Kerry Way

by: Donal Nolan
The Kerry Way is one of Ireland's longest and most popular waymarked trails. Looping around the Iveragh Peninsula, it follows narrow country roads, forest paths, abandoned coach roads and Mass paths, National Park land and farmland.

This guide, complete with all the necessary maps, offers a detailed description of the trail plus lively asides on geology, history, folklore, settlement, flora and fauna. The trail description is broken down into sections from the first step out of Killarney, through the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, into the splendour of the Ring of Kerry and back to Killarney. The book contains colour photographs and charts giving stage distances and grade of difficulty. The maps at a scale of 1:75,000 are in colour and show the route highlighted.

The day stages are as follows:
Killarney to Black Valley 20.5km
Black Valley to Glencar 18km
Glencar to Glenbeigh 12km
Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen 20.5km
Cahersiveen to Waterville 24km
Waterville to Caherdaniel (Coastal route) 12km
Waterville to Caherdaniel (Inland route) 23km
Caherdaniel to Sneem 17km
Sneem to Kenmare 25km
Kenmare to Killarney 22km

ISBN 9781848892354 Pages 112 (2015 reprinted 2022) 128mm x 197mm

by: Cork Kerry Tourism
The Kerry Way is the Irish Republic's longest way-marked trail. The first stage from Killarney National Park to Glenbeigh is inland through wild and spectacular countryside. The second stage aims to be a coastal circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula linking Caherciveen, Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and Kenmare, returning to Killarney. The circuit is about 215km (135 miles).
By using ancient routes between early Christian settlements a walk along the Kerry Way is a journey back in time through the ancient baronies of Magunihy, Dunkerron North and South, and Iveragh. As the Way is mostly at a higher level than the present day roads, it improves on what is already renowned viewing. The route is waymarked, although intentionally discretely.
The Way is mostly below the 300m contour, but rises above this where it crosses passes (the highest point is 385m at Windy Gap between Glenmore and Cahherdaniel. In general the Way, while rough underfoot, should be suitable for family groups, particularly in summer. Care must be taken at other times.
This guide is a fold out map showing the route on a series of 8 panels at a scale of 1:50,000