South Ireland 10 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

9 nights stay, 10 days

Price

From
€1800
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 Galway, along with the natural wonders of the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry, with plenty of opportunities to get out to stretch your legs and see the country from the trails along the way.

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

The Rebel city of Cork and its renowned culture and character

Killarney and its surrounding nature locations

The Cliffs of Moher

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 10 Day Self Drive & Hiking Adventure
Duration: 9 nights
Cost pps: €1800
SRS:*
STS:**

Itinerary

Day 1 - Dublin
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 - Dublin to Glendalough
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. 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 in County Cork with a stop at the Rock of Cashel along the way. Once in Kinsale we recommend take a short drive to the old head of Kinsale which has a gentle 3.7 miles (6km) 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: Kinsale, County Cork
Day 4 - Wild & Sheep's Head
After breakfast you will begin your drive along the scenic Wild Atlantic Way a straight of road that covers the coastline from the southwest of Ireland all the way to the North West. Your hike for the day will be along on one of four peninsulas you will be visiting over the next few days. The Sheep’s head Lighthouse loop walk is an exhilarating 4.2 km walk out to the very tip of the Sheep’s Head peninsula where you’ll get to take in stunning views over West Cork’s bays and peninsulas. You will then continue on your journey until you reach the village of Glengarriff your overnight stay for the night.

Overnight: Glengarriff
Day 5 - Beara Way & Gleninchaquinn Park
Today you will undertake another glorious drive along the Beara way with more breath-taking scenery to soak up. You also can visit some Islands including Bere and Dursey island being off the coast of the peninsula. If you wanted to remain on the mainland then your hiking option for the day will be at the famous 2500-year-old Uragh stone Circle following a quiet country road to the breath-taking Gleninchaquinn Park. This working sheep farm is home to one of Ireland's most beautiful Waterfalls and a stunning location to explore on foot. Your walk takes you through fields dotted with sheep and up to the top of the waterfall with sweeping views across the valley and its glistening lakes out to Kenmare Bay. Upon completion of your hike you will make your way to the town of Kenmare the Gateway to the Ring of Kerry.

Overnight: Kenmare
Day 6 - 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 7 - 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 8 - Cliffs of Moher & Doolin
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. You will then make then make the short journey to the village of Doolin home to several old fashion Irish pubs that play live traditional Irish music in the evenings.

Overnight: Doolin
Day 9 - Galway & the Burren
Today 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. Your option’s today is to drive straight to Galway and 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. Alternatively, you can head to Burren National Park and one of number of Loop walks such as Abbey Hill (6.2km), Carron Hike (9.1km) or the Green Road (18km).

Overnight: Doolin
Day 10 - Galway to Dublin
Today you will travel back east to Dublin and 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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