“Experience the Untouched Charm of the Beara Peninsula on the Spectacular Wild Atlantic Way“
Embark on an unforgettable journey along the stunning Beara Peninsula, one of Ireland’s most captivating walking trails.
The Beara Way offers adventurers and nature lovers a chance to explore breathtaking coastlines, rugged mountains, lush forests, and charming villages. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a casual explorer, this magnificent trail provides a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich history, and warm local hospitality.
Your journey can be comfortably based in the vibrant towns of Castletownbere, the picturesque Allihies, and the colourful village of Eyeries. From these strategic locations, you can enjoy the convenience of exploring the trail at your own pace, savour local cuisine, and experience authentic Irish culture. Highlights include spectacular ocean views, ancient stone circles, and the vibrant communities along the coast. With well-marked routes, cosy pubs, and welcoming hosts, the Beara Way promises a rewarding and memorable adventure.
Prepare your walking shoes, embrace the wild beauty, and let the Beara Way inspire your next Irish escape!
Prices / Dates
Price: €849 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€450
Solo Traveller Supplement: +€95
Tour Dates: 1st April to 30th September
Tour Grade: Easier
Accommodation: Guesthouse or B&B
Included / Excluded
- 7 nights bed & breakfast
- All accommodation is pre-booked in approved family-run guesthouses or, B&Bs, with all rooms en-suite.
- Digital Route Notes and Maps.
- GPX Tracks.
- Complementary Taxi Transfers where required within the tour.
- Details on restaurants and places of interest to visit along the way.
- Luggage transfers.
- All information on trains or buses needed to get to your first accommodation in Castletownbere and back at the end of the tour from Eyeries.
- Full back up service, should you require it, while on our tour.
- Packed Lunches
- Evening Meals
- Ferry to & From Beara Island + €10
- Cable Car to & From Dursey Island + €10
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. We will supply you with all the onward travel details needed to get to your first accommodation.
Overnight Castletownbere.
From Castletownbere, you will take a 15-minute ferry ride to Beara Island.
Beara Island is a charming destination offering a peaceful and tranquil retreat. Today, you will follow a walking trail that winds along abandoned old roads and grassy tracks through rugged wilderness to reach a picturesque lighthouse and a ruined signal tower. From there, enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Bantry Bay, Bear Haven Harbour, and the surrounding countryside.
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles | Ascent: 420 m / 1,260 ft | Approximate walking time: 4 to 5 hours
Overnight in Castletownbere.
Today, you will walk from Castletownbere to Allihies through the scenic Slieve Miskish Mountains. Just outside Castletownbere, you have the opportunity to visit the Derreenataggart Stone Circle, an ancient prehistoric monument with well-preserved standing stones that offer a captivating insight into Ireland’s ancient past. Further along, you can take a short detour to explore Teernahillane Ring Fort, an old farm enclosure that once sheltered families and livestock.
Allihies is a lively coastal village famed for its brightly colored houses and rich mining heritage. Surrounded by the remnants of historic copper mines, the beach, formed from crushed mine stones, contributes to the region’s distinctive and dramatic landscape.
Distance: 15.7 km / 10 miles | Ascent: 647 m / 1,942 ft | Approximate walking time: 4 to 5 hours
Overnight in Allihies.
Today, we will organise A complimentary taxi transfer from Allihies to Dursey Sound. Here you will take a cable car across to Dursey Island—the only cable car in Ireland that crosses seawater. The journey is just 200 meters, and the island itself is only 6.5 km (4.6 miles) long and 1.5 km (1 mile) wide, with a permanent population of just six residents. Dursey Island has no shops, pubs, or restaurants, but it is renowned for its rich variety of bird species, making it a haven for birdwatchers.
The island offers a stark yet charming beauty, featuring a rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, and a patchwork of fields divided by dry stone walls and ditches. Dursey was named one of Ireland’s top 10 walks in 2010.
In the afternoon, we will organise a complimentary taxi transfer back to Allihies.
Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles | Ascent: 240 m / 720 ft | Approximate walking time: 4 to 5 hours
Overnight in Allihies.
A complimentary taxi transfer will take you back to Dursey Sound to start your walk to Allihies.
From Dursey Sound, the trail follows the coastline to the small fishing port of Garnish Point. From there, it continues along a country road that traverses the slopes of Canalmore and Follshauncrone Mountain.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views across Garnish and Ballydonegan Bay, with the Atlantic Ocean and Cod’s Head visible in the distance. This area is ideal for birdwatching and photography. The final section of the trail takes you along Ballydonegan Strand and back into the village of Allihies.
Distance: 17 km / 10.6 miles | Ascent: 270 m / 810 ft | Approximate walking time: 5 to 6 hours
Overnight in Allihies.
This may be a shorter walking day, but the views along the way are truly spectacular. You will leave the village and pass through what remains of an old copper mine, once the largest copper producer in Europe. The trail follows an old disused road that provides stunning vistas of Clough Bay, the Kenmare River, and the Kerry Coastline beyond.
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles | Ascent: 490 m / 1,500 ft | Approximate walking time: 3 to 4 hours
Overnight in Eyeries.
After leaving Eyeries, the trail leads you down to Eyeries Point, where you’ll follow a stunning coastal path along Coulagh Bay to reach Ballycrovane Harbour. This site is home to a remarkable 4.7-meter (14-foot) prehistoric standing stone, which still bears inscriptions in ancient Ogham writing.
From here, the trail turns inland to pass a charming lake called Lough Fadda (Long Lake). Continuing onward, you’ll follow a small ridge offering new panoramic views of the Kenmare River. The route then takes you through the quaint village of Ardgroom, where we will organise a complimentary transfer back to Eyeries.
Distance: 14. km / 8.75 miles, Ascent: 200 m / 600 ft, Approximate walking time: 4 / 6 hours
Overnight Eyeries
After a hearty breakfast, you will depart for home. We will supply you with all the travel details for your onward journey.
