South Ireland 8 Day Self Drive & Hiking Adventure

Self Drive

The perfect way for the independent explorer to experience the highlights and sights of the South & West Coasts.

Duration

7 nights stay, 8 days

Price

From
€1498
Per Person

Take yourself through the scenery of Ireland with your own power with this self-driving and hiking itinerary. Your path will take you through buzzing cities rich with history, like Dublin and Cork, along with the natural wonders of the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands, with plenty of opportunities to get out to stretch your legs and see the country from the trails along the way.

On this trip, you will get to experience the ancient streets, bars and restaurants of Dublin; the food, drink and music scene in Cork; the heritage village of Killarney and its incredible surroundings; the scenic Kinsale and the famous Ring of Kerry. You’ll also get the chance to tick the Cliffs of Moher off your bucket list, be inspired by the majestic Aran Islands and top it all off by finishing up in lively Galway, place packed to the brim with character, craic and pure Irish culture.

Daphne DesimpelaereDaphne Desimpelaere
15:52 08 Dec 22
We did discover the beautiful region of the County of Kerry (Kerry Ring Tour).Very well organized by IWHB, good communication with the team (good reactivity, and kean to find solutions and open minded, especially when we had to postpone our journey due to the COVID). The hotels/guestrooms very well choosen (good location and guests friendly). Luggage drop off to the next accomodation was a really good option. The infos were correct. We do recommend Ireland Walk Hike Bike and will travel again with them, for sure.
Brian WhiteBrian White
22:12 28 Nov 22
Wonderful trip. Everything was planned perfectly by Ireland WBH. B&Bs were great with Irish breakfast every day to fortify us for the ride. Would love to do another bike trip with them.
David McAleaveyDavid McAleavey
21:17 27 Nov 22
Our walk along parts of the Dingle Way and connected trails as organized by Ireland Walk Hike Bike was everything we had hoped for, from extremely courteous and responsive staff to useful links before the trip (including excellent exercise videos!) and a specially-designed GPS app which knew which route we were following as well as where we had gotten to. (While we also used the provided maps and cue sheets, the GPS app in itself would probably have been sufficient.) The B&Bs which we were booked into were all cozy and clean, and our luggage was handled without any problem. I would recommend this outfit (IWBH) – and I have indeed recommended it – to anyone wishing to explore the part of Ireland we encountered. IWBH also deserve credit for holding our deposit for two years of COVID delay; and I’m very glad that we could finally undertake the walk. For what it’s worth, we took the self-guided “comfort” hike, which meant that we would receive taxi rides to favorable trailheads each day. (From what we could tell, we most often avoided flat boring stretches near towns, without sacrificing more remote and interesting parts.)
Jeanne SargentJeanne Sargent
11:56 27 Nov 22
My husband and I did a self-guided hike through a large part of the Dingle Peninsula to celebrate his 80th birthday. Naturally, we had some concerns about getting lost, having the needed stamina and wanting support along our way. Ireland Walk Hike Bike staff were there for us every step of the way. They chose excellent accommodations at very reasonable prices; taught me how to use the GPS function on my first ever smartphone and arranged transportation to and from Shannon Airport to Tralee. We met so many wonderful folks along our treks who took time from their walk to talk about their lives. It went like clockwork and have toyed with the idea of a repeat adventure if our health permits.
Carol SmithCarol Smith
00:56 24 Nov 22
I usually plan vacations months ahead of time but this one came together in just a few short weeks thanks to Ireland Walk Hike Bike. They worked with our rather impromptu and tight time frame to arrange a 6-day outing along the Kerry Way, and we had a magical time from start to finish. The Kerry Way is moody, broody, and incredibly varied. All arrangements were spot on, from accommodation to transport to walking notes. All we had to do was soak up the scenic rambling each day, drink a celebratory Guinness each night, and meet really interesting people along the way. Ireland captured a piece of my heart – will need to go back again with Ireland WHB to retrieve it!
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Highlights

The Rebel city of Cork and its renowned culture and character

The incredible Cliffs of Moher

The ancient streets of Dublin and its famous food, drink and music scene

The lively city of Galway, packed full of Irish culture, craic and character

What's Included?

Ensuite room in select accommodations with breakfast
Multiple vehicle options
Personalised day to day road book with route suggestions
Recommended daily points of interest, experiences and dining options
24 hour telephone support service
Dedicated holiday specialist to help with planning

Package Options

Prices quoted are for the Digital Option. If you would prefer the Traditional Pack please let us know your booking form page.

AVAILABLE TOURS


Single Room Supplement (SRS) is the extra cost of single room occupancy if part of a group.
Solo Traveller Supplement (STS) is the extra cost incurred if travelling alone. The SRS is already included in the STS.
Tour
Duration
Price
SRS*
STS**
South Ireland 8 Day Self Drive & Hiking Adventure
Duration: 7 nights
Cost pps: €1499
SRS:*
STS:**

Itinerary

Day 1 - Dublin
Welcome to Ireland! Your trip starts in the capital city of Dublin. Once you’re settled in, set out to explore this historic city and its abundance of museums, memorials, cathedrals, and cafes, each offering a slice of insight into what makes Dublin special. Opt for a guided walking tour or simply wander the city on your own to warm up your walking muscles. Either way, don’t forget a stop at the Guinness factory, located in the heart of the legendary St. James’s Gate Brewery in the city.

Overnight: Dublin
Day 2 - Glendalough Trail Wicklow Way
Get on the road to start your drive today, heading to the lovely village of Laragh. Then leave your vehicle behind and follow the forest trails of the Wicklow Way to Glendalough. Once buzzing with activity 1,500 years ago, this monastic village has slowed down considerably, making it a tranquil place from which to explore historic ruins and the surrounding landscape. There are multiple hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties to choose from within the valley. Enjoy a challenging hike to the viewpoint overlooking the beautiful valley lakes, or opt for a gentle stroll along the lakeshore to take in the flora and fauna in the valley.

Overnight: Laragh
Day 3 - Cork via Rock of Cashel
Today you will travel south towards the coastal port town of Kinsale with a stop at the Rock of Cashel along the way. More than just a geological feature, this spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone was once home of the High Kings of Ireland. Once in Kinsale we recommend take a short drive to the old head of Kinsale which has a gentle 6km (3.7 miles) loop walk that takes you in a circular route around the head. On this stretch of coastal bliss, it feels like you’ve left the world behind. It’s just you and the ocean!

Overnight: Cork
Day 4 - Discover Killarney National Park
After breakfast, drive across the mountainous terrain that separates Cork County and the Kingdom of Kerry, until you arrive in the town of Killarney home to Ireland's oldest national park. After checking into your accommodation lace up your boots head off to Muckross House – a beautiful mansion built in the 19th century & now forming the central point of the wonderful Killarney National Park. From here you follow a circular route around the middle of the Three Lakes – Muckross Lake – a magnificent walk with wonderful views across the lake as you follow through some of our ancient woodlands.

Overnight: Killarney
Day 5 - Ring of Kerry
Considered one of the most beautiful destinations to explore in Ireland, today sees you discovering the real beauty of the world-famous Ring of Kerry. Take in sweeping views of the wild, rugged coastline, golden beaches, glistening lakes, picturesque villages, and spectacular mountain ranges. A nice walk along the Ring of Kerry is the Derrynane Mass Path Loop Walk, which is a moderate 6-mile (9 km) route around Derrynane National Park near Caherdaniel and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. Enjoy trekking through hillside woodland with sweeping views over Derrynane Blue Flag Beach and Derrynane House. After completing the Ring, you will travel toward the fishing port town of Dingle for your overnight stay.

Overnight: Dingle
Day 6 - Slea Head Walk
Today you will be transferred outside Dingle town, just beyond the glorious beach at Ventry Harbour. From here your walk takes you on a beautiful and very historic walk around Slea Head (8.5km), finishing in Dunquin. This walk offers an opportunity to see ‘beehive huts’ at close quarters, and also a full view of the Blasket Islands. At the end of your walk you can visit the Blasket Interpretative Museum – or if the weather is good – perhaps take a boat over to the Blasket Islands. We will arrange a time to pick you up from Dunquin and return you for another night in Dingle.

Overnight: Dingle
Day 7 - Cliffs of Moher & Galway
After Breakfast you will leave the Kingdom of Kerry behind and travel north along the edge of Europe to the awe-inspiring Cliffs of Moher. The spectacle of the cliffs is best appreciated on foot especially on the Hags Head route (5km) which is a hiking route to the south of the cliffs. Once you have reached the visitor centre you can return to your car along the same route or you can take a shuttle back to the car park. From here you will travel north towards Galway, the Bohemian Capital of Ireland. Along the way explore the remarkable moon-like terrain of the wild Burren and the Atlantic waves that roll into the jaws of Galway Bay. Take the opportunity to soak in Galway’s vibrant streets, sample its wide variety of food offerings or take a tour exploring its unique historical places of interest.

Overnight: Galway
Day 8 - Dublin Departure
Today you will travel back east to Dublin, where you will return your car rental to the airport and bid farewell to the Emerald Isle.

Departure Dates

To book your tour choose your preferred Departure Date and click on Next Step.

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