The Beara Way walking trail is 196 km/122.5 miles long and is shared between counties Cork and Kerry on the most south-westerly tip of Ireland. The rugged Beara Peninsula is also part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The Beara Way walking trail takes you along small country roads, passing numerous monuments and sights of great archaeological interest, through small towns and villages and through some of the most scenic views that Ireland has to offer.
Prices / Dates
Price: €765 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€390
Solo Traveller Supplement: +€70
Tour Dates: 1st April to 15th October
Tour Grade: Easy to Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse or B&B
Included / Excluded
- 6 nights bed & breakfast
- All accommodation is pre-booked in approved and carefully selected family-run guesthouses with all rooms en-suite.
- Maps and all route notes
- GPX Tracks
- Details on restaurants and places of interest to visit along the way.
- Luggage transfers daily while you walk.
- All information on trains or buses needed to get to your first accommodation in Adrigole and back at the end from Kenmare.
- 24-7 Emergency Telephone support
- Packed Lunches
- Public transport to the beginning of the tour and back at the end
- Evening Meals
- Drinks and Snacks
- Personal Equipment
Arrive at Cork or Dublin Airport and take public transport to Glengariff. It may also be possible to arrive at Shannon or Kerry Airport, depending on your arrival time. Please check with Footfalls before you book your flights.
Overnight Glengariff
Complementary taxi transfer to Adrigole to begin your walking tour of the Beara Peninsula.
The trail today offers you sweeping views across Bantry Bay to Beara Island on one side and Hungry Hill and the Slieve Miskish Mountains on the other. You will be walking along a trail that flanks the southern slopes of Hungry Hill, the highest mountain on the peninsula. You will pass Park Lough and continue through Comnagapple Glen, ending your walk today in Castletownbere.
Distance: 21 km / 12.5 miles, Ascent: 750m / 2460ft, Approximate walking time: 6 / 7 hours
Overnight Castletownbere
Beara Island is a charming island that offers a haven of peace and tranquillity. Your walking trail today winds along old abandoned roads and grassy tracks, through a rocky wilderness to a picturesque lighthouse and a ruined signal tower. From here you will have magnificent panoramic views of Bantry Bay, Bear Haven Harbour and back over your previous days walk.
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles, Ascent: 420 m / 1260 ft, Approximate walking time: 3 / 4 hours
Overnight Castletownbere
The trail today takes you out of Castletownbere following quiet country roads and passing Derrenataggart Stone Circle, one of the finest megalithic monuments on the peninsula. A steady ascent takes you to a saddle between Knockoura and Miskish where you have the option to shorten your day down to 13 km/8 miles by crossing the centre of the Peninsula to Aughbrack and or continue on the trail through the charming village of Allihies and over the spine of the peninsula to Eyeries.
Option 1 - Distance: 27 km / 17 miles, Ascent: 807 m / 2421 ft, Approximate walking time: 8 / 9 hours
Option 2 - Distance: 13 km / 8 miles, Ascent: 350 m / 1050 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 5 hours
Overnight Eyeries
After leaving Eyeries, the trail takes you down to Eyeries Point to follow a beautiful coastal path by Coulagh Bay to reach Ballycrovane Harbour. Here is the site of a magnificent 4.7 m/14 ft prehistoric standing stone which still has an inscription in ancient Ogham writing.
From here the walking trail turns inland to pass a charming lake called Lough Fadda (Long Lake) and continues on to follow a small ridge that offers a panoramic view of the Kenmare River. The trail takes you through the quaint village of Ardgroom, continuing parallel to the Ring of Beara road to cross the border in County Kerry and the village of Lauragh.
Distance: 27.2 km / 17 miles, Ascent: 950 m / 2850 ft, Approximate walking time: 8 / 9 hours
Overnight Lauragh
You have the option to be transported part of the way today and get dropped off at Drombohilly Lower, which shortens your hike to 19 km/11.8 miles. The trail takes you out of Lauragh on a small country road to ascent steadily, passing Knockatee and Drombohilly Mountains and the picturesque and lonesome Gowlaun Lough.
Skirting around the base of Knockagarrane Mountain, you will join a small track and country road that leads you to your final ascent onto the saddle of Derrysallagh. From here you start your descent into the charming and colourful town of Kenmare. You will stay overnight in Kenmare.
(You have the option to extend your walking tour by another day and walk the old Kenmare Road into the town of Killarney, through part of the Killarney’s National Park and visit Muckross House and Gardens).
Option 1 -Distance: 25 km / 15.5 miles, Ascent: 987 m / 2961 ft, Approximate walking time: 7 / 8 hours
Option 2 - Distance: 19 km / 11.8 miles, Ascent: 987 m / 2961 ft, Approximate walking time: 5 / 6 hours
Overnight Kenmare
After a hearty Irish breakfast, you will depart for home.
