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Ireland Walking

Ireland Walking

"When it's gray and drizzly, the Irish say it's a 'soft' day. And after a while this softness works its way into your soul," claimed one veteran traveler to Ireland. "Ahh, but when the sun does emerge, the entire Earth smiles." We think you'll smile - rain or shine - during this Backroads ramble, where friend and guide Michael Murphy introduces you to the land and lore he's spent his life getting to know. And where Francis and John Brennan graciously welcome you to the prestigious Park Hotel Kenmare and its outstanding restaurant. Add a cozy woolen sweater, a wee nip of whiskey and we're all as happy as leprechauns.

Days 1-2 Caragh Lake

Meet in Cork From the Carrig House, embark on a hike along Caragh Lake with views of the spectacular glacier-carved Glencar Valley The top of appropriately named Windy Gap offers stunning views of Dingle Bay Stroll along the dramatic coastal cliffs to Rossbeigh or enjoy a local pint.

Day 3 Killarney

Hike Tomies Woods and visit O'Sullivan's Cascade Savor a traditional pub lunch in historic Killarney Stroll to 15th-century Ross Castle on the shore of Lower Lake Delight in the lost art of storytelling as a local seanachie spins enchanting tales.

Days 4-6 Kenmare

Join local guide Michael Murphy for a visit to Killarney National Park, Muckross Estate and Torc Waterfall Wander through charming Kenmare, where you'll find shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants, as well as row upon row of houses with cheerfully painted façades and ornate plasterwork Pamper yourself with a spa treatment at our hotel Hike over Mount Knockagarrane on the rugged Beara Peninsula, with awe-inspiring views of the pristine lakes and glacier-carved mountains in Inchiquin Valley Taste local whiskeys with expert John Moriarty Follow quiet paths to one of the largest stone circles in County Kerry.

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LUXURY & CHARM: Premiere Inns

Carrig House (2 nights): Enjoy the gracious service of Mary and Frank Slattery at this restored Victorian gem, set on the shore of Caragh Lake.

Killarney Park Hotel (1 night): Promising and delivering "warmth beyond the smile," this handsome hotel in the heart of Killarney offers delectable cuisine, a swimming pool, a spacious spa and a full-time pianist.

Park Hotel Kenmare (2 nights): This Small Luxury Hotels of the World member comes with antique-filled elegance, French cuisine, an 18-hole golf course, a private cinema and a deluxe spa.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

We hike on boggy trails, pavement and dirt roads that can be wet and rocky at times. The terrain is gently to moderately hilly.


Routes 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 Biking Average Walking Average
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS

Guest Trip Reviews

Backroads never fails to provide a unique travel experience, one I can brag about to all my friends. It is difficult to put a price on all that is learned and experienced on a Backroads trip, and it is hard to convey to others not on the trip all the feelings we gather on such a trip. They will just have to come along next time and see for themselves.
Cathy Sleiter - Stillwater, MN

Our vacation was much more than we expected. Everything - leaders, hotels, food, itinerary, pubs - was just perfect. Our local guide was superb - his stories and information made his days with us memorable. Pub lunch was great; the beer tasting confirmed that I do enjoy Guinness. And the pub visit after dinner one evening just put a great finish to our first Ireland visit. When John (a local) broke out in song, the whole pub went silent as we were just taken with the voice and story of the song. Perfect. And the picnic lunch in the pasture beneath the waterfalls fit in with the rest of the detailed perfections of the week.
Ed Burger - Dallas TX

I loved our Irish experience! Everything about the trip was first-rate. I particularly appreciated the local guides, who were really tops, sharing insights and good fun with all of us. Our leaderssimply were outstanding in every way. Their professionalism in organizing our daily schedules, interacting with us, and handling problems big and small far exceeded my expectations. Congratulations to all of you!
Ruby Gore - Scottsdale, AZ

The variety of the hotels, not to mention the scenery and terrain of each of the hikes, made for a well rounded and really wonderful vacation. Balance between activity and down time was just perfect for me. The high quality of the trip, not surprisingly, was due to our leaders. They were fantastic, and complemented each other perfectly - they were just very, very good at their jobs. When I went on my first Backroads trip last year, I was really dubious of the group thing. But the structure of the trip and the fact that the leaders really do go out of their way to ensure each guest gets what they need makes the price of the trip worth every penny.
Daisy Kline - New York, NY

We took other trips and quite a few other walking trips with different companies and have never had anything but a marvelous experience. The trip to Ireland, however, far out did any trip we've taken! This trip to Ireland was truly the very best! I am sure that most of it was due to the outstanding leaders and of course, the gorgeous country and just the right mix of people. Our accommodations were superb. We have had all of that on other trips but there was something magical about this trip and we THANK YOU for all that you put into it.
Katie Gordon - Pittsburgh, PA

I loved the entire experience, and it was more than we hoped for. We got a real feel for the land, the people, the culture and history.
Art Repke - Alexandria, VA

Once again, another great Backroads trip. The accommodations, food, experiences were the best. Even better were the leaders, who made it all come together, and who made a group of strangers into friends.
Jean Herman - Stillwater, MN