Moderate 5 Days / 4 Nights Walking

The Beara Way Walking Holiday — 5 Days (Moderate)

Bantry Bay, Hungry Hill and the Copper Coast — Glengarriff to Allihies

Starting From €595 per person

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At a glance

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Length

5 Days / 4 Nights

route

Distance

54 km · 3 walking days · 15–22 km/day

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Price

From €595 per person

speed

Grade

Moderate

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Start dates

Any day, 15 April – 15 October

hiking

Style

Self-guided, inn to inn

Included: B&B rooms with breakfast · daily luggage transfer · route notes & GPS app · 24/7 emergency support

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This is the ideal introduction to the Beara Way — Ireland's wildest peninsula and the quieter neighbour of the Kerry and Sheep's Head trails. Three walking days take you along the southern edge of Beara, from the ancient oak woods of Glengarriff, under the bulk of Hungry Hill, through the fishing port of Castletownbere and on to the copper-mining village of Allihies on the Atlantic coast.

The trail sits between mountain and sea. To your right, the Caha Mountains rise steeply into boulder and bog. To your left, Bantry Bay and the Sheep's Head Peninsula across the water. The Mare's Tail waterfall — one of the tallest in Ireland — comes into view on Day 2 as it spills 200m down the north face of Hungry Hill. Signs of Beara's copper-mining past build throughout — engine-house ruins, old tramway cuttings, drystone field boundaries — until you arrive in Allihies, the village that was the centre of that industry.

This is a Moderate tour on waymarked Beara Way paths and quiet rural roads, with daily stages of 15–22km. Your luggage moves daily; you walk with a daypack and arrive at Ballydonegan Beach — the red sand beach below Allihies — on your final walking afternoon.

Highlights

landscape

Glengarriff woodland start

The Beara Way begins in the ancient oak woods of Glengarriff Nature Reserve — one of the few surviving temperate rainforests on Ireland's west coast. Moss, ferns and clear streams. A gentle first climb onto the Beara trail proper.

landscape

Hungry Hill and the Mare's Tail

Day 2 passes under Hungry Hill (685m), the highest peak on Beara. In wet weather the Mare's Tail waterfall spills 200m down its northern face — one of Ireland's tallest single-drop falls, visible from the trail below.

landscape

Dunboy Castle and Castletownbere harbour

Day 4 passes the ruins of Dunboy Castle, blown up in 1602 after the last stand of the O'Sullivan Bere clan. Castletownbere is Ireland's second-largest whitefish port — still working, with trawlers at the quay and MacCarthy's Bar just off the harbour.

landscape

Allihies Copper Mine Museum and Ballydonegan Beach

The walk ends in Allihies, the village at the centre of Beara's 19th-century copper-mining industry. The Copper Mine Museum tells the story — Cornish engineers, Welsh miners, Atlantic isolation. Ballydonegan Beach below the village has red sand and a long Atlantic horizon.

Who Is This For?

Your fitness level
This tour suits regular walkers comfortable with 15–22km on rough coastal paths and rural roads over three consecutive days. Two big climbs, on Days 2 and 3 (about 600m and 720m of ascent). You should be steady on uneven ground and happy in open country without waymarked pavement.

The right kind of traveller
You want Ireland's wildest peninsula without the Kerry Way crowds. Evenings in Beara pubs, mornings with sea fog burning off the Caha Mountains, and a sense that you have the west to yourself.

Solo walkers, couples and small groups
The fully supported self-guided format works for all three.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Glengarriff

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The Beara Way begins tomorrow.

Arrive in Glengarriff, gateway to the Beara Peninsula. The village sits in a sheltered harbour ringed by native oak woodland and the Caha Mountains. Collect your route notes and waterproof maps from your B&B. Walk to the Blue Pool and Bamboo Park if you arrive early — Glengarriff benefits from a sub-tropical microclimate courtesy of the Gulf Stream. Easy evening; early night before the first walking day.

Day 2

Glengarriff to Adrigole

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pin_drop Glengarriff → Adrigolehiking 17.3 kmlandscape ↑599mlandscape ↓602mschedule 5h 15m

Your first day on the Beara Way. The trail leaves Glengarriff through the old oak woods of Glengarriff Nature Reserve, then climbs a mountain track to about 500 m. From the top you look out over Bantry Bay and the Caha Mountains. You come down past the Glenlough valley to Adrigole, at the foot of Hungry Hill.

There is nowhere to stay in Adrigole, so we collect you at the end of the walk and bring you back to Glengarriff for a second night.

Distance: 17.3 km. Ascent: about 600 m.

Day 3

Adrigole to Castletownbere

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pin_drop Adrigole → Castletownberehiking 22.1 kmlandscape ↑719mlandscape ↓719mschedule 6h 32m

After breakfast we drive you back to Adrigole, where yesterday's walk ended. The trail climbs onto the shoulder of Hungry Hill (685 m), the highest mountain on Beara, then follows old mountain roads west above the coast. Bere Island lies in the harbour below for much of the afternoon. You finish in the fishing port of Castletownbere.

Distance: 22.1 km. Ascent: about 720 m.

Day 4

Castletownbere to Allihies

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pin_drop Castletownbere → Allihieshiking 14.7 kmlandscape ↑595mlandscape ↓575mschedule 4h 47m

The final walking day heads west from Castletownbere onto the copper-mine trails of Beara's Atlantic tip. The landscape changes: less farmland, more boulder and heather, engine-house ruins on the hillside as you climb over the shoulder of Miskish Mountain. The copper industry here ran from 1812 to the 1880s — one of the most productive in the British Isles.

The descent into Allihies is one of the great moments on the Beara Way — the village appears below you between Ballydonegan Beach's red sand and the green hillside. Visit the Copper Mine Museum, then walk five minutes down to the beach and the Atlantic.

Distance: 14.7 km. Ascent: about 600 m.

Day 5

Departure from Allihies

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Last Beara breakfast, then your scheduled transfer back to Glengarriff (around 90 minutes around the peninsula) or direct to Cork for onward travel. Buses from Glengarriff connect to Cork city (2hrs) and Cork airport.

Want to walk further? The 6 day tour continues to the painted village of Eyeries. The 8 day tour goes on to Lauragh, and the 9 day tour adds a full day on Dursey Island. We will keep a place for you.

Accommodation

Four nights in handpicked B&Bs and small guesthouses: Glengarriff (2 nights), Castletownbere and Allihies. These are family-run properties where the host knows the trail and knows what you want at the end of a long day — a hot shower, a dinner recommendation, and a quiet bed.

There is nowhere to stay in Adrigole, so you spend two nights in Glengarriff and we drive you to and from the trail. Castletownbere offers more choice, all within walking distance of the harbour. Allihies is the most remote — a single village street above the Atlantic, with a beach five minutes from the door.

All rooms are en-suite. Your luggage is transferred daily by van; you walk with a daypack.

What's Included

check_circle What's Included

doneAccommodation: 4 nights in 3-star or better en-suite B&B / guesthouse
doneBreakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
doneLogistics: Luggage transfers to each night's accommodation
doneTransfers: End-of-tour transfer from Allihies back to Glengarriff / Cork airport pickup point
doneNavigation: Personalised digital itinerary and route app for your smartphone that keeps you on the trail at all times
doneSupport: 24/7 emergency contact line
donePreparation: Pre-departure information pack with route details and packing suggestions

block Not Included

closeFlights to/from Ireland
closeTravel and hiking insurance
closeLunches and dinners (though we'll suggest brilliant local spots)
closeAnything not explicitly listed above

Best Time to Visit

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

May, June and September are optimal. May brings long daylight, moorland wildflowers and relatively stable westerly winds. June offers longest days, making remote southern sections more manageable. September combines golden light, noticeably fewer visitors and cooler temperatures comfortable for mountain walking. July and August can be busy; accommodation books up and exposed sections can feel uncomfortably hot.

From

€595 per person

Based on 2 sharing

Single room supplement

Walking with others but want your own room

+ €220

Walking solo?

Your own room and luggage transfers, all included

€955

Preferred Start Date

calendar_month

Book at least 20 days in advance

Number of Walkers

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Your total€1,190

2 walkers sharing

Add €220 for each walker who wants their own room.

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Cliff & Louise

Your Personal Hosts

Have a question about this tour? We've walked it dozens of times and love helping you plan your trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's included in this 5-day tour? expand_more

Here's what your price covers:

Accommodation: 4 nights in 3-star or better en-suite B&B / guesthouse
Breakfast: Full Irish or continental breakfast every morning
Logistics: Luggage transfers to each night's accommodation
Transfers: End-of-tour transfer from Allihies back to Glengarriff / Cork airport pickup point
Navigation: Personalised digital itinerary and route app for your smartphone that keeps you on the trail at all times
Support: 24/7 emergency contact line
Preparation: Pre-departure information pack with route details and packing suggestions

Not included: Flights to/from Ireland, Travel and hiking insurance, Anything not explicitly listed above.

Which days can I start? expand_more

Any day you like between 15 April and 15 October. This is a self-guided holiday, so there are no fixed departure dates: you choose the day you arrive and we build the trip around it.

You can book online from three weeks ahead. June to August fills up first, so for summer it pays to book early.

How fit do I need to be? expand_more

This tour is graded Moderate. You walk on 3 days, 14.7–22.1 km a day. There is some climbing, so you should be comfortable walking day after day. A few months of regular walking, including some hills, is the best preparation. You set your own pace, with route notes and our GPS app to guide you.

How we grade our tours

What happens if I need to cancel? expand_more

We take a 25% deposit to book, and the balance is due six weeks before you start. If you need to cancel:

More than 6 weeks before: you lose the deposit only
4 to 6 weeks before: 50% of the tour cost
2 to 4 weeks before: 80% of the tour cost
Less than 2 weeks before: 100% of the tour cost

We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation. If we can't find suitable accommodation for your dates, you get a full refund. Full booking terms

Can I walk solo, and is there a single supplement? expand_more

Yes, solo walkers are very welcome and there is no minimum group size. Walking on your own, this tour costs €955 instead of €595. That includes a solo supplement of €360 and gives you a room to yourself every night.

Travelling with others but would like your own room? The single-room supplement is €220 per person (4 nights at €55).

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