Beara Way – 8 Days – Self-Guided Walking Tour

Beara Way Self-Guided Walking Tour 8 Days

The Beara Way self-guided walking trail is 196 km/122.5 miles that are shared between counties Cork and Kerry on the most south-westerly tip of Ireland. The Beara Peninsula is 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 and through many small towns and villages and through some of the most scenic views that Ireland has to offer.

Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the climate is pleasant throughout the year supporting a unique combination of highly colourful flora and fauna. As part of your 8-day walking holiday, you will also visit the enchanted Beara Island.

Prices / Dates

Price:  €789 per person sharing

Single Supplement: +€395

Solo Traveller Supplement: +€75

Tour Dates: 1st April to 15th  October

Tour Grade: Moderate

Accommodation: Guesthouse or B&B

Included / Excluded

Day 1 - Travel to the village of Glengariff

Arrive at Cork or Dublin Airport and take public transport to Glengariff. It may be also possible to arrive in Shannon or Kerry Airport but this will depend on your time of arrival. Please check with Footfalls before you book your flights. We will supply you with all the onward travel details that you need to get to your first accommodation.

Overnight Glengariff

Day 2 - Glengariff to Adrigole

Your first day of walking on the Beara Way will take you through Glengariff Nature Reserve, which covers 300 ha. of old oak woodland. The walking trail leads you up to the Caha Mountain range, where you will have some fantastic views of the mountains and sea. Your day finishes in the scattered farming village of Adrigole, situated on the scenic shores of Bantry Bay. Complimentary taxi transfer back to Glengariff. You will stay overnight in Glengariff. 

Distance: 18.35 Km / 11.2 miles, Ascent: 780 m / 2340 ft, Approximate walking time: 5 / 6 hours.

 

Day 3 - Adrigole to Castletownbere

Complimentary taxi transfer to Adrigole to begin your walk.

Today’s walking trail 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 (685 m) on the peninsula, past Park Lough, through Comnagapple Glen and into the lively town of Castletownbere, where you will stay overnight.

Distance: 21 km / 12.5 miles, Ascent: 944 m / 2832 ft, Approximate walking time: 6 / 7 hours 

Overnight Castletownbere 

Day 4 - Beara Island (Ferry to and from the island)

Beara Island is a charming island that offers a haven of peace and tranquillity. Today you will follow a walking trail that winds along old abandoned roads and grassy tracks, through the rugged 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. You will again stay overnight in Castletownbere.

Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles, Ascent: 420 m / 1260 ft, Approximate walking time: 3 / 4 hours 

Overnight Castletownbere

Day 5 - Castletownbere to the village of Eyeries

The trail today takes you out of Castletownbere following quiet country roads. You will pass 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 or continue on the trail through the charming village of Allihies and over the spine of the peninsula to Eyeries. You will stay overnight in 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

Day 6 - Eyeries to Lauragh

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 trail turns inland to pass a charming lake called Lough Fadda (Long Lake) and continues on to follow a small ridge that offers a new panorama of the Kenmare River. The trail takes you through the quaint village of Ardgroom, walking parallel to the Ring of Beara road to cross the border in County Kerry and the village of Lauragh, where you will stay overnight. 

Distance: 27.2 km / 17 miles, Ascent: 950 m / 2850 ft, Approximate walking time: 8 / 9 hours 

Overnight Lauragh

Day 7 - Lauragh to Kenmare

You have the option to get transported part of the way today to Drombohilly Lower, which shortens your walk 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 will start your descent into the charming and colourful town of Kenmare, where you will stay overnight.

(You could 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 

Day 8 - Depart

After a hearty Irish breakfast, you will depart for home.

A few words from our customers...

I just returned from an 8-day self guided tour of the Beara Way. I brought a group of 15 to visit this incredibly beautiful part of Ireland. Christopher and Teresa were wonderful in making our B&B accommodations, arranging for our luggage transfer from town to town, and providing excellent maps and walking directions. They also recommended good restaurants and made reservations for our nightly dinners. They take good care of their clients, and I recommend Footfalls for walking trips to Ireland.
Ron
USA
An incredible 8 day walking tour of a most beautiful area of Ireland! The Beara Peninsula, Dorsey Island and the Beara Way. An experience of a lifetime! You don't want to miss this!
Tobias
Germany