Kerry Way

Kerry Way
Name	Kerry Way
Location	County Kerry, Ireland
Length km	214
Trailheads	Killarney; Cahersiveen
Use	Walking; Hiking
Difficulty	Moderate to Strenuous
Season	All year

Kerry Way is a long-distance walking route encircling the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, linking Killarney National Park, Cahersiveen, Kenmare, and coastal villages. The route traverses mountain passes, coastal roads, and rural lanes, passing through national parks, nature reserves, and historic sites associated with the Great Famine, Viking Age, and Norman invasion of Ireland. It forms part of Ireland’s network of National Waymarked Trails and connects with other trails such as the Beara Way and Dingle Way.

Route

The route begins in Killarney near Killarney National Park and follows a broadly circular path around the Iveragh Peninsula, touching settlements including Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and Glenbeigh. It incorporates mountain passes like the Moll's Gap and coastal features such as the Skellig Ring and the Ballaghbeama Gap, runs alongside lakes such as Lough Leane and Gleninchaquin Lake, and skirts the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way walkers encounter archaeological sites linked to Early Christian Ireland, medieval castles associated with families like the O'Sullivan Beare and MacCarthy Mór, and modern landmarks such as the Skellig Michael viewing points and the Ring of Kerry road corridor.

History

The path follows routes used since antiquity, including trackways connecting Cahersiveen and Kenmare and medieval pilgrim tracks to Skellig Michael. In the 19th century the area was affected by the Great Famine, with local demography and land use altered by emigration documented in parish records held at institutions like the National Archives of Ireland. The modern trail was developed in the late 20th century by bodies including Comhairle Chill Chiaráin and the Irish Sports Council with mapping from the Ordnance Survey Ireland. It was designated as a National Waymarked Trail through policies influenced by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and subsequent planning by Fáilte Ireland. Conservation-driven rerouting has responded to pressures from tourism after the international exposure provided by the Skellig Michael UNESCO listing.

Geography and Scenery

The peninsula’s geology reflects the influence of the Caledonian Orogeny and glacial sculpting from the Last Glacial Period, producing features such as mountain karst, steep headlands like Beenoskee and round boglands near Healy Pass. Landscapes vary from oceanic cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean to sheltered bays like Derrynane Bay and sheltered valleys within Killarney National Park that contain oak woodland and glacial lakes including Lough Caragh. The area supports habitats recognized by the European Union under directives such as the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, hosting species recorded by conservation organizations like BirdWatch Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Activities and Use

Primary use is long-distance walking and hillwalking, attracting international visitors from United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, and Australia. Other activities include trail running events organized by clubs such as the Kerry Athletics Club and guided tours run by operators based in Killarney and Waterville. Cyclists occasionally use sections, linking with cycle routes promoted by Fáilte Ireland and local cycling groups like West Kerry Cycling Club. Cultural tourism visits archaeological monuments administered by Office of Public Works sites such as the Ballinskelligs Abbey and historic properties managed by organizations like the Irish Landmark Trust.

Accommodation and Facilities

Villages along the way provide accommodations ranging from hostels and bunkhouses to bed and breakfasts and hotels in towns such as Killarney and Cahersiveen. Public services include Garda Síochána stations, medical centres near Kenmare and Castletownbere (for linked routes), and transport links via Iarnród Éireann stations to Tralee and bus services operated by regional companies connecting to Shannon Airport and Cork Airport. Visitor centres in Killarney National Park and interpretive signage funded by the Heritage Council assist navigation, complemented by mapping available from Ordnance Survey Ireland and guidebooks published by specialist publishers like Rucksack Readers.

Safety and Access

Weather on the peninsula is influenced by the North Atlantic Current and prevailing westerly winds, producing rapid changes that require preparation referenced in advisories from Met Éireann and safety guidance by the Mountaineering Ireland. Access points are reachable via regional roads including the N71 and local bus routes; parking and trailheads are managed by county councils such as Kerry County Council. Emergency response may involve units from Kerry Mountain Rescue and ambulance services coordinated through Health Service Executive facilities. Land access respects the legal framework overseen by bodies like the Land Registry and public rights of way clarified through county development plans.

Conservation and Management

Management is coordinated among agencies including Kerry County Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, local community councils, and tourism bodies like Fáilte Ireland. Conservation measures address habitat protection under EU legislation including the Natura 2000 network, archaeological protection enforced by the National Monuments Service, and invasive species control guided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Funding and volunteer maintenance involve organizations such as An Taisce and local heritage groups, while research partnerships with universities including University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin inform sustainable trail management and biodiversity monitoring.

Category:Long-distance trails in Ireland