Ireland

A Wee Ramble in Kenmare: Hiking Ireland’s Southwest Coast

Program No. 21682RJ
Discover the wonders of Ireland as you visit emerald coasts, seafaring villages, walk glorious footpaths and hike mountains and peninsulas, learning from local experts along the way.

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At a Glance

Learn about Ireland the best way possible — on hikes that range from quiet country lanes to centuries-old footpaths, mountainous parks to rocky peninsulas. Home for the week is the small town of Kenmare, situated along the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way. It’s the ideal base to discover prehistoric tombs, remote islands, timeless villages and serene nature preserves along the southwest Irish coast. Join us on some of the most glorious hikes in the country, with plenty of time to fortify yourself with a pint or cup of tea and an Irish scone.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Walking or hiking 1-4 miles, approximately 3-5 hours per day. Hikes will be on paths and mountain trails with little shade and up and down over mixed terrain (dirt, rocks, pavement, river banks, forest trails).
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy daily, expert-led hikes through luminous green valleys, rock-studded mountains and colorful seafaring villages.
  • Discover the pastoral landscape of Killarney National Park, where oak and yew woodlands stretch for miles.
  • Take a ferry to Garnish Island, searching for inquisitive seals along the way, to visit a botanical paradise with a stunning variety of plants.
  • Hike through secluded moorlands, green meadows and up into the mountains of Gleninchaquin.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date and Direction
Sep 19 - Sep 27 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • May 23 - May 31 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Jun 06 - Jun 14 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Jun 13 - Jun 21 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Jul 11 - Jul 19 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Aug 22 - Aug 30 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Sep 05 - Sep 13 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Sep 19 - Sep 27 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Sep 26 - Oct 04 (Kenmare to Shannon)
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Sep 19 - Sep 27 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • May 23 - May 31 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Jun 06 - Jun 14 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Jun 13 - Jun 21 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Jul 11 - Jul 19 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Aug 22 - Aug 30 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Sep 05 - Sep 13 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Sep 19 - Sep 27 (Kenmare to Shannon)
  • Sep 26 - Oct 04 (Kenmare to Shannon)
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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9 days
8 nights
15 meals
7 B 3 L 5 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Shannon, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Kenmare
D
Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 118 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Hotel check-in is available at 3:00 p.m. We may store our luggage with the front desk while we explore the area on our own while we wait for our rooms to be available. After checking in and getting our rooms, take some time to get settled into our rooms and freshen up before our Orientation session. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our experienced and knowledgeable Group Leader will takes us on field trips where we will also learn from a series of local experts. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. On most days when lunch is not included, you will have the opportunity to purchase lunches individually in the morning, and take them with you to have during our walks. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
3
Beara Peninsula, Eyeries, Castletownbere
Kenmare
B,L
Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 3.5 miles, approximately 3 hours; trail ascent 185 feet; highest point will be around 190 feet; terrain includes gravel trails, paved sidewalks, rocky beaches, some grassy trails that can be slippery when wet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: From the hotel, we’ll board our motorcoach with our Group Leader for the transfer to the Beara Peninsula, one of the most impressive of Cork’s western outliers. It is a beautiful place of green valleys, rock-studded mountains, and peppered with prehistoric stone circles. Our loop walk along the coast will begin and end at Eyeries, a village of brightly colored houses overlooking Coulagh Bay. Once our walk concludes, we’ll settle in at a local establishment and have an Irish coffee.

Lunch: Picnic lunch en route.

Afternoon: After transferring by motorcoach, we will spend the afternoon ambling through the fishing village of Castletownbere where we will take in a lecture by a local expert Dr. Aidan MacCarthy in the very pub in which he was born, which is still owned and operated by his family to this day. Dr. MacCarthy was a doctor in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He survived Dunkirk and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Dinner: Enjoy local fare on your own in Kenmare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Ring of Kerry, Iveragh Peninsula, Derrynane House
Kenmare
B,L,D
Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking up to 4 miles total over approximately 3.5 hours; trail ascent of 131 feet, and descent of 705 feet; highest point will be around 600 feet; terrain includes asphalt road, rocky and gravely paths with some steps and uneven sections, and grassy trails that can be slippery when wet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Boarding our private motorcoach, we’ll travel to Derrynane on the southwestern tip of the Iveragh Peninsula where we will begin our drive along the circular Ring of Kerry route. Led by a local expert, our beautiful walk will start from the impressive Derrynane House and Gardens, situated in a magnificent national historic park. From here, we’ll continue along the idyllic Derrynane Beach and visit an ancient ecclesiastical site. This glorious walk affords spectacular views over the western tip of the Ring of Kerry, across to the Beara Peninsula, and west out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Lunch: We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch en route.

Afternoon: At the beach with our local expert, we will learn about seaweed. At the end of the lecture is a cafe where everyone can enjoy refreshments at Derrynane House. Once there, we’ll learn more from a local expert about this place, which was once home to Daniel O’Connell, famed for his role in the Catholic Emancipation in Ireland and known as “The Liberator.” We’ll then return to the hotel via motorcoach.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Gleninchaquin Park
Kenmare
B
Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 26 miles, less than 1.5 hours total riding time. Walking up to 2 miles, approximately 2.5 hours; tail ascent of 673 feet, and descent of 683 feet; highest point will be around 935 feet; terrain includes gravel and rocky paths with some short, steep, uneven sections. Some of the descent is on rocky steps that can be slippery when wet, there is a handrail available on this section.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Traveling via motorcoach, we’ll make our way to Gleninchaquin Park, a natural preserve featuring beautiful scenery, rolling plains, and a mountain waterfall. While here, led by our Group Leader, we’ll hike through secluded moorlands and green meadows, and take in lovely views of the rugged coastline of the Kenmare River.

Lunch: On your own to explore the local fare.

Afternoon: After completing the remainder of our hike, we’ll return to the hotel via private motorcoach.

Dinner: Enjoy local fare on your own in Kenmare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Sheep’s Head Peninsula
Kenmare
B,D
Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, approximately 3 hours; trail ascent of 614 feet and descent of 610 feet; highest point is around 580 feet; terrain includes uneven rocky paths, sections of loose gravel trail, and some sections of limestone that can be very slippery.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Prior to boarding our motorcoach, we’ll stop and purchase our lunches in a local shop. We’ll then head to Sheep’s Head Peninsula, that has a rare charm all its own. We’ll walk the loop road, which runs close to the sea, as we appreciate the wonderful seascapes, its rich vegetation, and the abundant sheep.

Lunch: During our hike, we’ll stop to have the lunches we individually purchased earlier in the day.

Afternoon: After concluding our walk, we’ll head to a local community house for a cup of tea and an Irish scone. We’ll then transfer by private motorcoach back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Garnish Island, Botanical Gardens
Kenmare
B,L,D
Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 35 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Getting on/off a ferry; cruising less than 1 hour. Walking up to 1.5 miles, approximately over 2 hours; trail ascent of 98 feet, and descent of 72 feet; highest point is around 108 feet; terrain includes gravel and asphalt pathways. Extent and duration of walking during self-directed field trip according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Setting out from the hotel via motorcoach, we’ll travel to Glengarriff where we will transfer to a ferry for the remainder of our journey to the botanical paradise on Garnish Island. With luck upon arrival, we may get to see some inquisitive seals that relax in the sheltered harbor. During the self-directed on-site visit, you might like to walk through the old private residence of the original garden’s creators, John and Violet Annan Bryce, and learn about their lives and enduring works.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will continue our full-day self-led field trip in Garnish Island’s iconic gardens. In the late afternoon, we will transfer back to the hotel in Kenmare by motorcoach.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
8
Killarney National Park, Transfer to Shannon
Shannon
B,D
Park Inn by Radisson Shannon Airport

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 106 miles one way, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time; about 1.5 hours to Killarney in the morning and 2 more hours to Shannon in the afternoon. Walking about 3 miles; approximately 2 hours; trail ascent of 112 feet, and descent of 92 feet; highest point around 125 feet; terrain includes gravel and asphalt pathways, some rough forest paths with exposed roots, and areas that can be slippery when wet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Aboard the motorcoach, we’ll travel to Killarney National Park to explore the pastoral landscape, as well as the oak and yew woodlands that stretch for miles. While on site, we’ll take in a lecture given by a local expert about the flora and fauna of Killarney National Park. We’ll take in the scenery from an open boat crossing the beautiful Muckross Lake.

Lunch: At the park, we’ll enjoy previously purchased individual lunches, which are excluded from the program cost.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll complete our hike before transferring to Shannon, and then check in to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
9
Program Concludes
In Flight
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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