7-day Walking Tour of Southern Ireland through the Gap of Dunloe
Join Keith, a certified mountain guide, on this exceptional 7-day walking tour through the Gap of Dunloe and the rest of southern Ireland.
Group
7 Days
May - Sep
Intermediate
Beginner
Highlights
- Hike the Wicklow Mountains and Mount Brandon
- Explore Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunloe.
- Visit the bohemien city of Galway.
Description
Join me on this magical 7-day walking tour through the south of Ireland and experience all the majestic history and landscapes of this storied island for yourself!
We begin our adventure by driving through the Wicklow Mountains, over the Sally Gap. Along the way we will get a great view of Guinness Lake, where a member of the famous brewing family lives. Once we arrive at our destination, we will hike around the valley to the sixth-century Glendalough Monastic site.
En route to our next destination, we will visit the South Pole Inn for a drink, which was founded by the famous Antarctic explorer, Tom Crean. Afterwards, we will have a lovely cliff walk into the Dingle.
Exploring as much of the beautiful and unique Irish countryside will be one of our main goals throughout the trip. To that end we will hike up Mount Brandon to take in sublime views of the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands.
We will also head to Slea Head, taking one of National Geographic’s top 10 drives in the world to get there. We then stroll through fuchsia-lined roads past megalithic relics until we arrive at a vista with spectacular views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Dead Man’s Island.
The following day we will find ourselves in yet another landscape, as we hike through the Gap of Dunloe, surrounded by the emerald green mountains, which are the tallest in Ireland. We will also take a quick boat ride through the lakes of Killarney, before paying a visit to Ross Castle and hiking into the village of Killarney.
Next, travel over the river Shannon by ferry before arriving in Burren National Park and hiking to the Cliffs of Moher. From there we will have mesmerising views of rugged cliffs and the ocean below. Before we say goodbye, we will hike the majestic karst limestone landscape of the national park before heading off the Galway and bidding each other a fond farewell.
So what are you waiting for? Book now for this idyllic 7-day hiking tour through the south of the Emerald Isle!
If you like the look of this trip then we think you may also be interested in our 9-day walking tour of the northern Irish coast!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Transport during the trip
- Permit and entrance fees
Price details
- Price includes breakfast, but does NOT include lunch, dinner or drinks. Please also note that price reflects shared accommodations. There is an extra fee of €240 for a private room.
Itinerary
Day 1: Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough Monastic site
After leaving Dublin, we will head south through the Wicklow Mountains, seeing Guinness Lake along the way. In the afternoon, we will visit the Glendalough Monastic site.
Day 2: Dingle Village and The South Pole Inn
We will visit the South Pole Inn en route to Dingle. On the way we will stop for a cliff walk along Beenbane beach and into Dingle.
Day 3: Mount Brandon and Connors Pass
We will hike up Mount Brandon via the Connor Pass, where we will have amazing views of Dingle Peninsula.
Day 4: Slea Head Walk
We will hike through the gorgeous, fuchsia-lined roads of Slea Head and follow the cliffs to a lovely vista before walking back to the village of Ballyferriter.
Day 5: The Gap of Dunloe and Killarney National Park
We will have a beautiful hike through the Gap of Dunloe. We will then take a ferry, explore Killarney National Park and head to Killarney village.
Day 6: The Cliffs Of Moher Walk
We will cross the river Shannon by ferry as we head up the west coast. We will then hike along the Cliffs of Moher, enjoying the lovely views before arriving in Lahinch.
Day 7: The Burren Walk and Galway City
We will walk through the lovely karst limestone landscape of Burren National Park before leaving Lahinch to heading to Galway where we will say goodbye.
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Keith
4.0
(1)
Mountain Guide
I have been a guide for over 10 years in Ireland, Asia and Europe. I have extensive experience with individuals and groups. I can cater for any size group and also have a fleet of coaches to take you to your destination.
Mountains have always been part of my life and it is there that I feel most comfortable and content.
Mountains in my hone country are incredible, challenging but there are routes for all levels of walkers or climbers.
Languages
French | English
Certificates
UIMLA
What people are saying about this trip
Amy
Keith had a last minute family event so he wasn’t our guide. It was a little disjointed because we had two different guides that switched halfway. While they were both wonderful, they weren’t as familiar with the routes. There were errors with our hotel bookings, we should have had one single, one triple and one double but that wasn’t how the rooms were booked. Once we only had two rooms. I also feel like the name should be changed to hiking tour of Southern Ireland rather than walking and there should be more detail on the website about the lengths of the walks, elevation gain etc. it is posted as easy for the occasional walker but many of the hikes were intense and required a good degree of fitness. My mother ended up spraining her knee as she wasn’t in good enough shape for the intensity. The hikes and Ireland were beautiful.
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