Ierland

Dingle Way, 10 daagse trektocht langs B&Bs

In het echte Ierland kan ieder pubbezoek uitlopen op een spontane zang- en danspartij. Die sfeer vindt u op het Dingle Peninsula, de meest westelijke punt van Ierland. “The Dingle Way” voert u over groene landweggetjes langs bijenkorfvormige stenen hutten en andere archeologische monumenten. U wandelt over lange onverharde lanen met fuchsiahagen en een weelderige bermvegetatie. Het moorland, hoger in de heuvels, is in sommige tijden van het jaar knalgeel van de brem, in de vroege nazomer al gauw prikkelend paars door de bloeiende heide. De kust hoort tot de spectaculairste van de wereld. En het klimaat? Er groeien mediterrane planten en zelfs palmbomen.

Reissom 2012                  1-persoons kamer / toeslag
€ 650                                           € 99             / op aanvraag

BIJ BOEKING VOOR 31 MEI 2012: 10 % KORTING OP DE STANDAARD REISSOM

Deze reis valt onder de SGR

Inbegrepen: overnachtingen op basis van logies, ”Engels ontbijt”, Engelstalige routebeschrijving en wandelkaarten, transfer dag 6, bagagevervoer.
Niet inbegrepen: heen- en terugreis, lunch, diner, taxi Shannon/Cork-Camp €120/€ 150 per rit (bus goedkoper, niet op zondag), reserveringskosten € 20.

Accommodatie: sfeervolle, gastvrije B&B, eigen sanitair niet altijd gegarandeerd.
Zwaarte: 4 tot 7 loopuren door heuvelachtig terrein over goed begaanbare verharde en onverharde paadjes en weggetjes.
Trektocht: met bagagevervoer.

10 dagen / 9 nachten, reiscode IE225
1. Aankomst in Camp.
2. Camp-Annascaul via Inch Strand (17 km/6 uur, ↕ 430 meter).
3. Annascaul-Dingle (19 km/7 uur, ↕ 410 meter).
4. Dingle-Dunquin via Ventry en Slea Head (22 km/6,5 uur, ↕ 350 meter).
5. Dunquin-Ballydavid via Smerwick Harbour (14 km/4 uur, ↕ 180 meter).
7. Rustdag Cloghane, meerdere wandelmogelijkheden.
8. Cloghane-Castlegregory (13 of 28 km/4 of 7 uur, ↕ 30 meter).
9. Castlegregory-Camp (11 of 19 km, 3 of 5 uur, ↕ 30 of 50 meter).
10. Vertrek uit Camp na het ontbijt.

Bijzonderheden
Prijs extra nacht op aanvraag. Hond niet toegestaan. Te boeken van maart t/m oktober. Openbaar vervoer advies: vliegreis naar Cork of Shannon; per bus of trein naar Tralee en per bus (op zondag taxi) van Tralee naar Camp. In een dag terug naar Nederland op dag 8 (dus zonder extra nacht in Cork) is haalbaar op zondag, woensdag en vrijdag, soms ook op maandag of dinsdag. Busdiensten op zondagen zijn zéér beperkt, dus reizen van en naar Ierland op zondagen is af te raden.

Time of Year:
You can walk this route anytime between April and October. The beginning and end of the season will have shorter daylight hours and a higher risk of unpredictable weather. Knowledge of map reading and using a compass is required. In May and October, local restaurants may be closed. Your host will assist you with arrangements for an evening meal.

Uitgebreid dagschema

Day 1: Travel to Camp via Tralee. Camp is situated overlooking Tralee Bay to the north and the bulk of the majestic Gearhane and Caherconree Mountain to the east. It has been an historic crossing point of the Slieve Mish mountains since the first settlers were here in 1700BC . Camp is a small settlement, with plenty of local colour and a short circular walk to limber up for the kilometers ahead!

Day 2:    Walk Camp to Annascaul via Inch Strand. Overnight Annascaul 17km Ascents 430m     Approx. walking time 6 hours
Optional extra hike over Brackloon Hill 5km and 2 hours

Heading south, through the glorious bogland of Slieve, on turf cutting roads, the wilderness of the blanket bog is punctuated with conifer forest and the stacks of drying turf. The Way climbs the side of Ardroe Hill overlooking the 8km of sand dunes and beach at Inch, with views south to the Ring of Kerry and Ireland's highest mountain range, before following the Maum or "Pass" down to Annascaul village.

Day 3:    Walk Annascaul to Dingle 19km. Ascents 410m     Approx. walking time 7 hours
Walking on minor roads starts in earnest today, as you skirt Acres Hill to the remains of 16th century Minard Castle before turning inland again to the railway village of Lispole. All the way you are within scent of the seas of Dingle Bay and encircled by the Kerry Mountains. From Lispole, the Way follows mostly sheep farming country before climbing An Cnoc Maol Mor and descending the old green road into Dingle town.

Day 4:    Walk Dingle town to Dunquin  22km, Ascents 350m  Approx. walking time 6 hours
It is mostly minor roads and beaches today, but beyond the village of Ventry, is some of the most spectacular scenery you could hope to find. The Way weaves through fuchsia hedges and climbs an old track on the foothill of Mount Eagle past the early Christian beehive huts at Fahan. Behind are views of Ventry Harbour and south to the Ring of Kerry and Valentia Island. Ahead the Way opens up to Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. Beyond this is America!

Day 5:    Walk Dunquin to Ballydavid village  14km. Ascents 180m  Approx. walking time 4 hours.
A visit to the Blasket Island Interpretative Centre is recommended, to grasp the harshness of life on the islands, until the last inhabitants resettled on the mainland in 1953. Other than fishing, and sheep farming on the wind blown hills, there is little else to maintain the local communities.  The route follows the Norse named Smerwick Harbour and a detour takes you to Dun an Oir, the Fort of Gold where Italian and Spaniard soldiers were besieged by troops of Elizabeth 1 in 1580. Ballydavid is a thriving fishing harbour and a Gaelic speaking community.

Day 6: Walk Ballydavid to Cloghane 18km  Ascents 750m  Approx. walking time 7 hours.
You are in the cradle of early Christian civilization here, with as many as sixty notable sites of cultural and religious development from the 5th to 9th centuries. Today's hike takes you up; up to the saddle of Más an Tiompáin, (the Pass of the Drum) below Brandon, Ireland's second highest mountain at 950m. The scenery is superb, Tralee Bay, the Magharees against the hues of the Slieve Mish mountains. The descent to Cloghane is nothing short of thrilling on a clear day, and well-earned respite is available in the village!

Day 7:  Free day in Cloghane
Optional climb of Brandon Mountain Ascents 950m, 8 hours return, only recommended in good weather and to experienced hikers.
Loch a Dúin 8km, Ascents 100m Approx. walking time 4 hours
The Valley of Loch a Dúin was inhabited from the early Bronze Age – 2500-2000BC. What is important in the valley is an unbroken line of habitation for 4000 years.  There are approximately eighty stone structures, wedge tombs, standing stones, cooking sites or fulacht fia and rock art. 

Day 8: Walk Cloghane to Castlegregory  13km or 28km Ascents 30m. Approx. walking time 4 / 7 hours
Today's walk follows the coast around the Castlegregory promontory via the surfing beaches of Brandon and Scraggane Bay to the limestone Isles of Magharee. The fishing harbour of Kilshannig is one of the last places where the traditional namhog is made – a fishing boat with a tarred canvas skin on a light wooden frame. A cross slab bearing the Greek Chi-Rho symbol of Christ is in the 15th century Kilshannig Church. Castlegregory is a traditional village serving the area.

Day 9:    Walk Castlegregory to Camp 11km, Ascents 30m Approx. walking time 3 hours
Optional route via Killelton famine village 8km Ascents 20m Approx. walking time 2 hours

A nice coastal route along Tralee Bay, or alternatively a climb through Gleann naGealt. The optional route visits the deserted village of Killelton, its inhabitants evicted by their landlord in the 19th century. There are also the remains of a 12th century oratory. It is a wonderful place, on the Dingle Way between Tralee and Camp with immense views of Tralee Bay.

Day 10: Departure from Camp

To extend this tour or alter the itinerary may we make the following suggestions:

o    Start the tour in Tralee town along the flanks of the lower Slieve Mish mountains, overlooking Tralee Bay. Overnight in Camp. 17km  Ascents 240m  Approx. walking time 6 hours
o    Spend an extra night in Annascaul to climb the Annascaul Lake circuit in the heart of the Slieve Mish. 13km  Ascents 680m  Approx. walking time 6 hours
o    Spend an extra night in Dingle town, a fishing harbour and good place to be. A chance to, explore the local shops, do a little shopping, take a ferry to the Great Blasket Island, read a book or simply sit back and relax by the harbour and watch the world go by. Optional walk over the town on Ballysitteragh. 19km, Ascents 630m, Approx. walking time 6 hours 
o    Spend an extra night in Dunquin to visit the Blasket Islands from the shortest sea route. A 12km route on the island affords the best walking imaginable and an opportunity to absorb the remains of community island life.
o    Spend an extra night in Ballydavid to walk the Pilgrim’s circuit, 12th century Kilmalkeadar church Caherdorgan Stone Fort and 8th century Gallarus Oratory.   16km Ascents 300m, Approx. walking time 5 hours