the Old Kenmare Road to the Kenmare side, with a local walking guide
- Packed lunch on the trail
- Drive back by Moll's Gap and Ladies View
- Muckross House guided tour for those on the shorter walk
Easier option: Walk above Torc Waterfall into the Owengarriff valley and back, about 6 km and 2 hours, then a guided tour of Muckross House and a walk in its gardens.
More active option: Add the climb of Torc Mountain (535 m) from the Old Kenmare Road on its stone path and boardwalk, about 1.5 hours more, for the view over all three lakes.
Free time: Evening free in Killarney
Activity: About 15 km (confirmed at booking, with the pickup point on the Kenmare side), 5 to 6 hours, with a climb of about 250 m near the start; wet and boggy in places, with stepping stones.
The Gap of Dunloe and the lakes by boat
Killarney to Kate Kearney's Cottage, on foot through the Gap of Dunloe to Lord Brandon's Cottage, then by boat to Ross Castle
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Killarney
- Drive about 30 min
The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow glacial pass between the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland's highest mountains, and Purple Mountain. We start early, at about 9:15 am from Kate Kearney's Cottage, before the jaunting cars and day walkers build up. The road through the Gap is restricted to local access, so walkers share it with the jaunting cars as it climbs past a string of small lakes and the old Wishing Bridge to the head of the Gap at about 240 m, with the Reeks rising on the right.
Afternoon
From the top the view opens over the Black Valley, one of the most remote corners of Kerry, and we walk down into it and on to Lord Brandon's Cottage by the Upper Lake, about 11 km and 4 hours with a packed lunch on the way. In the early afternoon, in a booked slot, we board an open boat for the trip back through the Upper Lake, the narrow Long Range, under the Old Weir Bridge and across Lough Leane to Ross Castle, about an hour and a half.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Guided walk through the Gap of Dunloe to Lord Brandon's Cottage, with a local walking guide
- Packed lunch
- Boat through the Upper Lake, the Long Range and Lough Leane to Ross Castle
Optional experiences
- Jaunting car (pony and trap) through the Gap from Kate Kearney's Cottage to the head of the Gap (extra, price shown at booking)
Easier option: Ride a jaunting car to the head of the Gap and walk only the downhill half to Lord Brandon's Cottage, about 5 km and 1.5 hours, before the boat.
More active option: With the walking guide, climb from the head of the Gap onto the shoulder above it for the view along the Reeks, about an hour more, in good weather.
Free time: Evening free in Killarney
Activity: About 11 km, 4 hours, on a narrow tarmac lane and tracks, with a steady climb of about 200 m to the head of the Gap. The boat is open: bring a warm layer.
Inch Beach and the Dingle Way to Dingle
Killarney to Inch Beach and Annascaul, the Dingle Way by Minard Castle to Lispole, then Dingle
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Dingle
- Drive about 1.5 h
We pack up and leave Killarney at about 9 am, the luggage riding in the van while we walk. The first stop is Inch Beach, a sand spit about 5 km long running out into Dingle Bay, for up to an hour on the sand with the Iveragh mountains across the water; the guide shortens it if the walk needs the time.
Afternoon
In Annascaul, the village where the Antarctic explorer Tom Crean was born and later kept the South Pole Inn, we sit down to lunch. Then we pick up the Dingle Way, the waymarked trail around the peninsula, heading south to the coast at Minard Castle, a ruined tower house above a storm beach of huge rounded boulders, and west on quiet lanes and field paths to Lispole, about 13 km and 4 hours from Annascaul. The van takes us the last 10 km into Dingle, a 15-minute drive, so a late finish costs little. Dingle town is in the Gaeltacht, where Irish is spoken day to day, and its harbour, colourful streets and music pubs are ours for the next three nights.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Inch Beach
- Sit-down lunch in Annascaul
- Guided walk on the Dingle Way from Annascaul by Minard Castle to Lispole, with a local walking guide
Easier option: Walk from Annascaul to Minard Castle, about 6 km and 2 hours, and ride the van on to Dingle.
More active option: Walk the length of Inch Beach and back before lunch, about 10 km more on sand.
Free time: Evening free in Dingle
Activity: About 1 hour on the beach and 13 km, 4 hours, on lanes, field paths and a boulder beach, with short climbs.
The Saints' Road to Mount Brandon
Dingle to Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkedar, the Saints' Road to Ballybrack, and the Pilgrims' Path up Mount Brandon
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Dingle
- Drive about 45 min
Mount Brandon, 952 m, is the highest Irish mountain outside the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and has been climbed by pilgrims for centuries in honour of St Brendan. We pick the clearest of days 5 and 6 for it. A short drive takes us to Gallarus Oratory, a dry-stone church shaped like an upturned boat, and on to Kilmalkedar, a 12th-century Romanesque church with an ogham stone in its graveyard. From here we walk Cosán na Naomh, the Saints' Road, on old lanes and green paths up to Ballybrack at the foot of the mountain, then climb the lower part of the Pilgrims' Path, marked by white posts and stations of the cross, onto the open western slope, with the whole of the peninsula and the Blaskets below.
Afternoon
We eat a packed lunch on the hill and turn back at about 500 m: about 5 km on the Saints' Road and 5 km up and back on the Pilgrims' Path, about 10 km and 5 hours in all, with the van at Ballybrack.
Evening
Tonight we have dinner together with live traditional music in Dingle.
Included
- Gallarus Oratory
- Kilmalkedar church and its ogham stone
- Guided walk on the Saints' Road and the lower Pilgrims' Path on Mount Brandon, with a local walking guide
- Packed lunch
- Dinner with live traditional music in Dingle
Easier option: Walk the Saints' Road from Kilmalkedar to Ballybrack only, about 5 km and 2 hours, and ride the van back to Dingle.
More active option: In clear weather, climb on with the walking guide to the summit of Mount Brandon (952 m) and its oratory ruin, about 2.5 hours more up and down; the guide decides on the day.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Dingle before dinner
Activity: About 10 km, 5 hours, with about 450 m of climbing on rough, often wet hillside paths. The summit option is steep and exposed and needs good boots and clear weather.
The Dingle Way from Ventry to Dunquin
Dingle to Ventry, the Dingle Way over the slopes of Mount Eagle to Dunquin, the Great Blasket Centre, and back by Slea Head
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Dingle
- Drive about 45 min
This is the stage of the Dingle Way most walkers remember. The van takes us to Ventry Harbour, a wide sandy bay, and we walk west, so the sea and then the Blasket Islands are in front of us all day. The trail climbs off the coast road onto old green roads on the slopes of Mount Eagle, high above the Slea Head road, past field walls and abandoned farms, with Dingle Bay and the Iveragh mountains across the water.
Afternoon
We stop for a packed lunch with the Great Blasket in view, then drop down into Dunquin, about 14 km and 5 hours. At the Great Blasket Centre we learn about the island community, abandoned in 1953, whose writers left a shelf of Irish-language books. The van brings us back to Dingle around Slea Head, with stops at Coumeenoole beach and the viewpoints, by about 5 pm.
Evening
The evening is free: Dingle has music in its pubs most nights in season.
Included
- Guided walk on the Dingle Way from Ventry to Dunquin, with a local walking guide
- Packed lunch
- The Great Blasket Centre (in season)
- The drive back by Slea Head and Coumeenoole beach
Easier option: Ride the van to Slea Head and walk the last section of the Dingle Way into Dunquin and down to Dunquin pier, about 5 km and 2 hours.
More active option: Continue on the Dingle Way from Dunquin to Clogher Head, about 4 km more on the cliff edge, and meet the van there.
Free time: Evening free in Dingle
Activity: About 14 km, 5 hours, on green roads and hill paths with a climb of about 300 m; exposed to wind, so bring a windproof layer.
Kenmare, the Healy Pass and Bere Island
Dingle to Killarney and Kenmare, over the Healy Pass to Castletownbere, then the ferry to Bere Island
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Castletownbere
- Drive about 4 h
We leave Dingle at about 8:30 am with the luggage in the van and drive back east through Killarney and over the hills to Kenmare, a planned 18th-century town at the head of Kenmare Bay, for a 30-minute coffee break by its square. From here we cross into the Beara Peninsula and climb the Healy Pass, a road that zig-zags over the Caha Mountains on the border of Kerry and Cork, with Glanmore Lake on one side and Bantry Bay on the other.
Afternoon
We reach Castletownbere, a working fishing port, at about 1:30 pm for lunch together: about 170 km and 4 hours at the wheel, the longest drive of the trip, held to the cap by keeping Kenmare short and broken by the pass. If the van is not suited to the pass, we take the coast road by Glengarriff, about the same time. A short afternoon ferry, times confirmed at booking, takes us across to Bere Island, home to a small community and to old forts and Martello towers built to guard the harbour, for an easy walk on the island's waymarked loops.
Evening
Back in Castletownbere we have a farewell dinner.
Included
- Coffee stop in Kenmare
- The Healy Pass over the Caha Mountains
- Sit-down lunch in Castletownbere
- Ferry to Bere Island and a guided walk on the island
- Farewell dinner in Castletownbere
Easier option: Stay by the harbour on Bere Island and walk the short level loop.
More active option: Walk the longer island loop up to the high ground for views over Bantry Bay, about 3 hours.
Activity: About 2 to 3 hours on quiet island roads and tracks.
Allihies and on to Cork
Castletownbere to Allihies, then by Glengarriff and Bantry to Cork Airport and Cork city
- Breakfast
- Drive about 3.5 h
Morning
A last morning walk at the far end of the Beara Peninsula. We drive about half an hour west to Allihies, a village of painted houses above a long beach, where copper was mined through much of the 19th century, much of it by miners brought over from Cornwall. A trail climbs past the ruined engine houses and spoil heaps above the village, with views out to the Atlantic and across to the Kerry coast, about 2 hours on rough tracks with a modest climb.
Afternoon
Leaving at about 11 am, we drive back along the peninsula through Glengarriff and Bantry, where we stop for lunch on your own by the bay, and on through west Cork, about 3.5 hours at the wheel in all. We reach Cork Airport (ORK) at about 3 pm and Cork Kent station soon after, for trains to Dublin.
Evening
Book a flight that leaves after about 5:30 pm, or stay a night in Cork or Dublin; we can book extra nights for you.
Included
- Guided walk on the Allihies copper mine trail
- Group transfer to Cork Airport (ORK) and Cork Kent station
Easier option: Walk the beach at Allihies instead of the mine trail.
Free time: Lunch stop on your own in Bantry
Activity: About 2 hours on rough tracks. Book a flight leaving Cork after about 5:30 pm.
- Killarney3 nights
- Dingle3 nights
- Castletownbere1 night
- Corkend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Kerry is wet, and the hills make their own weather: a clear morning in Dingle can mean cloud on Mount Brandon by noon, so the guide picks the Brandon day on the forecast. May and June have the longest light, with dusk after 10 pm. Killarney National Park holds Ireland's only native herd of red deer, often seen near the Old Kenmare Road; gannets, choughs and seals are common on the Dingle and Beara coasts, and dolphins are sometimes seen from the Bere Island ferry. Midges can bite on still evenings in summer.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Regular walkers who are happy with 4 to 6 hours on foot in changeable weather
- Walkers who want the Kerry Way and the Dingle Way without navigating, booking B&Bs or carrying luggage
- Couples and friends of different fitness: one can take the full walk and the other the shorter one
- Solo walkers who want company, a guide and a fair single supplement
Not for you if you want
- Anyone looking for a sightseeing tour with short strolls: see our Dublin, Kerry and Galway trip instead
- Walkers who want to walk the whole Kerry Way or Dingle Way end to end; we walk selected stages
- Anyone who needs dry weather or level paths: paths are wet, boggy and stony
- Travellers who want Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher or Galway in the same trip
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Killarney3 nights
- Dingle3 nights
- Castletownbere1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights: 3 in Killarney, 3 in Dingle and 1 in Castletownbere
- Central hotels or guesthouses of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms, a lounge or bar and somewhere to dry boots; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Group transfer from Shannon Airport (SNN) on day 1, with pickups at Kerry Airport (KIR) and Killarney station
- Group transfer to Cork Airport (ORK) and Cork Kent station on day 8
- A private minivan and professional driver for the group all week, sized for 7 to 12 guests, meeting every walk at its end
- Luggage moved between hotels every time
- The boat from Lord Brandon's Cottage to Ross Castle through the Killarney lakes
- The ferry to Bere Island and back
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip, from Shannon Airport to Cork
- A local walking guide with mountain leader training on days 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, so the full walk and the shorter walk are led separately
- The site guides at Muckross House
Activities
- Killarney: the Lough Leane shore to Ross Castle (outside)
- The Kerry Way: Torc Waterfall and the Old Kenmare Road
- Muckross House guided tour (on the day 2 shorter walk)
- The Gap of Dunloe on foot to Lord Brandon's Cottage
- Inch Beach and the Dingle Way from Annascaul by Minard Castle to Lispole
- Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkedar church
- The Saints' Road and the Pilgrims' Path on Mount Brandon
- The Dingle Way from Ventry to Dunquin
- The Great Blasket Centre (in season)
- A coffee stop in Kenmare and the Healy Pass
- A guided walk on Bere Island
- The Allihies copper mine trail
- All parking and site fees for included stops
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 lunches: packed walkers' lunches on days 2, 3, 5 and 6, and sit-down lunches on day 4 in Annascaul and day 7 in Castletownbere
- 3 dinners: a welcome dinner in Killarney, a dinner with live traditional music in Dingle and a farewell dinner in Castletownbere
Not included
- International flights, and trains to Killarney or from Cork
- Visa, if your passport needs one (Canadian and US passports do not)
- Travel insurance, which should cover hill walking
- Lunches on days 1 and 8, and dinners on days 2, 3, 4 and 6
- Drinks, including at the music dinner
- The jaunting car through the Gap of Dunloe
- Tips
- Walking boots, waterproofs and other personal gear
- Personal expenses
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 830 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Kerry walking trip price include?
Seven nights in central hotels, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 3 dinners, airport transfers at both ends, a private minivan and driver, daily luggage moves, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, a local walking guide on five days, the Gap of Dunloe boat, the Bere Island ferry and every visit in the day plan. Drinks, tips and the jaunting car are extra.
How fit do I need to be for this walking trip?
You should be comfortable walking 4 to 6 hours, about 10 to 15 km, on wet and uneven paths with climbs of up to about 500 m, several days in a row. If that is more than you want on some days, each walking day has a shorter walk of about 2 hours, led separately from the same start.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in a minivan. That size fits the narrow lanes to the trailheads, splits easily into a full walk and a shorter walk with two leaders, and sits at one table for lunch.
Who leads the walks?
A See Sight Tours guide is with the group for the whole trip, from Shannon Airport to Cork. On the five walking days a local walking guide with mountain leader training joins, so the full walk and the shorter walk each have a leader. A professional driver moves the luggage and meets every walk at its end.
Do I have to carry my luggage?
No. Your suitcase rides in the van and goes to the next hotel; you carry only a day pack with water, layers, waterproofs and your packed lunch. Most walks are linear and end where the van is waiting, so nobody walks back to the start.
I'm travelling solo. Do I pay a single supplement?
Only if you want a room of your own, which is from CAD 830 more and shown before you book, with no surprise later. If you would rather share, tell us when you request to book and we will say whether a same-gender roommate match is possible on your date.
When is the best time to walk in Kerry?
May to September. The days are long, the Gap of Dunloe boats and the Great Blasket Centre are running, and the high ground on Mount Brandon is at its most reliable. May, June and September are quieter on the trails than July and August. Rain is likely on some days in any month.
What happens if it rains, or Mount Brandon is in cloud?
We walk in most rain, as the paths and the van are set up for it. In high wind or low cloud the guide chooses the lower walk, swaps the Brandon day with the Dingle Way day, or turns back early. Safety decisions on the hill are the guide's, and nobody is left to walk alone.
How does booking work?
Choose a date and send a request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken when you send the request. Prices are per person sharing a room, taxes included: the small group starts from CAD 4,890, and private from CAD 8,800.
Can we walk privately, self-guided or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide, walking guide and vehicle. If you would rather walk independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote hotels, luggage moves and transfers.
Do I need a visa for Ireland?
Not with a Canadian or US passport for a tourist visit; bring a passport valid for your whole stay. Ireland is outside the Schengen area and sets its own rules, so other nationalities should check before booking. We will help with any questions when you book.
Do we walk the whole Kerry Way?
No. The Kerry Way is a waymarked loop of about 200 km, which takes most people nine or ten days. We walk two of its best stages around Killarney, the Old Kenmare Road and the Gap of Dunloe, then two stages of the Dingle Way, Mount Brandon and Beara, staying in three bases instead of moving every night.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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