IRELAND

_________________________                 The Beara-way

Tips:

Low cost airlines bring you to Dublin or Cork. From Dublin is quite a time in the bus to - our destination for example - Kenmare ( 5 hours). From Cork to Kenmare is 2 1/2 hours by bus.

The Beara-way is a way-marked route, 197 kilometers, around the peninsula, at the west coast of Ireland. There is no official starting point or end : begin where you want to begin. The trail goes through old roads and footpaths, such as the - on the peninsula -  famous O’Sullivan Bere march from 1602. Highest point of the trail: 340 m.

Maps: the Ordnance Survey of Ireland 84 en 85; you can buy the maps on route.

Sleeping and eating: a lot of B&B’s . Or the youth hostel. Or a holiday home!

March 2005: 6 stages of the Beara-way. You can complete the route in 8 days , including a more or less round-walk at Bear Island.

 

Day 1: Kenmare - Lough Inchiquin ( holiday home 2 1/2
           kilometers off route)

Day 2: Lough Inchiquin - Ardgroom

Day 3: Ardgroom - Castletown Bearhaven (variante)

Day 4: round walk at Bear-Island ( ferry from

           Castletown Bearhaven)

Day 5: Casteltown Bearhaven - Adrigole

Day 6: Adrigole - Glengariff

           and by direct bus (18.00 hours in 2005) to Cork

On the route: the never ending colors of the Irish west coast , the Caha and the Slieve Miskish mountains. You can admire as well the views at Bantry-bay, Kenmare-river, as the Atlantic Ocean.” The views can be breath-taking.” A lot of  remains from the former residents: the stone-circles, standing stones and the megalithic tombs. The loughs in the mountains, the colors of some villages (Eyeries), sheep, the gasp, the rough coast in the far west……...and all that in a week walking!

walking hiking ireland beara way

Lough Fada

Kenmare river

Map