Ierland

Beara Way, 10 daagse trektochtlangs B&Bs

“The Beara Way” omcirkelt het meest westelijke schiereiland van het graafschap Cork. U trekt van het kustplaatsje Glengariff, via de oude vissershaven van Castletownbere, naar het levendige stadje Kenmare. De wandelingen zijn afwisselend. Deels loopt u door een open berglandschap met weidse vergezichten waarbij u van tijd tot tijd een glimp opvangt van Bantry Bay en Kenmare Bay. Tijdens de rest van de tocht trekt u langs de kust, over oude weggetjes en green roads. Onder invloed van zon en wolken lijkt de zee hier steeds opnieuw van kleur te verschieten. Onderweg passeert u prehistorische steencirkels en ringforten. U overnacht in goede accommodaties in traditionele dorpjes.

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, bagagevervoer.
Niet inbegrepen: heen- en terugreis, lunch en diner, reserveringskosten € 20.

Accommodatie: sfeervolle, gastvrije B&B, eigen sanitair niet altijd gegarandeerd.
Zwaarte: 3,5 tot 7 loopuren door heuvelachtig terrein over goed begaanbare paden (de kwaliteit van de paden door het veen is wisselend en weersafhankelijk) en landweggetjes (verhard en onverhard) door heide- en veenlandschap.
Trektocht: met bagagevervoer.

10 dagen / 9 nachten, reiscode IE229
1. Aankomst in Glengariff.
2. Glengariff-Glengariff Woods-Glenlough Mountains-Adrigole (16 km/5 uur, ↕ 230 meter).
3. Adrigole-Castletownbere met uitzicht over Bantry Bay (22 km/6 uur, ↕ 450 meter).
4. Rustdag in Castletown; optioneel bezoek aan Bere Island (8 of 24 km/2,5 of 6uur, ↕ 250 meter).
5. Castletown-Allihies (12 km/3,5 uur, ↕ 220 meter).
6. Vrije dag in Allihies met optioneel bezoek Dursey Island (24 km).
7. Allihies-Eyeries via de kustroute bij Coulag Bay (20 km/6 uur, ↕ 500 meter).
8-10. Zelfde als dag 6-8 van arrangement A.

Bijzonderheden
Prijs extra nacht op aanvraag. Hond niet toegestaan. Te boeken van april t/m oktober. Openbaar vervoer advies: vliegreis naar Cork, per bus (niet op zondagen) of per taxi van Cork naar Glengariff (taxi circa € 140 per rit). In een dag terug naar Nederland op dag 10 (dus zonder extra nacht in Cork) is haalbaar met vertrek 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.

Uitgebreid dagschema

Day 1: Travel to Glengarriff situated on beautiful Bantry Bay. “Glengarriff” means the “rugged glen”, but it is now a more wooded and attractive valley than when it was named. We supply a leaflet of short walks around the Glengarriff area- the Blue Pool amenity area where there is an excellent swimming spot and lovely coastal walking, Glengarriff woods and short walks on the hill overlooking the village. You may wish to visit Garinish Island, a planted sub-tropical garden about 10 minutes off the coast by ferry, famous for its Italian Garden and ancient sun temple.

Day 2:  Walk Glengarriff to Adrigole through the Glengarriff woods and Glenlough Mountains.  Overnight in Adrigole village. 16km. Ascents 230m     Approx. walking time 5 hours
The Beara Way follows old tracks and roads alongside Magannagan stream, through low lying sheep pasture before climbing to an old pass by Gowlbeg mountain and following the sheep trails to meet an old cart road down to Adrigole village. It is a gentle introduction to your week’s walking! Tonight’s evening meal will be in your guesthouse.

Day 3:  Walk Adrigole to Castletownbere with views over Bantry Bay. Castletownbere 22km. Ascents 450m     Approx. walking time 6 hours
This walk is harder work because of the ascent and descent. Your day is well rewarded in fine weather with wonderful views and a series of pre-historic sites close to the route. A series of bog roads, farm tracks and minor roads are linked today to cross the rugged slopes of Hungry Hill. A gentle climb from Adrigole takes you above Bantry Bay with stunning views south to Sheep’s Head. The Way descends from 200m into a glaciated valley at 100m, before climbing again to 350m across the slopes of Maulin Hill. Castletownbere, nestled in the lee of Bere Haven Harbour and sheltered by Bere Island, is the principal town of the peninsula and the largest whitefish port in Ireland. It offers a full range of services.

Day 4:  Free Day in Castletownbere with optional visit to Bere Island
Bere Island is 13km by 5km and has a community of 210 people who fish and farm on the island. A ferry that takes 15 minutes and costs €5 return services it regularly. There is a way marked route on the island, through open sheep farming country, visiting Ardnakinna Lighthouse and a Martello Look out Tower. (8km or 24km, Ascents 250m, Approx. walking time 6 hours
If you choose to stay on the mainland, visit Dunboy Castle and Puxley mansion. Dunboy was home to O’Sullivan clan who ruled the area for three centuries. Puxley mansion, was a 19th century family home of the Puxley’s, who mined copper in the area. Bicycles are for hire in Castletownbere for more exploration.

Day 5:  Walk Castletownbere to Allihies through the Slieve Miskish Mountains. 12km. Ascents 220m Approx. walking time 3 hours
Some of today’s route passes through conifer forests, about the only alternative on poor bogland to turf cutting or sheep farming. The Way crosses open hill terrain and is under the peak of Knockgour at 481m. You will pass a ringfort - an ancient farm enclosure, which would have served as a home for people and animals. Allihies is a colourful coastal village, surrounded by the remains of copper mines – crushed stones from the mines formed the beach.

Day 6:  Free day to walk to Dursey and explore Dursey Island, connected to the mainland by cable car. Overnight Allihies. (24km return to Allihies)
This is a magnificent place to spend a day, along the very western end of Europe. The Dursey Island Cable Car is a unique experience. On the island are the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey and in the nearby graveyard is the family vault of O'Sullivan Beara. From the furthest tip of the island, Dursey Head, there are three little islands: The Bull, The Cow, and The Calf. The Bull has the largest gannet colony in Ireland and both it and The Cow have been designated as areas of wild-life protection.

Day 7: Walk from Allihies via the coast at Coulagh Bay to Eyeries. 20km Ascents 500m Approx. walking time 6 hours
Mining tracks link Allihies with Eyeries and the views are to the north of Coulagh Bay and the mouth of the Kenmare River. The coastal route takes you past coastguard ruins and rocky shorelines to the Ballycrovane Standing stone - 4.7m and quite a sight!

Day 8: Walk Eyeries to Lauragh, via Ardgroom.  22km, approx. walking time 6 hours. Ascents 300m
Climb the slopes of Gortbrack hill over the stunning Cleanderry Harbour to the pretty village of Ardgroom. Under the striated glaciated face of Tooreenamna and Coomacloghane there are no less than ten prehistoric monuments. The Owenashagh River meets Killmackillogue Harbour at Lauragh - a glorious sub tropical setting of rhododendron and Scot’s Pine. Dereen House & Gardens are well worth a visit.

Day 9: Walk Lauragh to Kenmare along the base of the Caha Mountains and via Lough Inchiquin. 24km Ascents 470m. Approx. walking time 6 hours
A minor road climbs to a saddle at 150m between the hills of Knockatee and Knockanoughanish, before climbing higher on the slopes of Knockagarrane through open hillside. Superb views from a height of 250m of the Cloonee Lakes below you before descending through farmland to Lough Inchiquin and a stone circle with 2.5m high standing stone from the Neolithic era 3500 – 2000 B.C. Climb the Inchiquin valley, past isolated farmhouses and onto a saddle at 370m. This is the last climb before Kenmare! The Way now joins small roads and an increasing number of dwellings as you descend into Kenmare town, an interesting market town founded in 1670, on the banks of the Roughty River.

Day 10: Departure from Kenmare.