Itinerary: Your adventure starts: 09:30am Pick up the city center Dublin
– Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk St.
Day 1:Drive from Dublin to Kerry, South Pole Inn Pub, Cliff Walk, Dingle.
Dingle Coastal Walk – Linear – 8Km – Approx 2 hrs – ascent 120m
Morning/Afternoon: Today after breakfast we will be traveling south to Dingle in County Kerry. On the way we will be take a stop to visit the picturesque town of Adare in Limerick. This town has to be seen to be believed with its small thatched cottages and brightly coloured buildings. It is home to Adare manor which was once home to Earl of Dunraven. We will be staying in the small fishing town of Dingle. We will stop here to explore this town and stretch the legs.
Continuing on our way to Dingle we will stop again to visit the town of Annascaul which is famed for being the home town of Tom Crean. The great Irish explorer who shared voyages with Scott and Shackleton to the great Antarctic. On his retirement from the navy he returned home and founded a Pub called “The South Pole Inn”. We will visit the pub for a drink or a coffee. When we are close to Dingle the guide will drop you all of at Beenbane beach. From here you can enjoy a short cliff walk in towards the village of Dingle – a fantastic way to arrive !
Evening: Dingle or “An Daingean” which is its Gaelic and original name is a fantastic small village known for its small quaint pubs, live Irish music and relaxed atmosphere. There is plenty to see and do in his small town with great restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, craft stores etc.
What it is really well know for though is its friendly dolphin called “Fungie”. This Dolphin has been in Dingle harbour for years and visited by thousands of curious guests. You may also be surprised when you enter some pubs in Dingle that you can also buy a pair of shoes or get yourself a new measuring tape.
Day 2: Walk the sacred Mount Brandon , Stay Dingle
Mt Brandon – Linear Return – 8Km – Approx 5hrs – ascent 750m
Morning / Afternoon: After a hearty breakfast we will get ourselves ready for one of my favorite walks in this area, Mt Brandon. Which is named after Saint Brendan the voyager; some think he even got as far as North America. .
“Is it right or left for Gibraltar”
“What track do I take for Mizen Head?”
“I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour”,
St. Brendan to his albatross he said. (St Brendan’s Voyage)
Mount Brandon is a blessed mountain and there is a pilgrim trail to its summit and is one if Ireland’s holiest. It is less than 1000m but even though it is a pilgrim walk it is quite a challenge. The walk will take about 4hrs and the views from its summit are breathtaking. From it you can see the Atlantic all around you on the Dingle Peninsula, the Blasket Islands and Ireland’s highest Mountain range on the Iveragh Peninsula.
Evening: After our walk on Mt Brandon we will make our back to Dingle where you can see Fungie for yourself, meet some locals, visit some of the craft shops, enjoy some of the local seafood or just relax.
Day 3: Killarney – Gap of Dunloe Walk – Boat across lakes of Killarney.
Gap of Dunloe Walk – Linear – 13Km – Approx 3hrs – ascent 250m
Morning / Afternoon: This morning we leave Dingle early and make our way to Killarney and its beautiful lakes at the National Park. We will take a boat from the 15th century Ross Castle across the lakes to Lord Brandon’s Cottage.
From here we start our walk through the Gap of Dunloe. This is a wonderful walk and one of the finest in Kerry with Purple mountain above us to the left as we make our way through this wonderful valley. Finally at the top of the valley and completion of our walk, there is Kate Kearney’s cottage where you can enjoy a well earned drink before we make our back by bus to Killarney.
Evening: We will make our back to our accommodation for an early night to recharge the batteries for tomorrow’s big adventure.
Day 4: Ireland’s Highest Point, Killarney National Park, Stay Killarney
Carrauntoohil – Linear Return – 12Km – Approx 6hrs – ascent 850m
Morning/Afternoon: Today is the big walk of the tour so it’s an early start to get over to Killarney. The walk on Carrauntoohil is weather permitting as your safety is paramount to the guide and us. An alternative suitable walk will be chosen by your guide in the Killarney National Park depending on the weather and the groups abilities.
Now, all going well and the weather is good then we will do the walk as planned. Carrauntoohil is 1039m tall, which is small if you live in the Alps but huge if you live in Holland so all due care must be taken. Thousands of locals and visitors climb this every year and you feel a great sense of achievement on getting to the top.
Evening: After we get back down and catch our breath we will make our back towards Killarney. The town of Killarney is the most visited town in Ireland. There are many places to visit here such as Muckross House, the lakes of Killarney, Ross castle Torc Waterfall and more. As well as all it’s scenic beauty there are numerous restaurants, cafes, shops and pubs with live Irish music.
Day 5: Lahinch, Cliffs Of Moher Walk, Stay Doolin
Cliffs of Moher Walk – Linear – 8Km – Approx 2.5hrs – 100m
Morning: This morning we travel up along the west coast of Ireland known as the “Wild Atlantic Way”, crossing the River Shannon at Terbert. The river Shannon is named after an ancient Celtic Goddess and is Ireland’s longest and most impressive river. As we cross the mouth of the Shannon on the ferry keep an eye out for the schools of Dolphins to be seen everywhere. When you dock on the far side you will be in County Clare.
Afternoon: Once we are in County Clare we will follow the coast road up towards the town Lahinch. This coastal town is a surfer’s paradise and has become more popular due to the great waves here. It’s also a great holiday destination for Irish families with many other activities on offer as well. Making our way northwards we will visit Brigid’s well before we start our cliff walk towards the Cliffs of Moher. The walk is fantastic and the cliffs themselves are a true treat for all the senses.
Evening: We will be staying in Doolin tonight, the capital of Irish traditional music in the west. This is a tiny little fishing port made popular due to its importance in Irish music and dance. Doolin is also in another Gaeltacht area so you can try your new learnt language skills on the locals, I’m sure they’ll be impressed.
Here we can relax and enjoy a few well deserved drinks while listening to some of the best Irish musicians in the world.
Day 6: Doolin and visit the Aran Islands,
Morning / Afternoon: Today we will take a break from walking and visit one of the most spectacular places in all of Ireland the Aran Islands. We will take a Ferry from Doolin to Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. This is a Gaeltacht area where Irish is still the main language.
The Island is full of wonder and absolutely beautiful, I’m sure you will not want to leave. We can hire some bicycles at the port as this is the best way to explore the island. We can visit the world heritage site of Dun Aonghasa Fort which stands over a dramatic 300 foot cliff. There are also some wonderful beaches on the Island if you fancy a dip in the Atlantic.
Evening: After you visit to the Aran Islands we will make our back to our accommodation and get freshened and enjoy a meal in one of the fine pubs or restaurants close by.
Day 7: Walk in the Burren and return to Dublin.
Burren Walk – Loop – 7.5Km – Approx 3hrs – 140m
Morning / Afternoon: This morning we will make our way to one of the strangest landscapes in Ireland, The Burren. This is a limestone karst and was sitting at the bottom of the sea many years ago, but you can still see that clearly today. The term “Burren” is derived from the Gaelic for “stony place”. The Burren is also famous for its many different and varied types of flora which are unique to this area. We will take a walk here in this unique landscape with its stone walls and stone floors.
If we have some time in the afternoon We could visit Galway city “city of the tribes”. This is a great little city know for its relaxed and bohemian feel. You can spend hours just walking about the small streets while listening and watching street performers of all types.
Today unfortunately we will be saying goodbye to the west of Ireland for a while as we make our way back to Dublin…
Slan agus beannacht (Goodbye and blessings) You will be dropped back to Dublin.
Dates: 2021 – Aug 19th.
