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Kerry Way

9 stages . 10 nights . Western Ireland

Self-guided walking holiday

Key Information

  • Grade: Red
  • Start: Killarney, Western Ireland
  • End: Killarney, Western Ireland
  • Season dates: 1 May to 18 Sept 2025
  • Length: 9 days' walking
  • Typical walk: 22km per day
  • Total distance: 198.80km
  • Highest altitude: 385m
  • Group size: 2 or more trekkers
From GBP 1,040 per person
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The Kerry Way is a circular trail around the Iveragh Peninsula, starting and ending in the bustling town of Killarney. This 9-stage hike passes by remote lakes, wild waterfalls and dramatic mountains and offers fantastic coastal views onto the Atlantic Ocean. The variety of different landscapes as well as the cultural history of the area will give hikers a wide appreciation for County Kerry.

Start your hike by heading into Ireland’s very first national park, Killarney National Park. The lush green scenery immediately begins to reveal itself with views onto the lakes and surrounding hills. The Kerry Way is principally a low-level trail that follows the lower mountain ridges and valleys rather than the high peaks known as McGillycuddy’s Reeks. As the trail progresses, views open up onto the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the mix of sea and mountain views on this trail!

The trail has a very remote feeling to it and has some long daily walking distances included in the itinerary. As such, we ask that at least one party member is competent navigating with map and compass. Our walking holiday follows the trail anti-clockwise with 9 walking days and 10 nights accommodation. We plan the entire walking holiday for you and provide you with our detailed routecards, maps and lots of local information.

Enjoy Irish hospitality in B&Bs and guesthouses along the way. County Kerry’s Irish motto, “Comhar, Cabhair, Cairdeas” translates to “Cooperation, Help, Friendship” and we hope you’ll find plenty of this on your holiday! Walk at your own pace on a self-guided trip, or please email us for details of walking with a leader.

Alternative trip options
Prefer a different trip? Why not try one of our other trips:
 Affric Kintail Way – 4 stages, 5 nights
 West Highland Way – 7 stages, 8 nights
 Hebridean Way – 12 stages, 13 nights

Map

Trip Information

Slide 1
Arrival day: Arrive in Killarney
Fly into Kerry airport, or take the train from Dublin or Cork to arrive into Killarney. Killarney is a vibrant and welcoming town, a great place to rest before the start of your trek. Look out for horse-drawn cars around the town which offer journeys to the nearby national park.
B&B in Killarney (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 1: Killarney to Black Valley
Blue 4 (grade) 24km with 530m ascent, 500m descent
The first stage is a great introduction to Ireland’s Southwest. The walk out of Killarney is straightforward: hills can be seen ahead, and this adds to the anticipation of what is to come. Most of the day is on good tracks and paths, with just a few rockier or rootier sections. The scenery varies from open moorland and mountain to wonderful native deciduous woodland.
B&B in Black Valley (breakfast and dinner)
Slide 1
Stage 2: Black Valley to Glencar
Red 4 (grade) 21.6km with 660m ascent, 650m descent
Today’s stage is tougher than Stage 1, as it features two mountain passes where the paths are steep and rocky in places. In between times, the route follows good tracks, paths and quiet lanes. There are very few trees today to impede the views, so take time to revel in the glorious mountain scenery: the highest mountains in Ireland are visible all day.
B&B in Glencar (breakfast and dinner)
Slide 1
Stage 3: Glencar to Glenbeigh
Blue 2 (grade) 15.1km with 390m ascent, 440m descent
An easier stage with 2 climbs today. The second climb leads to Windy Gap: a chance to look back South to the high mountains already passed, and to look North and West to the route to come. The day ends with an enjoyable descent to Glenbeigh, with views across Dingle Bay. Glenbeigh itself will seem like a metropolis after the previous two evenings.
B&B in Glenbeigh (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 4: Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen
Blue 4 (grade) 29.4km with 480m ascent, 500m descent
This stage is longer in its daily distance with easy and straightforward walking. An early woodland walk is followed by open hillsides with views North across the bay to the Dingle peninsula. At the one third mark, Cahersiveen can be seen in the distance. Finish the day amongst fields as you walk into Cahersiveen, the biggest settlement since Killarney.
B&B in Cahersiveen (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 5: Cahersiveen to Waterville
Red 4 (grade) 21.5km with 890m ascent, 960m descent
This stage starts with a short taxi journey to rejoin the Kerry Way. This is a tough stage including two ridges to be traversed, linked via quiet country lanes: the first has many undulations along its length, and the ground can be boggy after wet weather. The second ridge is shorter and simpler, with fantastic views to the coast, and finishes looking down onto Waterville. Enjoy the challenge: the views make it all worthwhile!
B&B in Waterville (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 6: Waterville to Caherdaniel
Blue 2 (grade) 14.8km with 320m ascent, 300m descent
On this stage, start by heading South along the coast with views out West to the Skelligs. Secondly, bend towards the East to begin the return to Killarney, with views South to the Beara peninsula. Later there is a choice of routes: a shorter, higher, route for long distance views, or a longer route down at shore level, with maybe a dip in the sea. A much easier day in terms of distance and terrain, and it is definitely worth taking the time to linger along the way.
B&B in Caherdaniel (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 7: Caherdaniel to Sneem
Blue 2 (grade) 17.2km with 440m ascent, 470m descent
Today we largely follow the old Butter Road, used in olden times for taking butter to Cork. It runs a pretty direct course, with only a few deviations: at most junctions, keep ahead. The surface is generally good, and there are good views South across the Kenmare River and North to the mountains. The stage ends in the pretty town of Sneem, a real gem of County Kerry with its colourful buildings and picturesque river.
B&B in Sneem (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 8: Sneem to Kenmare
Blue 4 (grade) 33.6km with 650m ascent, 650m descent
A long stage, which splits into two halves. The first half, as far as Blackwater Bridge, is similar to Stage 7: long straight sections on the old Butter Road. After Blackwater Bridge, a lovely coastal section, followed by more hilly terrain. The ascent of Gortamullin near the end of the day is not too tough, and provides great views: a fitting end to the penultimate stage of The Kerry Way.
B&B in Kenmare (breakfast)
Slide 1
Stage 9: Kenmare to Killarney
Blue 3 (grade) 25.3km with 760m ascent, 730m descent
This final stage completes the circle, and brings you back to Killarney via the Old Kenmare Road. Much of the walking is on lanes or good solid tracks, with just the one rougher section that was encountered on Stage 1. If you don’t fancy walking all the way back to Killarney, a fitting end point would be the Garden Restaurant at Muckross House, after which the Redbus can be taken to Killarney. Enjoy this final stage of The Kerry Way.
B&B in Killarney (breakfast)
Slide 1
Depart from Killarney
Enjoy your last breakfast before departing from the trip. Take the train back to Dublin or head to Kerry Airport for your flight home.