Ireland Active Journeys Guided Hiking tour Irish Kerry Walk This holiday, based in the South West of Ireland, in Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, offers you what may seem to be the impossible ‐ two bases (no packing and unpacking each day) but with a sense of completing a journey. Four legs of the Kerry Way, old coach and butter roads, take you from the Atlantic Ocean, on the shore of Dingle Bay, through the wild valleys of Mid Kerry to the Killarney National Park. The experience of travelling on foot as in days of yore is complemented by superb views, unique flora and fauna and a landscape imbued with folklore. Add ample opportunities to enjoy the craic (the fun) of evenings in an Irish pub and you get a satisfying cultural experience. Glenbeigh (Gleann Beithe – Valley of the Birch trees) is a beautiful vibrant village situated by the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the mountains of the Iveragh peninsula, on the Ring of Kerry. Walk on the 6 miles of golden, blue flag beach of Rossbeigh, while breathing in the fresh Atlantic sea air. The town has great pubs and restaurants where you will have the opportunity to hear traditional Irish music or even partake in some dancing! Situated on the Kerry Way walking route you can walk from your guesthouse on two days. Killarney is the second location for this tour, voted as the tidiest town in Ireland, it is the perfect base to explore Kerry. Tour Details 2011 Dates: Apr 23 May 7, 21, 28 Jun 11, 18, 25 Jul 2, 9, 16, 23 Aug 6, 13, 20 Sep 3, 10, 17, 24 Oct 8 Length: 8 days / 7 nights Fast Facts Cost: $1495 per person Includes: Highlights: Single Room Upgrade: $325 • Centre‐based tour on coastal village • 7 nights hotels with breakfasts • Killarney National Park Grade: Moderate 5 picnic lunches & 5 dinners • 19th c Muckross House Starts/Ends: Glenbeigh/ Killarney • Guide services, local support and back up • Trails along the Atlantic ocean service, transfers to/from walks each day • Traditional Irish music in local pubs • Dingle Bay Active Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email : [email protected] Day 1 Arrival. 19.00 hrs. Dinner and welcome briefing with guide once you are settled in at Glenbeigh lodge. Day 2 Dooks Beach and ‘Mountain’ A gentle walk on road, bog road and beach allows you to ex‐ perience a variety of habitats (blanket bog, sand dune, fresh‐ water lake/stream and seashore) as well as to view peat cut‐ tings. End the walk with a visit to Ireland’s only Bog Village museum where you can see how people lived in olden days. Distance: 12km/7.5miles Ascent: 50m/165ft Day 3 The Kerry Way (Kells‐Glenbeigh) The first walk takes you on the early Christian route and me‐ dieval coaching road, with detours to view archaeological arte‐ facts and 4,000‐year‐old rock art, views across Dingle Bay and a possible diversion to a beach for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Distance: 17km/10.5miles Ascent: 300m/1,000ft Day 4 The Kerry Way (Glenbeigh‐Glencar) You walk from the seaside village of Glenbeigh, ascend gradu‐ ally to circle Seefin Mountain and stroll downwards into the lush valley of the Caragh River in storied Glencar. Via Windy Gap ‐ Distance: 13km/ 8miles Ascent 350m/1,150ft Via Treanmanagh Distance: 17km/10.5miles Ascent 270m/ 900ft Day 5 The final leg of the Kerry Way takes you into Killarney National Park – through ancient oak woods, along the Old Ken‐ mare Road, with a descent beside the spectacular Torc Cas‐ cade and into the gardens of Muckross House (19th century mansion), with its welcoming teashop. Optional extended walk to visit to the ruins of Muckross Friary (15th cen‐ tury).Distance: 10.5km/6.5miles Ascent: 230m/ 750ft. Descent: 330m/1,100ft Option extra: 12km/7.5miles Day 6 Free Day Options: ‐ Bus tours of the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula ‐ Visit Killarney – cycle or stroll through the National Park. Enjoy the craft, book shops & tea houses or relax in world class spa. Day 7 The Kerry Way (Black Valley) and the Gap of Dunloe There is a choice of routes through the dramatic, ice‐carved Black Valley, followed by a walk up and through the interna‐ tionally known Gap of Dunloe. Bridia Valley to Gap of Dunloe ‐ Distance: 16km/10miles Ascent: 400m/1,300ft Derrycunnihy to Gap of Dunloe ‐ Distance: 14km/8.75m Ascent: 200m/ 660ft Day 8 Departure Continue your journey in Ireland, or transfer back to the air‐ port. What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? • Fly to Dublin or Shannon, Kerry The daytime temperature will be around 15 to mid‐20 degrees C ( 60’s to 70’s F), Airport is the closest with moderate rainfall. It often rains in Ireland, making the countryside lush and • green. It is usually misty and not torrential downpours, but rain gear is still neces‐ From there, transfer by bus sary, both a jacket and a pair of pants. station to get to Glenbeigh. Transfer on your own to the How many hours of hiking a day? first accommodation. Be prepared to hike between 4 to 6 hours daily. This is a supported tour, so there is • Buses and trains available from back up service throughout the holiday. If you need to take a day off and rest, you Killarney back to Dublin can easily do so. • Private transfers can be ar‐ ranged for a small fee. How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, so you will be able to enjoy this active holiday. There are some hills and some level terrain, rolling hills rather than any steep pitches. Good waterproof hiking boots are a MUST. What is the food like? We have included a full Irish breakfast each day. There will be packed lunches on some days, and organized dinners on some nights as well. Please advise in advance of any dietary requirements. What are the hotels like? The Kerry Ocean Lodge is a lovely property with all the modern amenities . All the rooms have private facilities. The B&B in Killarney is also a well‐appointed guest‐ house with private facilities. How to book your holiday • Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire proc- ess. • Download the reservation form from our site and send in the completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and pre-departure packet will be sent. • A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is re- quired 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & condi- Extra Services tions are outlined in our Reservation Form. • Plan your air travel as soon as possible. We have a selection of hotels available for you, both before and after the tour. • We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either Hotels in Dublin and Shannon can be arranged through us or a travel insurance provider directly. for you, ranging from B&B’s to deluxe accom- modation. • Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and Contact us for details. fitness requirements. .