The Nature Holiday

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Maeve will meet you at Shannon airport and we will drive approximately two hours to the beautiful village of Annascaul to The Old Anchor Guesthouse where we will be met by our host Marie Kennedy. This is a superbly run guesthouse and it is listed in Alaistir Sawdays ‘Special Places to Stay in Ireland’ for 2003. I quote from this book which says ‘This is the Ireland I had hoped to discover’.Once we are all settled and have unpacked we'll take a short walk on magnificent Inch beach to blow away the cobwebs and smell the pure sea air with Chris and Maeve. Chris will give a short slide presentation on the weeks activity’s ahead after dinner.

Day 2: After a hearty Irish breakfast we will have a short drive west to the start of  our first walk along the spectacular coastal cliffs of Bulls Head. A particularly good nesting spot for the acrobatic Chough among many more interesting seabirds.  Bulls Head is also a place with evidence of  past inhabitants, with an impressive old Iron age promontory fort and further along the walk an altered burial chamber.

Walk approximately 4 hours. Rough shrub terrain at times, along cliffs and quiet back roads. Elevation: 200 metres.

Day 3: Weather permitting we will take the short ferry crossing to one of the most spectacular islands off the West Coast of Ireland the Blasket Islands.

A place steeped in history and stories of the people who once inhabitated the island until their evacuation in 1953. A wonderful chance to loose yourself in the wilds of the Atlantic ocean. Passing Gannets, Cormorants and Shags and you never know what over overseas visitor might just pass by.

Walk approximately 3 hours. Grassy track to back of the island. Elevation 150m.

Overnight at Annascaul

 Day 4:  After an early breakfast we will leave the Dingle Peninsula and travel south to Valentia island via a short car ferry to the islands colourful town Knightstown. As the old Irish name suggest Valentia is truly the jewel in the mouth of the bay, there is much to interest the nature enthusiast, from ancient tetrapod footprints, to wonderful birdwatching opportunities, archaeological remains even the Vikings passed this way. A delightful days exploring this little gem.

Walk approximately 3-4 hours.

Overnight stay at Portmagee.

Day 5: A Visit to a magical island hermitage, dating back to the late 8th century.

A known monastic site and more especially a spectacular bird colony, puffins, gannets, kittiwakes, razorbills, gulliemots, shearwaters to name but a few.

The largest Gannet colony in Ireland, it will take your breadth away.

We will have some time to explore the large Skellig and have a tour of the monastic site and time to reflect on a time in history when isolation, hermitage, and pilgrimage where an integral part of life then.

 Boat trip: 1.5 hours to the island, 2-3 hours on Skellig Michael.

Overnight Portmagee.

Day 6: Returning to the Dingle Peninsula via a spectacular mountain pass. As we are in the heart of Kerry’s ,most magnificent rugged mountain range the Magillycuddy reeks we will walk through the remote Brida Valley into the Black Valley along the Kerry way marked trail. Being in such wild mountain scenery, with wild habitats suitable for birds of prey, you may be in for a surprise.

 Walk 3 hours approximately.

 A Special treat as we continue our trek through this mountains, we will catch a small boat to take us along the famous Lakes of Killarney all the way to Ross Castle and to the outskirts of Killarney town.

Overnight Annascaul.

Day 7: Our last day on the beautiful Dingle Peninsula, we travel to Brandon village on the north side of the peninsula and start our coastal walk from there to the heady slopes of Sauce Creek. We follow part of the Dingle Way, along an old bog road that will take us to the cliffs above this spectacular sea inlet. Taking our time here to soak up the stunning views we will cross more bog land and gradually follow the coast to Brandon head passing an old signal tower used during World War two. Then it is a gentle stroll along a quiet country road back to Brandon village to where we started.

Walk 4 hours approximately. Elevation 150 m.

Overnight Annascaul.

 

Day 8:  Time for Farewell and safe home, Maeve will take you back to Shannon airport.

 Click here for a short biography of Chris Wilson.

N.B. All itineraries are subject to change due to bad weather or the guides discretion.

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