Moderate 6 Days / 4 Nights Walking

The Kerry Way Hiking Tour, 6 Days

From Killarney into the Gap of Dunloe, out to the Atlantic at Cahersiveen

Starting From €745 per person

Six days on the Kerry Way, from the mountain heart of Kerry to the Atlantic coast. You start in Killarney, climb through the Gap of Dunloe, cross the remote Black Valley, and walk down the inland spine of the Iveragh Peninsula through Glencar to Glenbeigh — then west along the old stagecoach road to Cahersiveen on Dingle Bay.

This is nearly the same as the first four days of our 5-day tour, with one extra walking day added: the coastal section from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen, which takes you from the inland mountains out to the full-width Atlantic views. You finish in Cahersiveen — Daniel O'Connell's birthplace, a lively market town with proper pubs — and a transfer returns you to Killarney on the last day.

Daily distances range from 18km to 20km. The itinerary includes one longer day at the end, from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen, which serves as a natural progression of fitness from the first half of the week.

Luggage is transferred daily, and you will receive full digital route notes, a personalised app, and access to a 24/7 support line.

You walk and enjoy your adventure; we handle everything else.

Highlights

The Gap of Dunloe

Day 2 climbs from Killarney through the Gap of Dunloe — five glacial lakes stepping down a narrow valley, with the McGillycuddy's Reeks on one side and the Purple Mountains on the other. Walking it, rather than riding through in a pony and trap, is an entirely different experience.

The Black Valley

Ireland's most remote inhabited glen — no mobile signal, one road in, one road out. Spending a night here is the closest you can get to the Kerry of a century ago. Your B&B host has probably walked every inch of tomorrow's stage, twice.

Rossbeigh Strand at Glenbeigh

After the descent from the mountains, the trail passes Rossbeigh Strand — a three-kilometre sweep of pale sand that curls out into Dingle Bay with the Dingle Peninsula mountains rising across the water. A legitimate excuse to take your boots off for ten minutes.

The old stagecoach road to Cahersiveen

Day 5's walk from Glenbeigh climbs onto open bogland on the old Glenbeigh–Cahersiveen stagecoach road, built before the coast road existed. Dingle Bay opens to the north, the full width of it, the Dingle Peninsula's mountains across the water. Cahersiveen — Daniel O'Connell's birthplace — is a long descent and a well-earned arrival.

Who Is This For?

Your fitness level
This tour suits regular walkers who are comfortable with sustained daily distances on mountain terrain. Most days are 14–20km; Day 5 (Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen) is the longest at around 28km when you include the short transfer at the end. If you have completed a multi-day Moderate walking tour before, this is a natural next step.

The right kind of traveller
You want both sides of Kerry — the inland mountains and the Atlantic coast. You like small villages, home cooking, and the kind of quiet you only get a long way from a motorway.

Solo walkers, couples and small groups
The fully supported self-guided format works for all three. Maximum eight walkers per group.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Killarney

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The Kerry Way begins tomorrow.

Arrive in Killarney, Kerry's walking capital. Collect your route notes, waterproof maps and pre-departure pack from your B&B host. Spend the evening getting your bearings: dinner in town, an early night, and a quiet moment or two with a map.

Day 2

Killarney to Black Valley

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pin_drop Killarney → Blackvalleyhiking 19.6 kmlandscape ↑373mlandscape ↓312mschedule 4h 30m

A morning through Killarney National Park, then up through the Gap of Dunloe: five glacial lakes stepping down a narrow valley, sheer mountain walls on either side. The climb is steady; the descent into the Black Valley is one of those moments where Ireland feels unexpectedly vast.

The Black Valley is quiet in a way most of Europe isn't any more. Your B&B host will have stew and fresh bread waiting.

Day 3

Black Valley to Glencar

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

The trail leaves the Black Valley over the Broaghnabinnia pass — the highest point on the Kerry Way. Open bog, sheep country, and views that go on for miles. The long descent into Glencar passes through old farmland; the Climbers Inn, your overnight, has been feeding walkers since before either of us was born.

Day 4

Glencar to Glenbeigh

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

You climb out of Glencar onto open mountainside with the full Dingle Peninsula across the water. The trail runs down the spine of the Iveragh Peninsula: hills on one side, Dingle Bay emerging on the other. The descent to Glenbeigh passes Rossbeigh Strand. Take your boots off — you've earned it.

Day 5

Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen

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pin_drop Glenbeigh → Foilduff Community Centrehiking 19.6 kmlandscape ↑458mlandscape ↓455mschedule 4h 42m

The old Glenbeigh–Cahersiveen stagecoach road climbs out of Glenbeigh onto high bogland, with the whole width of Dingle Bay opening to the north. A steady rhythm: open country, the occasional startled grouse, the scent of wild heather.

The Kerry Way route ends at Foilduff, where a short transfer brings you into Cahersiveen — a characterful market town, birthplace of Daniel O'Connell, with good restaurants and a lively pub scene. After 18.7km of walking plus the transfer in, you've earned the music session.

Day 6

Transfer to Killarney & departure

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Public transport from Cahersiveen to Killarney after breakfast.

Travel from Killarney is easy: trains to Dublin, buses to Cork and Shannon, and Kerry Airport is twenty minutes away. Most walkers finish with one of two thoughts: either I should have done the 7-day or I'll do the 7-day next time. Either is fine.

Accommodation

B&B / Guesthouse

Five nights in handpicked B&Bs and guesthouses: Killarney, Black Valley, Glencar, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen. Family-run properties along the trail, chosen because the owners know the Kerry Way and understand what walkers want after a long day — a hot shower, a warm welcome, and a decent dinner recommendation.

All rooms are en-suite. In the Black Valley your accommodation is especially memorable — a farmhouse B&B in the middle of a valley with no mobile signal and a lot of stars. Cahersiveen's B&Bs are in the town, a minute's walk from the main street's pubs and restaurants.

Your luggage is transferred daily: your main bag travels by van, you walk with a daypack.

What's Included

check_circle What's Included

doneAccommodation: 5 nights in 3-star or better en-suite B&B
doneBreakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
doneLogistics: Luggage transfers to each night's accommodation
doneTransfers: Short transfer from Foilduff to Cahersiveen (Day 5), end-of-tour transfer from Cahersiveen back to Killarney
doneNavigation: Personalised digital itinerary and route app for your smartphone that keeps you on the trail at all times
doneSupport: 24/7 emergency contact line
donePreparation: Pre-departure information pack with route details and packing suggestions

block Not Included

closeFlights to/from Ireland
closeTravel and hiking insurance
closeLunches and dinners (though we'll suggest brilliant local spots)
closeAnything not explicitly listed above

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

€745 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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