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Trip Overview The wild coast of Dingle calls avid hikers |
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An illustrated itinerary of one of our many travel adventures for gay men, lesbians, and friends. This information supplements our
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Ireland, the mythical land of lush pastures reflecting a thousand shades of green, of grand and aging castles, and of seaside cliffs and romantic fishing villages reminiscent of a time gone by, is the perfect place for a hiking tour. Join us in friendly guesthouses for two nights each in the seaside village of Kenmare, in a small village on the picturesque Dingle Peninsula, and at a clifftop guesthouse overlooking the spectacular Ballydavid Headland on the tip of the peninsula! Trek to some of the most famous sites in Ireland, some nearby and familiar, others off the beaten track. Then pop into the local pub for some traditional music to cap off your day.
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1: A Warm Welcome!
Maeve, our Irish tour leader, will meet the group at Shannon Airport upon early morning arrival for those who departed from North America the evening before. We'll drive about two and a half hours south to our first guesthouse in the beautiful old market town of Kenmare. Along the way we'll visit the old monastery at Rathkeale and stop at Aghadoe, overlooking the famous lakes of Killarney. Once we arrive at Kenmare, at the head of the long and narrow Kenmare Bay, we will stay at Hawthorn House, a superb location to explore this colorful gem of a town. Kenmare, founded in 1670, was the first town in Kerry to be designated a Heritage Town, and in 2000 won the title of "tidiest town in Ireland." Kenmare will be our base as we explore the surrounding hills, with their scenic vistas.
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2: Emerald Island Magic
The following itinerary is typical of the tour, but because some of our activities are dependent on the weather, we present the following examples of how the week might enfold. After a hearty Irish breakfast we will drive west of Kenmare town by the shores of Kenmare Bay along the Beara Peninsula to the stunning valley of Gleninchquin. Stopping to view an ancient stone circle we will continue to the end of the valley to begin our walk. This walk is on the farm of Donal Corcoran. Donal’s farm is a credit to him and shows the signs of how farming is changing in Ireland to suit tourists and walkers alike. We will follow a trail into the fabulous hills behind the farm with a stunning waterfall at the beginning and lofty cliffs and glacial lake along the way. We will return to Kenmare in the early afternoon to allow time to browse the colorful shops or maybe just go for a pint of the black stuff in the slow lane. Today's Hike: 3-4 hours, 5miles.
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3: Lakes and Waterfalls by Boat and by Foot
A highlight of the tour will be our exploration of less traveled corners of the famous Ring of Kerry, near Killarney National Park. From Kenmare, we'll set out to explore the surrounding mountains and valleys by boat and by hiking, before heading to our unique lodging on the Dingle Peninsula, which will be our home for the next two nights. Starting from the magnificent medieval Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Leane we will take a memorable boat trip through the lakes. This trip dates from the mid-18th century when it took a full day, with four men rowing, but today it moves a little quicker under engine power. From the boat you cannot see roads or cars, just wild mountain landscapes and remnants of the old Muckross estate. Once we reach our destination at Lord Brandon’s Cottage, an old hunting lodge, we will begin our walk through the National Park along the Kerry Way to Torc Waterfall. We will walk through the oldest oak forest in Ireland. With the mossy green on the trees and the 40 other shades of green it feels like a magical wonderland. As we follow the trail, once the old butter road to Kenmare market, wooden sleepers take us over the marsh. Then we walk through wild open moorland with the lofty slopes of Mangerton above us, and through more woodland until we arrive at Torc Waterfall. Hike duration: 4.5 hours. 10 miles.
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4: Is that New York out there?
This morning we will travel west of Dingle and follow a trail along the Dingle Way to Slea Head, the most westerly point on the Dingle Peninsula. We will have stunning clear views across the Bay to Valentia and the Skellig Rocks (unless of course there is fog), pass by ancient beehive-shaped dwellings and descend to Slea Head with views to the Blaskets, and New York a wee bit over the horizon. We will have a free afternoon in Dingle, with Maeve giving a short walk around the town and telling us a little of the local history that has made this sea-faring village such a colorful and popular town. You'll have time to explore the shops, bookstores and galleries, or to pause at the coffee house for a caffeine fix. Hike: 2-3 hours. 4 miles.
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5: Off to the Headlands
Today's itinerary is dependent on the weather. If the seas are calm, we will take a boat to visit the Blasket Islands off the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, the most westerly point in Europe. Otherwise, we will explore the Connor Pass and the mountains that form the spine of the peninsula. People lived on the magical Great Blasket Island until 1953. The islanders' stories are well documented in such books as "The Islandman", "Twenty Years a Growing" and "Peig". Many people who knew the islanders say that their spirit still feels very much alive when you land on the island. If we are able to visit the island, we will hike through the old village and continue on a grassy track to the western part of the island, spotting many gannets and other sea birds on the way. Hike Duration: 2-3 hours. 4-5 miles. If we cannot go to the island, we will drive through the Connor Pass and walk through the Maghnaboe valley to the village of Annascaul, and have a pint at The South Pole Inn (named for the exploits of a local hero who was one of the first to reach the South Pole). The hike today will have us explore the inland mountains right in the middle of the Peninsula, better known as the Slieve Mish Mountains. We follow an ancient drovers road through the Maghnaboe Valley and climbing to the pass between it and the Annascaul Valley. This is a superb walk as in clear weather you can see both sides of the peninsula at the same time, and on foggy days you feel as if you are in a world all your own. There are several legends and tall tales about this region, an eerie place full of magic, legend and high cliffs, where mass was once said in secret. Once we reach Annascaul Lake we will take some quiet country lanes back to the village and visit the grave of a famous Antarctic explorer. Hike Duration: 4.5hours – 5-6 miles. Whichever direction our day takes us, we will end at a stunning clifftop guesthouse overlooking the rugged Ballydavid Headland, and the churning sea. This will be our home for our last two nights of the tour.
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6: The Ballydavid Headland by Hiking and Biking
After breakfast with stunning views of Smerwick Harbour, we will hike over Ballydavid Headland. This is a spectacular walk along dramatic cliff edges with soaring Choughs (rare coastal birds), white breakers and fishermen tending their pots below. Mount Brandon is in the distance, towering above the clouds, and the Three Sisters quietly watch the whole scene. Hike: 2-3 hours, 5 miles. And that's just our morning excursion! In the afternoon we have bicycles available from the guesthouse so we can explore the maze of quiet country lanes and stop at some fascinating ancient archaeological sites. We'll finish our riding with refreshments overlooking Ballydavid Harbour at T.P.'s Pub. Bike Ride: about 2 hours. After our ride, we return to our guesthouse for our farewell dinner overlooking the sea, and remembering our week of exploring southwest Ireland.
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7: Departure Day
After an early breakfast, we will provide transfers to Shannon Airport for mid-day flight departures (estimated time for transfer is 3 hours), or you may continue your exploration of Ireland on your own. Please let us know if you would like assistance in arranging a post-trip weekend in Dublin or somewhere else in Ireland. We hope the beauty and history of Ireland, the unique lodging, great food, traditional music, and local folks will make this a trip you'll never forget.
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