For more than twenty years, Peter Galvin has been helping walkers discover the magic of the Beara Peninsula through his self-guided walking holidays with Wonderful Ireland Walking Tours. Since 2003, he has organised thousands of itineraries along Ireland’s most spectacular trails. This December, he is offering Trailhead Members a €100 discount on all Beara Way packages.
We asked Peter to share his personal experiences of the Beara Way, which is a 200+ km hiking trail on the often overlooked Beara Peninsula in the south-west of Ireland. We has for his highlights, practical tips, favourite sections, and the hidden gems that make this peninsula so special.
Highlight of the Beara Way
For me the main highlight of the trail is the peace and tranquillity on the Beara Peninsula. Not many people live on Beara and the landscape is natural and unspoilt. The vast Atlantic Ocean presents a magnificent backdrop to the rugged Caha and Slieve Miskish Mountains that run along the spine of the peninsula. The villages are perfectly located and allow for on average 15km a day hiking.
Some Practical Tips
Book early as the Beara villages are small and accommodation is limited. Make sure you have everything you need before you arrive as there are limited opportunities to purchase essentials and outside of Kenmare, Glengarriff and Castletownbere there are no pharmacies.
Favourite Section
I think my favourite section is probably Bere Island around by the lighthouse and the ascent just afterwards. It’s fantastic to see the fishing vessels passing out to the Atlantic Ocean through the channel and to look back at almost the entire south side of Beara and the great sweep of Bantry Bay. On a clear day you can also see as far as the Iveragh Peninsula to the North and the Sheep’s Head and Mizen Peninsulas to the South.
Trailhead Member Offer
Wonderful Ireland are offering €100 off Beara Way packages for Trailhead Members throughout December. Just mention Trailhead when booking. Whether you want peaceful days on the peninsula, rugged coastal scenery, or quiet moments on Bere Island, this is a perfect time to plan your next adventure.