Highlights

  • Country lanes, heather covered hills and sweeping ocean vistas
  • Killarney, Kenmare, Caragh Lake
  • Celtic traditions and folklore, megalithic stones
  • Working farms, local cheeses, herding sheepdogs
  • Traditional Irish music and dancing

The mystical Ring of Kerry, with its emerald hills and clear blue waters, provides us with an insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland.

Meeting in Killarney, we discover a land of forests and lakes, of Franciscan abbeys and Druidic stone circles. We visit the Torc waterfalls and examine Celtic writings on an ancient Ogham stone, before sampling the famous Irish craic in traditional lakeside inns.

Highlights of our trip include traditional Irish music and dancing, local folklore, and meeting a local farmer on the hills above Caragh Lake who explains the traditional methods for cutting turf.

Sunday Overnight: Great Southern Killarney

Meet at our hotel in Killarney for a Welcome Dinner and Introductory Talk.

Monday Overnight: Park Hotel

Walk along forest and lakeside trails to the ruins of a Franciscan abbey, said to be the site of secret midnight weddings in Elizabethan times. We'll enjoy lunch on the grounds of Muckross House and Park. After crossing the famous lakes of Killarney by boat, we'll travel by horse cart to the spectacular Torc Falls, and hike on a 16th-century track rising above the Black Valley. The views of the lakes are spectacular. Optional tour of Muckross House.

Tuesday Overnight: Park Hotel

Follow the remote Beara Way for breathtaking views of the Kenmare Estuary and the peaks of McGillycuddys Reeks. A country lane passes a Druids' stone circle leading to a lakeside inn where we enjoy a traditional Irish lunch. Afterward, we continue to a remote farmhouse to sample the delicious local cheeses, followed by an evening of traditional music and dancing in the lively little town of Kenmare.

Wednesday Overnight: Butler Arms Hotel

Start from the 2,000-year-old Staigue Fort where we learn about Celtic folklore, then follow the Kerry Way to see Atlantic Ocean vistas. We continue across pastures and lanes, pausing to examine the ancient Celtic writings on an Ogham Stone, and cross the white sands of Derrynane Bay to visit the home of Irish patriot Daniel O'Connell.

Thursday Overnight: Ard-Na-Sidhe Hotel

Walk beside a stream to Dingle Bay, where we are rewarded with sweeping sea views to the distant Dingle Peninsula and mountains beyond. We'll again meet the Kerry Way, and this time take it to Caragh Lake which, if conditions allow, we cross by fishing boat to land at our stunning lakeside hotel.

Friday Overnight: Ard-Na-Sidhe Hotel

Walk in the gorse and heather-covered hills above Caragh Lake, over to Blackstone Bridge where salmon fishermen gather. After lunch, we meet a local farmer to see how he cuts the turf for winter fuel, hand shears his sheep and perhaps watch his faithful sheepdog at work. We return to Caragh Lake for our Farewell Dinner.

Saturday

The Wayfarers transfer you to Killarney Rail Station for your onward connections.
Moderate
"The Wayfarers hire the best people. It's an extraordinary organisation and I feel blessed to have found it"
Terrain: Soft turf, narrow lanes and tracks, modest hills. 7-12 miles of walking per day.

TRIP DETAILS

6 nights from
$4,895.00
per person, double occupancy
(Single Supplement $825.00)
Our Wayfarers friends' Price is $4,650.00

Dates

From Jun 16 to Jun 22 (more dates)
Request booking
Arrival: Killarney Rail Station
Departure: Killarney Rail Station

Activities

Walk ClassicCastle VisitGarden VisitHistoric Monument VisitLocal expert talkLocal Music
The Ring of Kerry June 2019 Map

Hotels - Where we stay

Great Southern Killarney

Great Southern Killarney

Spectacular architecture melded with effortless service and genuine hospitality has made The Malton Killarney an iconic retreat for over 160 years. Originally opened in 1854 The Great Southern Killarney stands proudly as Killarneys Premier Historic Hotel in Killarney town centre. The hotel has an impressive history, throughout which it has fortunately retained its striking original Victorian features. The Great Southern Killarney enjoys developing a deluxe guest experience with beautifully appointed accommodation & guest facilities including The Garden Room Restaurant, The Punchbowl Bar, The Killarney Wine Rooms, Afternoon Tea in The Grand Foyer & the beautifully restful, Reading Room Residents Lounge. Surrounded by 6 acres of beautiful gardens right in the centre of bustling Killarney town, within a moments walking distance of the sublime Killarney National Park. There is complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel.

Park Hotel

Park Hotel

The Park Hotel is a Victorian landmark dating from 1897, boasting splendid views overlooking Kenmare Bay. Thoughtfully and painstakingly updated to create one of Ireland's finest hotels, tradition is an important part of the Park Hotel's appeal alongside its superb modern facilities which include a spa, lap-pool and cinema. Each of the 46 bedrooms is furnished with rich fabrics, original antiques and collectable art. Each ensuite room has free WiFi, flat-screen TV, DVD player, CD player, MP3/iPod connector, sitting area, telephones, hairdryer, bathrobe and slippers and Floris toiletries. The dining room has lovely views over Kenmare Bay and promises an ever-changing menu and impeccable service from Chef James Coffey and his team. Local produce is sourced for all dishes from quality producers in the surrounding countryside.

Butler Arms Hotel

Butler Arms Hotel

The warmest of Irish hospitality welcomes you at this hotel. The well-known Butler Arms, run by the same family for four generations, is treasured for its air of luxury combined with a homely, intimate atmosphere. The unique climate of Waterville is aided by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and this enables visitors to enjoy the region all year round. Bedooms are impeccably furnished to be a comfortable home from home with full ensuite facilities. The restaurant offers a varied menu, specialising in a variety of fresh seafood & local meats and all of the seafood is caught daily by local fishermen in the waters of the south-west coast.

Ard-Na-Sidhe Hotel

Ard-Na-Sidhe Hotel

Ard-na-Sidhe Country House Hotel is a charming 18 bedroom lake hotel built in 1913. It is situated on the wooded shores of Caragh Lake, on the scenic Ring of Kerry, nestled between 32 acres of spectacular gardens. It's name means "Hill of the Fairies" and refers to the tree covered knoll close by the hotel. The house is long, low and gabled, with casement windows set in stone mullions. Hidden pathways and secret glades give way to the lake & mountains beyond. The gardens were originally designed by Lady Edith Gordon, a keen gardener, traveler and writer. As the original owner of the house Lady Gordon planted many trees and laid out a number of garden features and her spectacular rock garden remains an integral feature of the gardens. The perfect place to while away an afternoon, playing croquet, enjoying afternoon tea on the terrace or simply exploring the gardens.

Start planning your trip

What Is Included in the Price of My Vacation

  • Full-time services of two staff - a Walk Leader and Walk Manager
  • A backup vehicle for resting walkers and moving luggage
  • Comprehensive Travel Information Package and Reading List
  • Diverse itineraries with an emphasis on history, geography, culture, peoples, flora and fauna
  • Demonstrations, wine tasting, admissions to museums and historic sites
  • All ground transfers (ferries, cable cars, trains, etc.)
  • Maps and unique souvenirs to commemorate your trip
  • First-class accommodations with cultural and historical interest
  • All meals - with choices - (Special dietary requirements? No problem!)
  • Wine with dinner
  • On-trail snacks and refreshments
  • All gratuities at hotels and restaurants