The Kerry Way
Ireland's longest waymarked trail — 215 km around the Iveragh Peninsula, through Killarney National Park, over Atlantic headlands and past 2,000-year-old stone forts. Fresh seafood and traditional music sessions wait at the end of every stage.
About The Kerry Way
Your guide to walking in this stunning region
County Kerry occupies Ireland's far southwest, where rocky peninsulas reach out into the Atlantic. The Iveragh Peninsula holds ancient oak woodland, glacial lakes, open bog and wave-battered sea cliffs — some of the wildest landscape left in Western Europe.
The Kerry Way circles this peninsula for 215 km, making it Ireland's longest waymarked trail. We walk the route anti-clockwise from Killarney, south through the national park, west along the Atlantic coast, and back east through Kenmare. This direction keeps the prevailing wind at your back and saves the dramatic Old Kenmare Road mountain crossing for the final stage.
Along the way you'll pass Skellig Michael — a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched on an Atlantic rock 12 km offshore — Derrynane House, where Daniel O'Connell grew up, and fishing villages where the day's catch reaches your plate by evening.
A Walk Along the Edge of Europe
Our Kerry Way tours begin in Killarney, a lively market town at the head of three famous lakes surrounded by Ireland's largest surviving native woodland. The first stage crosses Killarney National Park, passing Torc Waterfall and the ancient yew and oak woods around Muckross Lake. The air smells of damp moss and wet bark. At dawn, red deer move through the trees — descendants of Ireland's only surviving native herd.
From the national park the trail climbs into the Black Valley, one of the last places in Ireland to receive electricity — in 1976. The landscape here is raw and quiet: stone-walled fields, stacked turf, a handful of farmhouses tucked beneath mountain ridges. The silence is the kind you notice.
The route then turns west towards the Atlantic. The terrain opens into high bogland, and the coast appears — first as a distant shimmer, then as a crashing, salt-spray presence. Cahersiveen and Waterville are the main overnight stops on the western leg. They're small towns with strong characters. Waterville was Charlie Chaplin's favourite holiday retreat; he returned every summer through the 1960s, and the town still celebrates the connection with an annual comedy film festival.
South of Waterville the trail passes Derrynane House and the stunning beach at Derrynane Bay, then the massive drystone walls of Staigue Fort — a 2,000-year-old ringfort on a hillside overlooking the Kenmare River estuary. The fort is 27 metres across, its walls nearly four metres thick at the base, built entirely without mortar.
The eastern stages wind through Sneem — a village of painted houses on the Kenmare River estuary — and on to Kenmare, a Georgian market town with the finest restaurant scene on the entire trail. From Kenmare, the final stage follows the Old Kenmare Road back to Killarney — an ancient track over the mountain saddle between Peakeen and Mangerton, with views that make nine days of walking feel like a proper send-off.
info Walking Area Quick Facts
Difficulty
Duration
8 days
Season
From May to October
Accommodation
B&B & Guesthouses
Walking Tours
1 tour available
Included in Every Tour
- ✓Accommodation: Welcoming en-suite B&B rooms
- ✓Breakfast: Full Irish breakfast every morning
- ✓Luggage Transfer: Daily transfer of your main bag between accommodations
- ✓Personalised itinerary and route app for your smartphone
- ✓Support: 24/7 emergency support throughout your holiday
- ✓Pre-Departure Pack: Information pack sent before you travel
Not Included
- ✗Flights: Travel to Ireland is not included
- ✗Insurance: You'll need travel and walking holiday insurance
- ✗Meals: Lunches and dinners are not included
Walking Tours in The Kerry Way
Self-guided walking holidays with accommodation and luggage transfers included
The Landscape
The Killarney lakeland opens the walk with ancient oaks draped in moss and ferns, still water reflecting mountain ridges, and waterfalls tucked around every bend. Climb out of the valley and the landscape shifts to blanket bog — vast stretches of brown-gold peatland with cloud shadows racing across the ridgeline.
The western coast drops away in sea cliffs and rocky headlands. Gannets dive, choughs wheel on the updrafts, and spray reaches the trail on rough days. The southern and eastern stages soften into green farmland and river valleys. The Kenmare River inlet shifts from grey to blue to silver with the changing sky. Sika deer browse in the woodlands, wild fuchsia blazes in the hedgerows from May through October, and the light — particularly in September — turns everything golden for an hour before dusk.
Culture & Heritage
County Kerry's culture runs deep and is still very much alive. Irish is spoken daily in the Gaeltacht villages along the western coast. Daniel O'Connell — known as The Liberator — was born in Cahersiveen and raised at Derrynane House; his campaign for Catholic Emancipation changed Irish political history. Out on Skellig Michael, a monastic community survived 600 years on a bare Atlantic rock, leaving behind stone beehive huts that still stand. Charlie Chaplin first visited Waterville in 1959 and returned every summer; the town honours him with a bronze seafront statue and an annual comedy film festival.
Local food and drink: Kerry mountain lamb slow-reared on hillside pastures, fresh Atlantic seafood landed daily, Kenmare's thriving restaurant scene, and a growing number of local craft breweries and distilleries.
Points of Interest
Key highlights you'll discover in The Kerry Way
Killarney National Park
10,000 hectares of native oak woodland, three glacial lakes, Ireland's only native red deer herd and the restored Victorian mansion at Muckross House
Skellig Michael
UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 6th-century island monastery perched on an Atlantic rock 12 km offshore, reached by boat from Portmagee
Staigue Fort
A 2,000-year-old drystone ringfort near Caherdaniel with walls nearly 4 metres thick, built without mortar and still standing on a hillside above the Kenmare River
Kenmare
Georgian market town with the finest restaurant scene on the route, independent shops and colourful streets — the best overnight stop on the entire Kerry Way
Things to Do in The Kerry Way
Top activities and experiences in the area
Walk the full Kerry Way
215 km anti-clockwise around the Iveragh Peninsula over 9 days, with luggage transfers and handpicked accommodation
Boat trip to Skellig Michael
Visit the UNESCO island monastery from Portmagee — book at least 2–3 months ahead as trips fill up fast
Day hike through the Gap of Dunloe
A dramatic mountain pass between MacGillycuddy's Reeks — perfect for a rest day from Killarney
Traditional music sessions
Live trad sessions in the pubs of Kenmare and Sneem most evenings — pull up a chair and enjoy the craic
Best Time to Visit
May, June and September offer the best conditions. May brings wildflowers to the bogland, long evenings and light trail traffic — a lovely time to walk before the summer rush. June has the longest daylight hours, which makes a real difference on the bigger western stages along the cliffs. September is arguably the finest month of all: the heather turns the hillsides purple, the light is clear and golden, and accommodation is noticeably easier to book than during peak summer.
July and August are the busiest months. Boat trips to Skellig Michael fill up fast, and accommodation along the route needs to be secured three to four months in advance. The trail is walkable from April through October, but mountain sections above 400 m require proper waterproofs and confident navigation when visibility drops.
Time your visit with a festival. Many trails host walking festivals throughout the season — see our complete 2026 walking festivals calendar to plan around one.
Who Is It For?
The Kerry Way is for walkers who want a genuine long-distance trail experience through wild Atlantic Ireland. Nine days of walking changes your rhythm — you settle into the pace of the trail, and the world back home feels a long way off. Overnight stops in villages with pubs, restaurants and real character keep it sociable.
It works well for couples, solo walkers and small groups. Most of our guests are in their 40s to 60s with some walking experience under their belt. The cultural depth — Skellig Michael, Derrynane, Gaeltacht villages, traditional music sessions — appeals to walkers who want more from a holiday than just scenery. Also consider the nearby Dingle Way or Sheep's Head Way for a shorter alternative in the same region.
Where You'll Stay
The Kerry Way corridor is well served by family-run B&Bs, guesthouses and small hotels. Killarney offers the widest choice at the start and finish of the walk. Kenmare is the most rewarding overnight town on the entire route — Georgian streets, independent shops and excellent restaurants all within walking distance of your bed. Waterville and Sneem are quieter stops with genuine warmth and character.
We pre-book quality accommodation with breakfast included at every stop, selecting properties that understand what walkers need at the end of a long day: a hot shower, a good meal nearby, and somewhere comfortable to rest tired legs. Your luggage is transferred between accommodations each morning — you carry only a daypack with what you need for the walk.
Getting Here
Kerry Airport (KIR) is 20 minutes from Killarney by car. Cork Airport (ORK) is about 90 minutes away and generally has a wider choice of flights. Irish Rail runs direct trains from Dublin Heuston to Killarney in around 3.5 hours — a scenic journey in its own right. Bus Éireann operates express coaches from Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Killarney is an easy starting point: arrive, settle in, and start walking the next morning.
The Kerry Way is a circuit, finishing where you began. Many walkers add a rest day to explore Muckross House and the national park lakeside walks, or simply to enjoy Killarney or Kenmare at a gentler pace.
Travel Tips
lightbulb Pack proper waterproofs expand_more
Rain is part of the Kerry experience. A good waterproof jacket and over-trousers are essential — mountain sections above 400 m can be wet and exposed even in summer
backpack Book Skellig Michael early expand_more
Boat trips to Skellig Michael sell out months in advance, especially June–August. Book as soon as your dates are confirmed — cancellations due to weather are refunded
checkroom Carry cash for rural stops expand_more
Some smaller pubs, shops and cafés along the western stages don't accept card payments. Keep €30–50 in cash for the days between Cahersiveen and Sneem
Local Food & Drink
Taste the flavours of The Kerry Way
Kerry mountain lamb
Slow-reared on hillside pastures, with a distinctive flavour from the wild herbs and grasses — best enjoyed in Kenmare's restaurants
Fresh Atlantic seafood
Crab, lobster and fish landed daily at ports along the route — Cahersiveen and Waterville are standout spots
Kenmare dining scene
The best restaurant town on the route, with everything from fine dining to cosy pubs serving local produce
Local craft beverages
Tom Crean Brewery in Kenmare and Dingle Distillery nearby — sample the local flavours at the end of a walking day
What Our Walkers Say
Based on 6 verified reviews
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