|
Hillwalk Tours Overview
This walk is a lovely way to finish your tour. Follow the quiet Old Kenmare Road up into the mountains and then onwards into Esknamucky Glen, where you may even spot some Irish Red Deer. From here, the last 14km retrace your walk from Day 2 through the Glen, past Torc Waterfall, Muckross Abbey and onwards into Killarney.
|
|
|
Daily Information
Distance: 26.4 Kms [192 Kms]
Walking time: 5h 34m [41h 33m]
Avg walking speed: 4.8 Kms/hr [4.6 Kms/hr]
Elevation G/L meters: 612:(619) [4,207:(4,285)]
Total Daily Steps: 34,402 [256,330]
John and I have completed walking the Kerry Way 😊👍
What an amazing walk this has been! Exceeded any and all possible expectations! While the GPS measured kilometers was 192 kms John and I walked with backpacks a number of kms further to/from accommodations.
So our official conservative total is 200 kms over 8 days…25 kms per day.
Today we worked hard over the first 10kms where the total days elevation gains were completed (note blue dot in elevation profile below)
We then made our way through the valley which was essentially backtracking day 1 walking until we reached Torc Falls and subsequently Muckross House.
There we encountered the hordes arriving from tour buses…people coming up for the day etc. It was both nice to see people out and about enjoying nature but also a shock after the solitude of the Kerry Way. I can only compare it to a similar experience arriving in Melide Spain after walking the Camino Primitivo!
 |
| Torc Falls |
 |
| Muckross House |
An interesting finish to the walk…😳
We arrived at our accommodation at 2:15 and I sat on a bench outside uploading my Wikilocs track. Without a word of a lie I received a message from my son in law Steven at 2:15.
Steven professes that the timing of his message was a fluke! 😳
Félicitations pour ta marche!
I’m sure you can figure out the meaning. How could Steven have possibly known? John immediately suggested that a tracking device had been planted in my bag as my family was concerned for my well being 🤣
I assured John this was certainly not the case for sure…I then received a message from one of my daughters who will remain nameless (J*a*n*)
Great! Hope you enjoyed the biking!
The Irish word for the day is Craic
Definition: A versatile term for fun, good times, gossip, or news, often used in the phrase "What's the craic?" to ask how someone is or what's happening
Sample Usage: After 8 tough days enjoying the Craic in Killarney
I am thankful for so many things…
- Dawn. We had airline credits that needed to be used…I mentioned my Kerry Walk idea to 🇮🇪. No hesitation…”Enjoy yourself”
- Carmel and John for their warm welcome upon my arrival…delicious supper…great chatting…comfy room. Considering I had likely spoken to both of them only a few hours on the Camino Primitivo in 2022…quite a connection!
- Various medical staff…none of whom would be reading this for their kind help as I struggled to get back on my feet post June 2024 surgery. Not a chance without their support! I felt strong throughout this walk.
- No rain…sunny skies…8 days. Wow 😮
- Great food…Guinness and Apple cider
- No injuries to either John or me…the old guys did just fine 😊
- Hillwalk tours who created a challenging itinerary…chose superb accommodation for us…provided extensive trip material including eating recommendations. Yes we had a Day 1 problem…John and I will provide our feedback however one error does not obliterate all the positives.
- Warm hearted people of Ireland 🇮🇪…over and over they welcomed us…helped us out…provided some great laughs.
- John. For his friendship. An enjoyable experienced walking partner. John helped me so much in seeing and understanding Ireland that could only be achieved walking the country side. Great sense of humour, very strong walker and interpreter of the Irish people for me 🤣. Patiently explaining Gaelic Football, detective work associated with murders…restraining himself as he explained movies, history etc in thinking but not saying “Guy you have not heard of that…Guy what do you know?”
John’s two route suggestions on Day 1 and Day 6 were absolutely key in our successful walk.
To close some pictures from the day…on to Kilmainham Gaol tomorrow and ??? the following day.
It has been an adventure to remember!
 |
| Two poached eggs and salmon…delicious |
 |
| CaesarSalad |
 |
| Pork Medallions |
Congratulations on such a successful trip. I can't imagine 8days@25k per day. You are the man!!!
ReplyDeleteI recommend that you stay in Ireland for a few more days - we have cold rainy days; our favorite hockey teams are dead and buried for another year.
Thanks for sharing your journey, the pictures are fantastic.
See you when you get back to Canada. Steve
Thanks Steve it was a great walk! Sunny skies here…at famous a Kilmainham Goal for a visit. Tomorrow a full day to wander before returning to TO. What the Jets are gone…Canadiens as well 😢
DeleteIn NZ it used to be rude to talk about politics, religion and money. How about Canada? Times have changed here - I hope you won’t be offended when I ask how much this walk has cost you - more than 12 euro bunks in albergues for sure! Only answer if you’re comfortable!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations doesn’t seem like the best word to apply to someone who has just had one of the best weeks of their life!! Isn’t it great you got to do it!
Rachael great to hear from you. Yes it was a very special 8 day walk…one to remember with a smile 😊! In Canada 🇨🇦 politics is not normally top of mind except in very recent times. We have been insulted in the worst way and the term “elbows up” is common. We now look at where products are made before purchasing. We look for alternate destinations to visit etc. I found this is exactly the same situation in Ireland 🇮🇪…no matter whom you talk to. Sad reflection on current times!
ReplyDeleteI don’t mind at all the question about costs. Unsurprisingly the costs are for sure higher than a typical Camino walk. Overall best guess 2000 Euros for 11 days. 1139 Euros to Hillwalk tours (planning, accommodation, breakfasts and any shuttles required included), 240 Euros for 2 nights stay in Dublin (a lot of research to get to that price!) and various other. We ate in pubs mostly and costs generally are in the 15-20 Euro range.
I appreciate your comments…yes well worth it! Buen Camino
Thanks - info filed away for a later date!
Delete