Hill walking in Kerry – Kerry Way & Beara
Hill Walking in Kerry
Iveragh and Beara Peninsula.
Hill walking and hiking in Kerry is very popular and when you visit this region you will see why.
10 Days Walking and Hiking in Kerry.
Hill walking in Kerry is the best way to really see and enjoy the natural beauty that this county in Ireland has to offer.
A group of us decided to go Hill Walking and hiking in Kerry to check out some walk for weekends we were planning to have here later in the year. I also wanted to walk the Kerry way while I was in the area. Myself, Angela and Gillian travelled down from Dublin with a break along the way. Dairine, Martha, Lydia, Martha, Francis and Liz where all making their own way. We met up at the Kenmare Bay Hotel just outside Kenmare town.
Some of those who planned on coming had to cancel due to Covid issues, self-isolation and sore legs from walks over the Christmas. So, were are 8 of us in total for the next few days. After meeting up and having a quick swim and sauna at the hotel we went for dinner and a few drinks to discuss our plans for the following few days.
Check our Self-Guided Walks and Trails in Ireland
Top Tips for Hill Walking and hiking in Kerry:
The terrain on the hills and mountains of Kerry can be very damp, particularly in winter. I would recommend an extra pair of good walking boots.
- Good Waterproof walking Boots are essential for hiking in Kerry.
- Make sure you have a map and compass of the area you are walking in.
- Waterproof Jacket is essential and leg gaiters.
- Bring plenty of water and extra snacks
- If walking in winter, make sure you bring a torch.
The Green Road to Kenmare from Killarney
Length 10Km from Galway Bridge to Kenmare.Total Ascent: 307m
Some of the group wanted to walk parts of the Beara way while I was sticking with my plan on walking the Kerry Way. We decided we would walk from Killarney (Galway Bridge) back to Kenmare the following day.
The next day we were up early for breakfast, so we could drive back towards Killarney for our first leg of this trail. Myself, Gillian and Angela continued on straight from Galway bridge on the “old Green Road” towards Kenmare while Dairine and the rest decided to check out another section of the trail first.
This section of the Kerry Way is a lovely easy walk with just a few inclines and river crossings as you make your way through a wonderful scenic valley. The trail passes between Peakeen Mountain and Knockanaguish. This is the old road between Killarney and Kenmare and along the way you can traces of old ruins of houses, villages and farmyards. It’s a nice trail and eventually leads out onto a public modern road towards Kenmare.
The hill walking in Kerry today was a nice short section of just over 10Km and once we reached our hotel, we had to return to Galway bridge to pickup our car while some others in the group checked out the local pub in Kenmare.
We had a look about the town and had a lovely meal at The Brew bar, yummy burgers.. then it was back to the Hotel for a drink before hitting the hay for the evening.
Walking the Kerry Way in Ireland
Walking from Kenmare to Sneem and a Big Stone outside a Pub
The next day Angela dropped me out to Templenoe to start my walk along the Kerry way towards Sneem. The rest of the group traveled towards Dursey to experience Ireland’s only Cable car to Dursey Island for a walk here.
The Day started off quite chilly but soon brightened up as I made way along the coastline of Kenmare Bay towards Blackwater. This was an absolutely beautiful section of the walk with the sun shining over the Beara Peninsula and reflecting of the sea between us. There was a lovely picnic spot on the side of the coastline in the woods, so I stopped and had a cup of tea while enjoying the views while listening to the distant chug chug of a small fishing boat collecting its sea harvest.
Kenmare Coastal walk to Sneem
As I made along towards Blackwater the trail hugged the coastline the whole way. At Blackwater I crossed over a bridge and road to a more inland stretch of the trail. Here the trail starts to climb offering wonderful views of the surrounding hillsides and the whole of Kenmare Bay. The trail passes by many old ruins and roadways of an older time where these would have been the main routes between these villages.
Then I crossed over the road again closer towards the coastline but traveling on old borreens between small farmlands parallel to the main road until I reached Parknasilla. I had arranged to meet Angela here for a snack parked up outside the Hotel. Angela then traveled on into Sneem while I took to the trail for the final 4Km walk over the side of a small hillside and back into the town square itself. The town of Sneem is very small but very colorful.
There is a beautiful square in the middle of the town and I spotted Dan Murphy’s pub on the far side of it. The sun was still shinning in the January sky so I had a nice pint of Guinness while Angela had a tea. After a brief walk about the town, we made our way back towards Kenmare where we were staying.
It was time for a nice relaxing bath the rest of the group where still making their way back from Dursey and asked us to check outside PF Mc Carthy’s bar for something to eat that evening. Its a great way to unwind after hill walking in Kerry.
We went to the bar and tried our best to keep seats, which we just about managed to do for the eight of us. It’s a lovely bar and the food is very good. We all caught up and chatted about our day’s adventures and Hill walking in Kerry,
We made plans for the following day’s hill walking and hiking in Kerry. I decided to give the Kerry Way a break and we would do a walk together on Beara Peninsula near Lauragh.
Check our Self-Guided Walks and Trails in Ireland
Cup of Tea on Knockatee Hill – Beara Peninsula
Length: 9.5Km, Total Incline: 349m
The following day was another early start and there was a lot of frost overnight but it was another bright day with expecting temperatures to reach 12 degrees.
This would be our last walk together so we traveled in our cars to the start of the walk St Killian’s Church in Lauragh. Martha had taken the lead on this walk and was bringing on a loop walk over Knockatee and passing Helen’s Bar and the Derreen Gardens.
It was up hill from the car park along a quite road before turning left onto the Hillside. There was no obvious trail and it was a matter of making your way upwards the best way you can while avoiding boulders. Marta pulled a blinder and got us all to the summit, the views were incredible and well worth the climb.
It was a 360 degrees panoramic views over the Beara Peninsula and surrounding coastline. Martha then guided us down safely although the ground was very wet and Angela was suffering due to her feet being wringing wet.
We came down by an ancient standing stone and cairn and eventually out onto another small road which brought us down to Helen’s Bar at Kilmackillogue Pier. We were delighted to see that it was open and the seafood open sandwiches are incredible. After getting warmth back into Angela’s feet, we traveled back to get our cars and say good bye before departing our separate ways.
Myself and Angela were now traveling onto Sneem where we would be staying for the next two nights as I got back to walking the Kerry way.
We booked into the Sneem hotel and had a meal here before organizing the next day’s hill walking in Kerry.
