Walking across Europe - 2013: Kerry Way May 16, 2025 Day 2

Hillwalk Tours Overview

A steep climb over a ridge will get those leg muscles working again as you enter Glencar where you follow a rugged off-road trail around Lough Acoose. From Glencar there it gets easier with a walk along an old ‘boreen’ before you follow the banks of the Caragh River. Tracks and rough paths lead you through the enchanting Lickeen Forest. A quiet country road leads through the Caragh river valley before a track junction allows you to choose one of two routes around Seefin Mountain. Don’t worry, they’re both beautiful and suddenly open up surprising views of Dingle Bay and the sea!

Daily Information

Distance: 20.2 Kms [52.6 Kms]

Walking time: 4h 9m [11h 37m]

Avg walking speed: 4.8 Kms/hr [4.5 Kms/hr]

Elevation G/L meters: 298:(349) [1,089:(1,134)]

Total Daily Steps: 27,078 [70,123]

An exceptional day of walking at a comfortable 4.8 kms an hour over just over 20 kms. Bright and sunny all day…from what I now understand it never rains in Ireland…that is a myth! 😊

I will spare you the details however the Hillwalk Tour description above in red was what we walked to finish Day 1 hence now referred to as the “the end of day Everest mountain expedition that almost killed Guy”. At some point either John or I will document this for Hillside Tours. Seriously someone would be in major league trouble 👿 starting from Killarney with said route notes.

We chose to take the longer route around Seefin mountain which yielded some great views….but a sketchy entry into Glenbeigh.

After another filling Irish ☘️ breakfast…John, Terry and I set out.

Everything is superb!

Michael who along with his wife Joanne own the Inn has a great sense of humour which really makes for a very enjoyable stay.

All three of us were walking well throughout the day. I regained my pep after yesterday and felt strong throughout…John suggested that yesterday could have been impacted by Jet Lag. Maybe John was being a little extra kind here…possibly thinking geez is this Guy fellow going to make it 🤔😉?

Terry who is nursing a sore knee from squatting 90kg…well above his body weight…was moving forward well. Today was his last day as he is heading back to Oxford tomorrow. Terry is well travelled having visited Japan 🇯🇵…many European countries and living in Italy 🇮🇹 and Spain 🇪🇸.

John and I feel fortunate to have met and walked with Terry and he clearly was sincere and saying likewise. People meetings are always the highlights of a long walk!

Varied terrain throughout the day with walking through the old forest areas being numéro uno for all of us!

Franky one of the most relaxing days in recent memory…no dangerous animals…no dangerous people incidents…no pratfalls…just nice walking except for the last 2 kms as previously mentioned was on a very busy road with no shoulder as we entered Glenbeigh. Geez on has to be super careful…keeping a close eye on oncoming traffic on these very narrow roads. Somewhat disappointing finish however no big deal in the overall scheme.

Taken during a welcome break in traffic!

Highlights from a personal point of view were spending a relaxing afternoon chatting away with both Terry & John AND getting my first Guinness beer 🍺 . It was real smooth and tasty 😋

Another Ireland 🇮🇪 requirement was met at supper with superb Fish & Chips with mashed peas. Now after drinking a Guinness followed by Apple Cider in the afternoon…and feeling a little woozy given very low to non existent alcohol consumption at home I ordered a Ginger Ale.

I almost burst out laughing 🤣 when I received the tiny bottle below. It was later explained that ginger ale is basically just a mixer in Ireland…perhaps with whiskey or other spirit…live and learn or my my case live and hope I remember the next time 😊

Early morning before setting out Master home improvement expert, sheep farmer and now navigator John gave me a two minute lesson on compass use with a map. Fascinating however I will require additional tutoring…after all John teaches a two evening course on this. I may be a quick study 😉🤣 but whoa…

A few things I can remember (or think I do). There are three “norths”… maps are oriented north, true north and magnetic north which I did know moves around.

Compass 🧭 dial has 360 degrees. Now things get a little fuzzy. First you line up the compass on a map line…ie a road which leads to your walking objective. Then you adjust the north compass bearing by whatever deviation in degrees magnetic north deviates from hmmm 🤔 not sure dare I say true north?

Now you are set and you follow where the compass has been adjusted to. NOTE this last sentence is total made up nonsense as “I have lost the pea here” 🤷‍♂️ Nevertheless I think some progress was made in that two minute session.

I don’t believe I am quite ready to lead a group of walkers from a mountain top in dense fog as John has had to do…need a “one minute” refresher to do that. 😉 However if anyone is willing to trust my skills…well sure let’s give a go 😊

An interesting very brief meeting with two women hikers. As we came upon them I asked a typical question “where are you from?” Short ensuing conversation…

“From Illinois…how about you?”

“From Canada 🇨🇦 “

“Any way I could live there?”

“ Sure” by this time it was very clear how these two women felt so I ventured with a laugh “But we are not for sale”

“What a dope!” was her final reply and we moved on.

What was so striking was that this kind woman felt a strong need to let me know how she felt once she had met a Canadian. A nice gesture on her part but a sad reflection on current times.

Basically a wrap on the day…already a quarter way through our walking days. Off to Foilmore tomorrow which being 20 kms away should make for a second relaxing day…apparently a super beach 🏖️ but no bathing suits packed by either of us!

A few pictures from the day…