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Walking in Iveragh Peninsula (South West Kerry)
The Iveragh Peninsula is situated in South West Kerry.
The peninsula has a wide variety of landscapes from the highest mountains in Ireland to beautiful safe sandy beaches.
Iveragh boasts some of Ireland's most spectacular scenery, from steep craggy mountains over heather topped hills to the sparkling blue Atlantic Ocean.
You can take in some of these beautiful vistas on gentle walks across open countryside, round the bogs and up and over the hills.
Let us guide you through this wonderful area. Whether you are a total novice to hill walking or an experienced high mountain walker, we can open up the beauty of this little piece of Ireland and show you some of its secrets and charms.
We can tell you the history of its people through the ages, show you the sights of their dwellings and burial grounds. What ever your interest, we can walk you there.
Come bring your boots and together we will discover the breathtaking, awesome beauty of the Iveragh Peninsula.
Lots of our guided tours go through the Gaeltacht area of South Kerry. An area, rich in old monastic, ecclesiastic and archaeological history.
With the Skellig World Heritage Centre, with an absolute stunning history about old Celtic history, a jewel of Irish Way of Life in state of the art, with ring forts and standing stones from pre-historical times, with one of the most impressive botanic and ornithological sceneries in Europe, with the famous history about the bog-lands, with old pilgrimage paths of the Celtic area.
All about the prestigious history of Valentia Island, (Knights of Kerry, slate factory in 19th and 20th century), about pirate history in Caherdaniel, about Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator, and, and, and so on.
The whole mystic history of this unique region of Europe guided by the best guides.All this together brings an absolute great adventure, you'll never forget.
You need good walking shoes, rain clothes, binoculars and photo-camera, and maybe your walking sticks.
I have developed my different walking programs with different themes.
Here some explanations about different guided tours:
a) the historical, monastic, ecclesiastic and archaeological week:
Day 1: the history of the Channel
You leave the Marina in Cahersiveen at around 10am on a boat.
The visit begins with a short boat-trip around Church Island with it's early Christian Monastery. This tour brings you around Beginish Island with it's history about the Vikings. Passing the most westerly light house in Europe with all it's history.
The boat will follow the whole channel until Portmagee, where a stop is done for around 1 hour. Maybe a good fish-chowder in the famous Moorings pub in Portmagee. Later a visit to the early Christian Site "Illaunloughan".
Continuing straight on direction Atlantic, direction "Horse Islands", "Long Island " with it's burial ground to come finally to "Bray Heads", one of Ireland's well-known wild cliffs, you'll see it up sea-side, up the boat. After this, back through the channel to Cahersiveen, to the Marina.
.Today, first test for your walking shoes. You'll follow an old pathway of the iron age and a ancient pilgrimage way about 5000-6000 years old.
This trip brings you on a part of the world famous "Old Way of Kerry" trek. Lots of megalithic elements, Ogham stones and lot of old pre-historical history. One of the most beautiful sceneries of Ireland with great views over Dingle Bay, The Great Blaskets and Inch Strand.
A great day. A picnic on the way will be done. Your BB will provide a lunch package each day.
Day 3: Lough Currane in Waterville
A long and great trip today on a part of the world-famous "Old Way of Kerry" trek. Very old pre-historical elements with standing stones, holy wells, Ogham stones, cross inscripted stones and the famous "Church Island" on Lough Currane.
A very historic-interesting trip, maybe the longest trip of the week. Fantastic scenery.
Day 4: Ballinskellig, (heart of the mystic Celtic Gaeltacht area of South Kerry)
We begin this walking trip on the beach of Ballingskellig with it's small castle. On this walk, we'll discuss about the story of the world famous "Skellig rocks", when the monks came on land, we'll have a visit about a very ancient oratory and cross-slabs (around 8 th century).
Lots of standing stones, promontory fort, megalithic tomb, the famous "Bolus Head" as well as the "Ducalla Head".
On this trip, we'll speak about very old history.
When going back to Cahersiveen with the car, you'll pass St. Finian's bay with a short visit in one of Ireland's finest chocolate factory.
Day 5: Valentia Island:
Today, we'll get a mix about world oldest history and modern time.
We'll go back 365 millions of years in history and coming back to history of 19 th and 20 th century.
Yes, today, a historical uniqueness in the world. The path of the Tetrapods. These were the first terrestrial animals in the world coming from the sea. You'll see the food-prints, for ever in the rocks.
We'll tell you the prestigious history of the "Knights of Kerry" in relation to Glanleam, about the prestigious history of the slates from Valentia Island, about the crosses and holy wells in Cuuloo, the history of the first European cable connection to America, this up Valentia Island, the most westerly light house in Europe, the museum of the Skellig Experience.
If weather conditions allows it, we'll do the trip to the top of "Bray Head". Lots of information today.
Day 6 and last day: "The Skellig Rocks"
Today, the top event of the week. The guided visit to the "Skellig Rocks", if weather conditions allow it. (You have to know, that these world-renowned rocks are 10 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean)
When-ever, the guide will tell you the nearly unknown but true history of this pre-monastic and Early Christian Monastery that is at the base of our Religion. (5 th and 6 th century)
The theory of this, you have seen it yesterday in the museum from the Skellig Experience. This visit takes the whole day. Take lots of spare films for today and don't forget the binoculars. This is a day, you'll never forget.
Now, it's the end,…… or nearly.
In the evening, a good pint of Guinness and a wonderful meal in the famous "Anchor Bar" in your host town Cahersiveen, (Capital of Iveragh)
To view our pricelist please go to the contact page. Click here.
The botanic-ornithological walks:
Day 1: Derrynane:
We start this week in the Daniel O'Connell garden home through the Forest National Park to the sanctuary on Abbey Island with it's very special history.
Today we'll follow the Smuggler's Path with it's pirate ship story in the 18 th century. Story about wine and brandy smuggled out of France.
Day 2: The working Boglands in Portmagee in the morning and a boat-trip to one of the most important "Gannet" colonies in the world.
The whole story of this region's most important element. Since centuries the synonym for heat. (the Bog)
Bog, as you know, is the base element for the turf-bricks.
Until today, people use the turf-bricks to get heat in their homes.
By law, each house has an open-fire place to use this peat as firing element. It's the "Irish fuel".
I think, it's very important to know about the importance of these bog lands, (today under protection for it's exclusive use). In fact, a very strange botanic and ornithological world has developed all around these bog lands in these very acid soils or peat lands. Very interesting story.
In the afternoon, if weather allows it, a boat-trip to one the world's largest "Gannet's" colonies on "Little Michael", a rock, around 10 miles in the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 3: Brayhead - Cuuloo:
Nature in it's whole wilderness.
Today, we are going to do a circular walk on one of Ireland's windiest places, where a very rich but very strange world of plants is growing on this very windy and rocky spot. Some very rare seabirds have their habitat here. A very windy walk, but an absolutely unique site. You need your binoculars and lots of photo films.
Day 4: Glanleam Park in the morning:
This morning, we are going to do the most westerly botanic garden of Europe, "Glanleam". This house of Glanleam was in 18 th and 19 th century the synonym for richness in the whole Kerry area.
The house of the "Knights of Kerry". Today, Glanleam is in private hands, but still, with the architectural style of the house, the fantastic botanic gardens, you can feel the richness of these people.
The glory of this time. We are going to speak about the world reputation about slates from Valentia Island, we are going to speak about the first cable connection between Europe and America up Valentia Island, we are going to speak about most important people in the world in these times.
We are going to speak about one of Europe's most important harbours: "Knightstown" and the connections to the early history of the world-famous "Golf links" in Waterville and the beginnings of the world reputation for salmon angling in Waterville.
Comparing this to the absolute poverty of the Irish people at this time, this seems absolutely impossible. But, it's a true story, nearly nobody knows.
Stunning views and a very special botanic and ornithological world. You need lots of photos.
After this trip, maybe a small drink in the famous "Royal Pier".
This is a the most instructive day. Up to this moment, you are going to learn a completely new piece of Irish history.
Day 5: Cahersiveen:
A very interesting walking trip, around 10km, through an interesting biotope with wild flowers, interesting birds and some interesting historical elements.
Don't forget your binoculars and lots of films. Beautiful scenery.
Day 6: Cahersiveen, (Over the Water)
Today, last day of our week, we are going to show you the whole beauty of the wilderness all around your host-town, Cahersiveen.
We are simply going from a point:
a) Cooscrome Harbour to a point b) Coonaana Harbour
It looks very easy, but in fact, it's a wonderful walk in fantastic scenery with lots of interesting elements in botanic, ornithology and some very interesting historical elements.
And this brings us to the final point of this week. A good pint of Guinness and a good meal in the famous "Anchor Bar" in your host-town "Cahersiveen"
To view our pricelist please go to the contact page. Click here.
The hill-walking trips:
Day 1: Knocknadobar:
The great mountain of your host town, Cahersiveen. Spectacular views.
"Knocknadobar, the mountain with everything"
It's a pilgrim's path with 14 stations of the Cross leading to the giant Cross at the summit. 4 spectacular corrie lakes on its northern slope,
A treat ridge walk and views of 3 peninsulas. A walk with 850m ascent and 10-12km long. It takes 4 to 5 hours. A first test for your shoes. A great walk.
Day 2: Eagle's Hill in Caherdaniel:
An absolutely superb walk leading to a remote upland mountain lake.
Fantastic scenery. This walk has an ascent about 1082m and around 17km long. It takes around 5-6 hours walk. Fantastic.
Day 3: Bolus Head in Ballinskellig:
A great walk on one of Ireland's most spectacular sight-seeing sites.
After 2 days intensive walk, this is a more leisurely walk.
But, extreme outstanding sea views on all sides with lots of historical elements. (you are in the very mystical world of the old monastic, pre-Christian and ecclesiastical history of the Gaelthacht of South Kerry.)
It's a walk around 4 hours with an ascent of about 520m and around 11km long.
Day 4: Coomavoher lakes:
A superb circuit walk of the beautiful glacial lakes of Tooreenbog, Adoolig and many other smaller mountain lakes. Fantastic sceneries with lots of interesting historical elements. It's a walk with around 900m ascent and around 16,5km long it takes around 6 hours.
Day 5: Coomcalee Ridge:
This is a long and spectacular walk along the high 5km long ridge with magnificent views on Lough Currane, Lough Coonaghlin, Ballingskellig Bay and the lake-studded area to the north. A walk with around 1000m ascent and around 17km long. It takes around 6 hours.
An intensive walk, but great scenery.
Don' t forget your binocular and lots of photos.
Day 6: the Beetee Loop in your Host town Cahersiveen:
Today, as the last day of our week, we'll do a more easy and a shorter program to allow you some shopping's for your return home.
But, this Beentee Loop has a great scenery. It shows you the whole beauty again of this magnificent region.
It's a marked walkway along an ancient mass path and rising to gentle mountain slopes. With a stunning overlook of the town Cahersiveen, the Marina, the harbour and much more. It's a 10km walk with a 530m ascent. It takes around 3 hours walk.
And now, we come to the end:
A beautiful evening in the famous "Anchor Bar", an old traditional Irish pub with a good pint of Guinness and an Irish evening lunch of its best.
To view our pricelist please go to the contact page. Click here.
As perhaps you know, we have a second site running in French with different activities. Click here to reach the site www.activeholidayskerry.com .