Booking a holiday home at Killarney’s Holiday Village gives you a great base for exploring the Kerry Way. Some 200km long, the Kerry Way is one of Ireland’s most extensive signposted walking trails, and has become something of a Kerry Camino for those who enjoy long-distance hiking. It starts and ends in Killarney, bringing you right around the Iveragh Peninsula and some of the most breathtaking scenery you are ever likely to experience.
The Route
Distance: 230km
Time Involved: 8 days minimum
Ascent: 4,000m
The route of the Kerry Way heads anti-clockwise, hugging the lower slopes of the McGillycuddy Reeks and bringing you close to the shore of the Upper Lake, one of the famous Lakes of Killarney. You will traverse every kind of terrain, from civilised tarmac roads to the wilder paths of the mountainous landscape. Intended to shadow the Ring of Kerry, the signposted trail makes use of national park tracks and abandoned coach roads and mass paths.
It can be divided into nine sections:
- Killarney to the Black Valley
- The Black Valley to the Bridia Valley & The Bridia Valley to Glencar
- Glencar to Glenbeigh
- Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen
- Cahersiveen to Waterville
- Waterville to Caherdaniel
- Caherdaniel to Sneem
- Sneem to Kenmare
- Kenmare to Killarney
The Landscape
The Kerry Way stands out not only for the scale of the challenge involved but for the variety and beauty of the landscapes it incorporates. Expect everything from forests and open moorland to stunning coastal vistas. The trail can be walked over nine days, following the itinerary outlined above, but if you want to make it less of a challenge and experience it more fully, you could choose to tackle sections of it from your Killarney’s Holiday Village base or take some rest days in between the stages.
The Advice
Taking on the challenge of the full Kerry Way is no mean feat, and anyone considering it should ensure they are physically fit and experienced at endurance walking. Investigate the route thoroughly, and ensure you have all the correct equipment and maps.
What’s your favourite part of the Kerry Way?
We’d love to hear from you!
