icon Trip Overview

icon Lodging

Route Rating Level 1 to Level 3

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Casual Inns
  • $3,398 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+From $410 To $450
    for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 3 lunches and 1dinner.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Cork, Ireland

Special Interest

Culture & History, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Golf, Sail

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

Search
Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Ireland Family Multisport

Ireland Family Multisport

Biking & Walking: Counties Cork & Kerry in the Southwest Emerald Isle

Throughout history, the magic of Ireland has been celebrated in art, music and literature, so much so that you may ask yourself whether Ireland could possibly live up to its reputation. Rest assured - it does. Let Ireland lure you and your family to its green hills and cheery villages. Our welcoming Irish hosts have formed a close-knit community that embraces family and allows an intimate look at daily life and local culture. On our fun-filled biking and walking trip, you'll weave through a spectacular landscape, along the quiet nooks of counties Cork and Kerry, past breathtaking countryside and peaceful emerald glens.

View other trips in Europe At Large

Day 1 Glengarriff

Meet in Cork and shuttle to Inchigeelagh Admire lake views as you bike a quiet rolling road in the coastal highlands to Gougane Barra After a tasty pub lunch, continue to Glengarriff.

Days 2-3 Kenmare

Pedal through the peaceful woodlands of Glengarriff Woods State Forest Ferry to Garinish Island, and explore tropical gardens filled with exotic plants, fountains and replicas of Roman temples A pottery-making class gives kids the chance to create their own unique souvenirs  Revel in expansive lush green views as you bike over Caha Pass into Kenmare, where an array of shops and galleries awaits Explore the wild and rugged Beara Peninsula along Kenmare Bay Ride past quiet bays and windswept cliffs to Glen Inchaquin Park Watch a sheepshearing demonstration  Weather permitting, kids go sailing on Kenmare Bay.

Days 4-6 Killarney

Kids delight in a scavenger hunt in Kenmare Accompanied by a local guide, adults stroll through wooded parks along the Kenmare River to see one of the largest stone circles in County Kerry Hike up to Windy Gap with our local guide for views of Killarney National Park Visit the famous Muckross House and gardens  Marvel at thundering Torc Waterfall and climb Torc Mountain  Investigate the restored 15th-century Ross Castle.

Trip praise

We had another wonderful Backroads holiday. Backroads has indeed found the recipe for successful holidays for our family, which we know from our own experience can be a difficult thing. You succeeded famously once more! We particularly enjoyed the unexpected activities the local hiking guide, the trip to the little island from the first hotel, Ross Castle tour. We also liked the way the first and last day had lots of activity (particularly the first day which got a good early start.)
Elizabeth Koester - Toronto, ON

read more trip praise

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Ireland tour experts. For multisport tours in Europe At Large, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe At Large multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large walking and hiking tours click here.

Ireland Family Multisport

IRISH TRADITIONS : Casual Inns

Glengarriff Park Hotel

Glengarriff (1 night): This quaint hotel, ideally located in the heart of the picturesque coastal town of Glengarriff, has a lively bar and bistro.

Brook Lane Hotel

Kenmare (2 nights): Set on the outskirts of Kenmare, this locally owned boutique hotel features contemporary décor, a cozy lounge and attractive guest rooms with heated floors.

Randles Court Hotel

Killarney (2 nights): Once a rectory dating to the turn of the 20th century, this historic inn is embellished with antiques and art.

Ireland Family Multisport Ireland Family Multisport

Randles Court Hotel

Ireland Family Multisport

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 13, 22, 32 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 7, 25 miles
  • 0 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 2  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 7, 13, 25 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 1  2 Route Options Available
  • Walking 3.5 miles (Adults)
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
  • Scavenger Hunt (Kids) 1.5 Hours 
  • Hiking 3.8 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Level 2  1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 6.9 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Walking 3 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain

Level 4 and 5 options available upon request; please ask your Trip Leaders for details.

On this Family trip, our family options are chosen with minimal to moderate elevation gain/loss. Adult-only routes are available and include longer mileage and more significant elevation gain/loss. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

We bike on narrow roads that can be bumpy at times and may include loose gravel. We hike on paved roads, dirt tracks and foot paths that can be wet and boggy at times.

Ireland Family Multisport Ireland Family Multisport

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours
10-20
miles
2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours
21-30
miles
5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours
31-40
miles
7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours
41-55
miles
9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours
56-75+
miles
11-13+
miles