Hidden Ireland South (9 Day Tour)

DAY 1: MEET AT GALWAY CITY, TRAVEL ON TO COUNTY CLARE, HIKE SLIEVE ELVA IN THE BURREN

Terrain: forest tracks, green road, stoney trails | Elev 300 ft. | Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)

We will meet you at Galway City where your journey begins. We will head south to the Burren Region of County Clare – a huge plateau of limestone and shale aptly summed up with the words, “savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor a tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury him”. The Burren, also described as a strange lunar-like region of bare carboniferous limestone which occupies around one hundred square miles of County Clare. Our walk today is at the highest point in the Burren: Slieve Elva. We will be rewarded with great views across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands.

Alternative Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan or Lisdoonvarna in the Burren. Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 2: MORNING HIKE OVERLOOKING COASTAL BURREN AREA, AFTERNOON HIKE ON THE BEACH

Terrain: grassy and stoney track | Elev 700ft | Walking Distance 7 miles (11.2 km).

Today we will be accompanied by our local expert guide. He will take us to sites of botanical, geological and archaeological interest. This will include walking in two separate parts of the Burren with a break for lunch. The Burren region is famous for its flora: you will never see anything like the carpets of primroses, coastal displays of sea pinks, or the white flower of the blackthorn cascading over all the hedgerows. Rare and spectacular plants occur in abundance. Orchids grow everywhere in the Burren and 23 out of the 27 Irish species are to be found here.

Alternative Walk Options: there are two walks today: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The first is approx 5 miles, and the second is 2-3 miles

Overnight: Ballyvaughan, or Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 3: VISIT CLIFFS OF MOHER, TRAVEL SOUTH TO DINGLE PENINSULA, BEACH HIKE

Terrain: stone track and grassy paths. Elev gain: 400 ft. Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)

The Cliffs of Moher: one of Ireland’s most notable sights. Towering 660 feet above the wild Atlantic, these cliffs are noted for abundant birdlife including puffins. We will begin our walk in the village of Doolin and hike six miles along the cliff path to the actual Cliffs of Moher. Leaving County Clare, we will drive south to Dingle in County Kerry via the Killimer to Tarbert ferry across the Shannon. For the next three nights we will stay in an award-winning guest house in the heart of Dingle town: an excellent base for some wonderful craft shops, galleries, quaint pubs and restaurants.

Alternative Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Dingle, County Kerry. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 4: WALK FROM NORTH SIDE TO SOUTH SIDE OF DINGLE PENINSULA

Terrain: mountain track, bog, country lanes | Elev 1100 ft. | Walking Distance 9 miles

We will drive across the highest road pass in Ireland, the Connor Pass to reach the spectacular green valley of Magha na Bo. Our path leads through a beautiful steep-sided valley towards the pass at Beenbo Mountain. We climb gently beside the river and on to open heathland where we can find the elusive sundew and butterwort (insectivorous plants of the bog) and the feathery white flags of the bog cotton. We cross over the pass and follow a track to Annascaul village. We can visit the South Pole Inn: once owned by Tom Crean, one of the heroes of the Shackleton expedition to the South Pole.

Alternative Walk Options: stroll in to Dingle town to visit the shops / galleries / restaurants. 

Overnight: Dingle, County Kerry. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 5: HIKE AT FAR END OF DINGLE PENINSULA AT BALLYDAVID HEAD

Terrain: country lanes, coast path, moorland | Elev gain: 500 ft. | Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)

We travel today to the western side of the Brandon Ridge to walk at Ballydavid Head, for one of the best walks on the Dingle Peninsula. We climb gently through moorland grass to reach a fine vantage point with expansive views of the surrounding hills, fields, mountains, sea and cliffs. This area could be described as a “photographer’s paradise”. We will take our time to take pictures, relax, and enjoy the views. We will then return to Dingle for some free time to browse the lovely shops and galleries.

Alternative Walk Options: stroll in to Dingle town to visit the shops / galleries / restaurants. 

Overnight: Dingle, County Kerry. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 6: BOAT JOURNEY ACROSS THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY, WALK SECTION OF THE KERRY WAY. TRAVEL TO KENMARE 

Terrain: heath and moorland, woodland, boggy tracks | Elev 300ft. | Walking Distance 4 miles (6.4 km)

We leave Dingle this morning to travel down to Killarney where we will be taken on a boat ride out across the Lakes of Killarney National Park.  Disembarking at Lord Brandon’s Cottage we will stop for our picnic lunch before heading off to hike part of the Kerry Way in the heart of the mountains known as the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks.We will then travel further south to Kenmare, County Kerry. 

Overnight: Kenmare, County Kerry. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 7: TRAVEL THE RING OF KERRY AND WALK THE KERRY WAY

Terrain: beach, stone paths, boggy tracks | Elev Gain: 600ft | Walking Distance 6 miles (9.6 km)

Today we will walk part of the Kerry Way across from Derrynane House and Beach to Abbey Island, over the sand. The views of the coast and mountains are spectacular. We can take a rest at a quiet cove and have lunch.  The route then climbs gently above the bay with lovely sea views taking in Scarriff Island. We then return along the Kerry Way to Derrynane House where there will be time to explore the grounds.

Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just relaxing or strolling in the beautiful town of Kenmare.

Overnight: Kenmare, County Kerry.  Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 8: TRAVEL TO BALLYCOTTON, HIKE THE CLIFF PATH AT BALLYCOTTON, COUNTY CORK

Terrain: gravel track, cliff path | Elev gain: 400 ft. | Walking Distance 4 miles (6.4 km)

We will hike the Ballycotton Cliff Path before heading for our hotel for our final evening and last dinner together.

Overnight: Ballycotton, County Cork. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 9: DEPART FOR CORK AFTER BREAKFAST

We must say Goodbye to Ireland after our 1 hour drive to Cork Airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast.