Moderate 5 Days / 3 Nights Walking

The 5 Day Kerry Way Hiking Tour

Killarney, the Black Valley, and the mountain heart of Kerry

Starting From €615 per person

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5 Days on the Kerry Way — Killarney to the Atlantic

This is the Kerry Way at its quietest — three full walking days that take you from the lakes of Killarney National Park into the wild interior of the Iveragh Peninsula, then out to the Atlantic at Glenbeigh. Mountain passes, dark lakes, and remote glens where the only sounds are sheep and skylarks.

You start with the most famous opening day of the Kerry Way: Killarney to Black Valley — Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall, the wooded shores of the Upper Lake, Lord Brandon's Cottage, and finally the long climb over the Old Kenmare Road into the magnificent Black Valley. From there you cross beneath Carrauntoohil (Ireland's highest mountain) through the dramatic Bridia Valley to Glencar. The final day climbs over Windy Gap with high views of Dingle Bay before descending to the seaside village of Glenbeigh on Rossbeigh Strand.

Three walking days. Four nights. Handpicked B&Bs in some of the most beautiful — and most remote — places on the trail. Daily luggage transfers, detailed walking notes, GPS route files, and 24/7 phone support throughout your trip. The best balance of challenge and enjoyment of any short Irish walking holiday.

Highlights

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The Black Valley

Day 2 ends in the magnificent Black Valley — one of Ireland's wildest, most remote glens. Dark-sky country, no street lights, and Hillcrest Farmhouse waiting at the end of the day.

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Torc Waterfall & Muckross Abbey on Day 2

The opening walk passes the 18-metre Torc Waterfall, Muckross Abbey (15th-century Franciscan friary), and the shore of the Upper Lake — the showpiece corners of Killarney National Park, all in your first day.

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Full Mountain Stages, No Shortcuts

Three full Kerry Way mountain stages walked end-to-end — 22 km, 23 km and 18 km. No transfers across the trail, no skipped kilometres. Every metre of waymarked path under your boots.

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Killarney Start, Atlantic Finish

Start in the busiest walking town in Ireland with Killarney National Park on your doorstep, and finish at the Atlantic on Rossbeigh Strand. A real cross-peninsula walk from inland lakes to open sea.

Who Is This For?

Regular walkers

This tour is for regular walkers who can manage 18–23 km on mountain terrain over three consecutive days. You should be comfortable on uneven ground, in open country without waymarked pavement, and on long climbs and descents.

Walkers who want balance

Long enough to feel rewarded at the end of each day, short enough to enjoy the evening in the B&B.

Couples and friends

A short, focused taste of the Kerry Way's inland mountain heart rather than the full 8-day trail.

First-time Ireland walkers

The most-photographed corner of the country: Killarney National Park, the Reeks, the Black Valley, and Atlantic views from the final day.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Killarney

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Arrive into Killarney, the busiest walking town in Ireland and the natural base for the Kerry Way. Settle into your central town B&B within walking distance of restaurants and pubs.

Time permitting, walk the short route through Killarney National Park to Ross Castle (15th-century O'Donoghue tower house on the shore of Lough Leane) or visit Muckross House. Dinner and traditional music in the lively town centre — plenty of pubs with live trad music every night.

Day 2

From Muckross House, Killarney to the Blackvalley

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pin_drop Muckross House → Black Valleyhiking 18.8 kmlandscape ↑537mlandscape ↓477mschedule 4h 35m

Your opening walk is one of the finest first-day stages on any Irish trail. The route starts at Muckross House just south of Killarney and past the 18-metre cascade of Torc Waterfall. The path climbs the Old Kenmare Road with views back over the lakes, traces the shore of the Upper Lake, passes Lord Brandon's Cottage, and crosses the long ridge into the magnificent Black Valley — one of Ireland's wildest, most remote glens.

Day 3

From the Black Valley to Glencar

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pin_drop Blackvalley → Glencarhiking 18.8 kmlandscape ↑674mlandscape ↓681mschedule 4h 54m

Up over the Lack Road pass beneath Carrauntoohil (Ireland's highest mountain, 1,038 m) and into the dramatic Bridia Valley — exposed moorland with panoramic views back to the Reeks. A long descent into the Glencar Valley, classic Kerry walkers' country.

Day 4

From Glencar To Glenbeigh

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pin_drop Glencar → Glenbeighhiking 18.0 kmlandscape ↑368mlandscape ↓427mschedule 4h 12m

The mountain-to-coast day. Up onto the Windy Gap above Caragh Lake with high views of Dingle Bay and the Atlantic, then a gentle descent to the seaside village of Glenbeigh on Rossbeigh Strand — 5 km of sand backed by the Slieve Mish Mountains. The Atlantic is finally revealed.

Day 5

Departure from Glenbeigh

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After breakfast, train connections from Killarney run through to Dublin and to Cork. Cork Airport return transfers are available as an add-on if you'd prefer the door-to-door option.

Accommodation

B&B / GuesthouseHotel

Four nights in handpicked B&Bs and guesthouses along the inland Kerry Way: Killarney, Black Valley, Glencar, and Glenbeigh. These are not chain hotels — they are family-run properties where the owners know the trail and understand walkers' needs (early breakfasts, drying rooms, packed lunches on request).

Killarney — central town B&B within walking distance of restaurants, pubs and the Killarney National Park gates
Black Valley — Hillcrest Farmhouse, the only B&B in the valley itself, in deep dark-sky country
Glencar — Climbers' Inn or Mountain Stage B&B, classic Kerry walkers' country
Glenbeigh — Towers Hotel or similar, on the Atlantic coast above Rossbeigh Strand, with the Red Fox Inn across the road for an Irish coffee

What's Included

check_circle What's Included

doneAccommodation: 4 nights in handpicked, quality B&Bs and guesthouses (not the cheapest available)
doneBreakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
doneEnd-of-tour transfer: Glenbeigh → Killarney on Day 5
doneLuggage transfer to each night's accommodation on walking days
doneNavigation: Digital route guide, GPS files, and offline maps
doneWelcome pack: Kerry information, restaurant guide, and local tips
donePhone support: 24/7 local Irish support line — direct to Cliff
doneNo booking fees, no hidden extras

block Not Included

closeInternational flights
closeLunches and evening meals
closeCork or Kerry Airport transfers (available as a paid add-on)
closePersonal travel insurance
closeAnything of a personal nature

Best Time to Visit

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

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.

From

€615 per person

Based on 2 sharing

Preferred Start Date

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Book at least 20 days in advance

Number of Walkers

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