Guided Walks includng Hungry Hill and Gougane Barra
Visit to Garnish Island
Transport is also provided.
Walking and Hiking in West Cork
Tour Description
Walking Weekend in West Cork
A walking weekend in west Cork would not be complete without visiting Gougane Barra and the Beara Peninsula.
Walking in West Cork
Highlights:
Glengarriff, Gougane Barra, Beara Peninsula, Hungry Hill, Healy’s Pass, Bonane Heritage Park, Garnish Island, Glengarriff Nature Reserve.
The Beara Peninsula sits in the very south west of Ireland and has some of the countries most untouched and isolated places for great walks. The Peninsula Reaches out into the Atlantic sea offering panoramic views along its great shorelines and mountain tops.
Along with way, we will stop off in Gougane Barra National Park to hike the Sli na Sleibhe (The Mountain Way). We will be staying in the picturesque village of Glengarriff. The Beara Peninsula straddles between Cork and Kerry and is as rich in it’s history and archaeology as it is in its natural scenic beauty. The Caha and Sliabh Miskish Mountains, with their stunning views and rocky landscapes, makes for wonderful walking country.
Available from the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street (Dublin) at 09:00am.
Or Balally Luas Stop at 09:30am
If you are making your own way, we will meet you in the Glengarriff Park Hotel at 14h00.
If the tour is cancelled or you can’t do the tour due to the any COVID19 travel restrictions. You will get a full refund or we can postpone to another more suitable date, otherwise policy is as below.
A cancellation fee of 100% applies for cancellations made less than 7 Days in advance, or in case of no-show.
A cancellation fee of 50% applies for cancellations made less than 14 Days in advance.
No cancellation fee applies for cancellations made 2 weeks or more in advance.
Itinerary
Itinerary: Walking Weekend in West Cork.
Day 1) Transfer from Dublin to Glengarriff via Gougane Barra followed by a hike around the Lake.
Gougane Barra
In the morning, we will leave Dublin and make our way towards Glengarriff. This is a small, colourful coastal town, considered a springboard to The Beara Peninsula. Our hotel is in the heart of this town, and you have a great range of shops, restaurants and pubs within a short walk.
We will have a stop along the way in Gougane Barra.
Gougane Barra and walk on Sli na Sleibhe (The Mountain Way)
Gougane Barra is the home of St Finbarr, the founder of Cork City and the source of the River Lee. Lough Gougane Barra, situated under the sheer heights of the Sheehy Mountains, is a magnificent corrie lake. It was here that St Finbarr founded an oratory in the 6th Century and is said to have drowned a monster that St Patrick, in his banishing of the snakes, overlooked!
During the times of the Penal Laws, Gougane Barra’s remoteness meant that it became a popular place for the celebration of the Roman Catholic Mass and a place of sanctuary. Nowadays it is a Coillte National Forest Park with beautiful walks and fine views over Kerry and the Western sea from the Mountain tops.
Grade: Easy. Length 3 km, Duration: 1.5hrs, Ascent: 400m, Terrain: Gravel tracks and paved mountain paths.
Afterwards we will travel to Glengarriff to freshen up enjoy before having dinner together. Afterwards we can check out the nightlife in this lively town and perhaps enjoy some music in one of its traditional pubs.
Day 2) Walk on Hungry Hill 685m and visit Bonane Heritage Park.
This morning after breakfast we travel just past Adrigole to walk Hungry Hill.
With a height of 685m, Hungry hill is the highest peak in the Caha Mountains and dominates the Eastern central plain of the Beara Peninsula. It sits right on the Cork and Kerry border and we could approach from the Healy Pass. There are many ways to approach this walk and can decide on the day depending on the weather and the group which way we will approach it. The views across the Peninsula from Hungry hill can be wonderful on a clear day.
Afterwards if we still have some energy, we will visit the Bonane Heritage Park.
This sits between Glengarriff and Kenmare and just off the Caha pass. The park is unique in that it has an abundance of well-preserved multi – period archaeological sites from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age. Sites include a stone circle, a ring-fort, standing stones and a fulacht fiadh.
Day 3) Walk in Glengarriff Nature Reserve or visit to Garnish Island.
This morning after breakfast you can decide to visit Garnish Island. Garnish Island sits in Bantry Bay and just a short boat journey from Glengarriff. The Gardens on the Island are the result of the creative partnership of Annan Bryce and Harold Peto, architect and garden designer. The island was given to the Irish people in 1953.
If you have visited Garnish Island before you can enjoy a walk in the Glengarriff Nature Reserve. There are a number of trails to choose from within the reserve.
Whether you choose to do another short walk or visit Garnish we will meet back up in Glengarriff for a bite to eat before making our way back to Dublin.
We should be back in Dublin for approx 18:00.
What to Bring
What to bring along for this Walking Weekend in West Cork.
N.B. Ireland’s climate is of a moderate type and suited to walking all year round. Although it is quite changeable so starting a walk on a fine clear morning may not be the case for the afternoon.
Hill walking Boots
Rucksack for walks (25L)
Walking Trousers (Not Jeans)
Waterproofs (Just in Case)
Walking Socks
Thermal top / T-shirt (Not Cotton)
Sun Cream
FAQ
About the walks and fitness levels:
All the walks are taken at a pace to suit the group.
The groups can have a mixed level of fitness and age usually.
If the weather is to bad on a certain day to do the suggested walk, then the guide will suggest an alternative one.
The Guide will have the final say on the day of the chosen walk for the safety of the group.
The Accommodation: The Glengarriff Park Hotel.
• All bedrooms are en-suite with bath & shower, tea & coffee making facilities, iron & ironing board and hairdryer.
• A comfortable lounge area, fine dining restaurant with seasonal & locally sourced food produce..
• There are live music sessions in the bars close by every weekend.
• Fresh breakfast is cooked to order with table service
Food:
1 evening meal is included as part of the tour
Breakfasts are included and there is a wide selection to choose from including a Full Irish, fruit, cereals etc.
Lunches for the walks: We will stop in the mornings at Delis or shops to get these.
Cost: €295pps, Hilltoptreks Members: €265pps,
Single Supplement €125
Transport avail from Dublin: €40 return
Deposit: €35 required at the time of booking.
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