Self-Guided Ireland Hiking Tour Tour description Dingle Way The Dingle Way is one of Ireland's finest long- distance walking trails, on part of the Wild Atlantic Day 1 Arrival Tralee - bus to Camp Way, covering a distance of 179km (111.8 miles) through some of the most startling scenery in the Day 2 18 km Camp - Anascaul country. Day 3 22 km You encounter an array of archaeological monu- Anascaul - Dingle ments dating back from the Mesolithic Period of Day 4 choice around 6000 BC, that include standing stones, Og- Dingle rest day ham Stones, and a multitude of beehive huts, all evi- Day 5 25 km dence to the rich culture of a bygone age. Dingle - Dunquin Day 6 22 km The warm Gulf Stream reaches out to the peninsula Dunquin - Boherboy allowing it to display a wonderful combination of Day 7 28 km wild flowers. Lush green pastures sweep down from Boherboy - Cloghane the heather-clad mountains above to reach a wild and rugged Atlantic coastline. Day 8 Transfer to Camp Tour Details Daily March to October Cost: $1595 per person Fast Facts Single Supplement: $495 Includes: • Well marked trails throughout the • 7 nights guesthouses with breakfasts tour Length: 8 days / 7 nights • A day off in Dingle complete with • Luggage transfers, route notes & maps over 50 pubs and numerous fine Grade: Easy / Moderate • Local support restaurants • Inch Beach and the Blasket Islands Acve Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email: [email protected] ITINERARY Day 1 Tralee You have the option of arriving at Dublin or Shannon Airport, and taking a bus or train to Tralee, where you will take a 25-minute journey by pub- lic transport to the village of Camp. Tralee is Ireland's newest visitor destination, better known as the capital of Kerry and the Gateway to the Dingle Peninsula. Day 2 Camp to Anascaul 18km This walk takes you across the hub of the Dingle Peninsula. Following a small road that leads you to a pass between Corrin and Knockbrack Hills to reach a height of 235m. From here you will have some remarkable views of Baurtregaum Mountain; which is the highest mountain in the Slieve Mish range. Ascent: 568 m Day 3 Anascaul to Dingle 22km From Anascaul the trail takes you west to the town of Dingle, along a series of minor roads that meander around the surrounding countryside and open mountains. You will have a chance to visit the magnificent ruin of the 16th century Minard Castle, and stop for lunch in the beauti- ful village of Lispole. From Lispole the trail takes you northwest, back towards the Dingle Peninsula. From here the views over Dingle Bay are simply awe-inspiring. Ascent: 568 m Day 4 Dingle (Rest day) Officially this is your rest day, but we will give you some optional activi- ties, such as: taking a boat trip and swimming with the famous dolphin "Fungi," or taking a half-day historical bus tour around the area. The town is known for its restaurants, most of which offer you an excellent choice of local seafood. There is a large variety of pubs and is a great town for night life, where traditional Irish music is played nightly in many of the pubs around town. Day 5 Dingle to Dunquin 25km The trail from Dingle takes you further westwards through the village of Ventry, and onto the golden sandy beach of Ventry Harbour. A country lane leads you to the medieval roads of Slea Head. This area is dotted with a multitude of Clochans (more commonly known as beehive huts). As your trail bends north around Slea Head, you will also have some stunning views over the Great Blasket Island, and your final view of Din- gle Bay. Ascent: 683 m Day 6 Dunquin to Boherboy 22Km Travel north along the western-foot of the peninsula; by Ferriters Cove and the rugged sea-cliffs of the Three Sisters. From here the trail swings east to take you along by the sandy beaches on Smerwick Harbour. Your destination today is the village of Boherboy. Ascent: 429 m Day 7 Boherboy to Cloghane 28Km This is one of the most remote sections of the Dingle Way; offering you a combination of history and breathtaking scenery. The trail follows a green road that crosses of one of Ireland's highest mountains "Mount Brandon" standing at 952m passes a standing stone that dates back over 3,500 years; which still displays the symbols of Ogham Writing. Lying in the shadows of Mount Brandon is the quiet village of Cloghane. Ascent: 750 m Day 8 This is the end of our services After breakfast we will organise transport for you back to Camp to get public transport to Tralee. What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? • Fly to Dublin or Shannon The daytime temperature will be around 15 to mid-20 degrees C ( 60’s to 70’s F), with moderate rainfall. It often rains in Ireland, making the countryside lush and • From there, transfer to train green. It is usually misty and not torrential downpours, but rain gear is still neces- or bus station to get to Tra- sary, both a jacket and a pair of pants. lee, then 25 min. bus ride to How many hours of hiking a day? the village of Camp Be prepared to hike between 4 to 6 hours daily. This is not a supported tour, so you must be able to get to the next destination en route. If you need to take a day off and rest, you can easily get to the next town by public transport. 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. What is the food like? We have included a full Irish breakfast each day. For lunch, you can stop in a pub and local restaurant for a full meal or mid-day snack. For dinner, our notes will suggest a location, What are the hotels like? They are chosen for their charm and location. Properties are charming guesthous- es and B&B’s, well- located in the towns. All the rooms have 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 pro- cess. • 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- tions are outlined in our Reservation Form. Extra Services • Plan your air travel as soon as possible. We have a selection of hotels available for you, • We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either both before and after the tour. through us or a travel insurance provider directly. Hotels in Dublin and Shannon can be arranged for • Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact you, ranging from B&B’s to deluxe accommoda- tion. us for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and fitness requirements. Contact us for details. .