• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Beara Way Tuosist Slí Bhéara The Beara Peninsula The Beara Way Tuosist to Lauragh Tuosist to Bonane Tuosist to Kenmare In perpetual battle with the Atlantic Ocean, the Beara The Beara Way is approximately 220 kilometres in length and Walking Walking Cycling Peninsula has an exposed and indented coastline. The completes a circuit of the peninsula before turning inland to Kealkil. Walkers should be aware that this route follows tarred Departing Tuosist, walkers must negotiate a series of The route heads north from Tuosist to join the Slieve Miskish and Caha Mountains that form its spine The route follows quiet back roads and un-tarred tracks, where road for its entirety. Nonetheless, the section is short - junctions and a short stretch along the narrow and R571 to Kenmare. As this busy road hugs the prevent easy access to the hinterland of Cork and available. Nonetheless, traffic volumes have increased in recent years allow 2 to 3 hours - and uses quiet boreens with busy R571. However, once off-road, the trail rises onto contours of the coastline, cyclists can enjoy South Kerry, and the villages encircling Beara are and walkers and cyclists are asked to take care, particularly on the busy limited traffic. Leaving Tuosist, walkers pass the shoulder of Knockagarrane to delight in views of intermittent views of the Iveragh Peninsula huddled close to sheltered, natural anchorages. While roads entering and leaving towns and villages. southwards through a signed junction. The road rises the Clonee Lakes below and Kenmare Bay and the across Kenmare Bay. After circa 8 km the cycle the rugged mountain terrain dominates, the landscape to the top of the gap between Knockatee and Iveragh Peninsula beyond. Dropping to skirt the shore, route turns inland to run along a parallel but less surprises with pockets of oak and other native Much of the Beara Way traverses private lands. Access has been Knockanoughanish and rewards with spectacular the route continues through a mountain pass and the busy side road. Cyclists rejoin the R571 for the woodland and the vibrancy of hedgerows where arranged by local community groups and is entirely dependent on the views of Dereen Woods and Killmackillogue Harbour austere beauty of the Caha landscape - the most final 2 km into pretty Kenmare Town – total fuchsia, Crocosmia and other subtropical invaders thrive goodwill of local landowners. Dogs are not permitted on the Beara on the descent. Walkers enter leafy Lauragh along the isolated stretch of this 5 - 6 hour section. The trail distance approximately 18 kilometers. in the mild climate. Way as a condition of this access and walkers are asked to respect this. bounds of the famous Dereen Estate. joins a lonely tarred road through rugged mountain Please also be aware that the route is closed to the public on January scenery for many kilometres until the main N71 is The peninsula has a long history of settlement; rich deposits of copper in the 31st each year. Tuosist to Lauragh reached and followed – with caution - for the final slopes above Allihies first attracted prehistoric settlers to the area. The stretch into Bonane. standing stones, stone circles, and wedge graves of these pre-Christian peoples The Beara-Breifne Way Length: 6 km Kenmare are succeeded by Iron-Age sites, ringforts, holy wells, castles, churches and Highest point: 130m Tuosist to Bonane estate houses. Oral histories capture echoes of this succession, usually Hours to complete: 2 hours Ceann Mara interweaving them; typically, Christian tradition has An Chailleach Bhearra (the The Beara-Breifne Way is concurrent with the This route is: Moderate Length: 21 km Hag of Beara), Celtic goddess of the harvest, transformed into stone by Beara Way on the south of the peninsula and Highest point: 400m Naomh (Saint) Caitiarin; alternatively she is reformed as a medieval nun, among follows the fourteen-day march taken by Donal Hours to complete: 5 to 6 hours other incarnations. O’Sullivan Beare and 1,000 supporters in 1603. The Cycling This route is: Strenuous route runs almost the length of Ireland and takes This section follows the narrow and winding R573 The area has always trafficked heavily with the wider world – even the name the walker and cyclist to some of its most beautiful along the coast. As the glorious views of Kenmare ‘Beara’, is, according to legend, that of a Spanish princess, the wife of Eoghan and least explored areas: across six mountain ranges, Bay, the Iveragh Peninsula and Killmackillogue Mór, mythical second century King of Munster. Later the Vikings, valuing the along the banks of the River Shannon and through Harbour on this 12-kilometre section are attractive to safe anchorage of Berehaven, established a harbour on Bere Island. Centuries the watery landscapes of Roscommon and Leitrim. motorist and cyclist alike, extra caution is needed Kenmare Bay on, O’Sullivan Beare, the last prominent Gaelic chieftain in Munster, lost during the busy tourist season. Country code for Walkers Dunboy and Ardea Castles to English forces and with it control of the Beara Way to Kenmare lucrative shipping and fishing trade in Bantry and Kenmare Bays; events which Dinish Island 66 • Respect farmland and the rural environment. Duínis • Do not interfere with livestock, crops, machinery or eventually precipitated the epic hunger-march north of 1603. other property. 4 Stone Circle • Do not light any fires, especially near forests. • Leave all farm gates as you find them. Subsequently, the English, fearful of Napoleonic assistance for Ireland’s rebel • Always keep children in close control and supervision. cause, built a series of defensive structures around the peninsula and set up a • Please ensure you have good hiking footwear & rain gear. • Keep away from livestock along the trail. naval base on Bere Island of such strategic importance that it remained in • Carry a mobile phone and inform someone about your te intended itinerary. British control even after Irish Independence, eventually reverting in 1938. ou e R • Do not enter farmland if you have dogs with you. ycl C ute • Always use gates, stiles or other recognised access ay Ro a W cle points, avoid damage to fences, hedges and walls. Today, Beara’s continental connections are as strong as ever; a stroll along the ar Cy Be ay • Take all litter home. he W Castletownbere pier in bad weather reveals the flags of many countries T fne • Take special care on country roads. rei -B • Avoid making unnecessary noise. swelling the numbers of Ireland’s largest whitefish fleet. ara e • Protect wildlife and plants and trees. 1 Rhododendron e B Th • Take heed of warning signs they are there for your protection. • If following a recognised walking route keep to the waymarked route. • Immediately report any damage caused by your actions to the farmer or landowner. DON’T FORGET Cummeragh • Do not block farm entrances when parking. to collect your Cloonee Lough ay Lough e W ifn Beara Way Stamps (middle) re 1. 1 When rhododendron were introduced 4.4 Stone circles were used for ritual and/or Cloonee Lough -B ra WHICH CAN BE FOUND ALONG ea y into Ireland in the late nineteenth century, the burial purposes. Many, such as those at Uragh, B a Way to Gle (upper) he W Beara-Breifne ng THE ROUTE T ara a climate and soil of the southwest suited it so well seem to have been aligned to honour solar or Cloonee Lough e rri e B ff Th / B that the shrub now tends to out-compete native astronomical events. Ardea (Lower) o FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT na flora and is considered an invasive problem. Castle ne www.bearabreifneway.ie Nonetheless, in early summer, when the large 5.5 The Uragh Wood Nature Reserve on the Tuosist 44 Lough expanses of rhododendrons surrounding Lauragh south west shore of Lough Inchiquin is an Uragh Wood Bonane come into flower, it is easy to understand the excellent example of hyper-oceanic, semi-natural Inchiqin Knocknagorraveela plants incipient appeal. woodland and includes remnants of an ancient Ardea Tuath Ó Siosta 5 Both Fhionan oakwood. The reserve is habitat for deciduous R573 Knockagarrane 2 Derreen Gardens, planted over 100 tree species, rare plants and home to badgers, YOU ARE HERE years ago by the 5th Marquis of Lansdowne, foxes, red squirrels and birds such as the jay and boasts a wealth of sub-tropical plants and the long-eared owl. flowers which thrive in the mild local climate. ute Ro 6.6 Pretty Dawros Church was erected in cle e The garden is open to the public for most of the Cy out ara-Breifne Way y e R e Be year and accommodates glades of eucalyptus, 1898, though the earliest church to have been Wa cl Th a Cy ar ay giant blue gums, bamboo, red cedars and, most built in this sheltered, tranquil location is likely Be W he ne eara Way to pre-date this by several centuries. In 1981, T eif e B famously, a grove of New Zealand ferns. Br Th ra- 3 Killmackillogue Church local families assisted in the creation of the Bible ea e B 3.3 The ruined church at Kilmackillogue Garden by donating plants and shrubs with Th was originally founded by St. Mocheallog but it is biblical associations. Knockatee The Beara Way / Beara-Breifne Way the more eminent St. Kilian with whom the Ring of Beara / Beara-Breifne Way Cycle Route parish of Tuosist has greatest affinity. The last 3 descendent of the Kerry branch of the O'Sullivan KEY TO ROADS Beare clan - a McFinnan Duff - is buried in the Knockanoughanish graveyard. R573 National Primary Road Kilmackillogue Regional Road Harbour Third Class Road Track Trail Grading Moderate - these trails may have climbs and may have an uneven surface where the going is rough underfoot, with some obstacles such as protruding 22 KEY TO SYMBOLS roots, rocks etc.

Load more

  1

Copy Link