Free Download | The Kerry Way: Self-Guided
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Many are familiar with the beautiful Ring of Kerry in County Kerry, Ireland, but far fewer are aware that the entire route can be walked instead of driven. Despite The Kerry Way’s status as one of the most popular of Ireland’s National Waymarked Trails, I had more difficulty finding advice to help me prepare for it than I did for hikes in Scotland and the United Kingdom. At approximately 135 miles, it’s also the longest of Ireland’s trails, and in retrospect I’ve noticed that many companies who offer self-guided itineraries actually cut off two whole sections of the route – in my opinion, some of the prettiest sections. In honor of completing my own trek with nothing but online articles and digital apps to guide the way, I thought I’d pay it forward by creating my own budget-minded backpacker’s guide (for the WHOLE route) so that others might benefit from what I learned. If you prefer to stay in B&Bs rather than camping or budget accommodations, I’ve outlined how you can swap out some of my choices for your own.
This guide includes:
Preparedness:
Weather
Gear
Amenities
Currency
Language
Wildlife
Cell Service
Physical Fitness
Popularity
Waymarking
To Camp or Not to Camp?
Emergencies
Resource Recommendations:
Apps
Books
Maps
Websites
Blogs
Getting There // Getting Around:
How to arrive at the start point from other major cities
Backup transportation options around the Ring of Kerry
Route // Accommodations:
My 9-Day route, plus tips about shorter or longer variations
Day-by-day trail descriptions and pictures
The campsites, budget hostels, and B&Bs I stayed in, plus where to find other options
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*If you are planning an active adventure holiday, please research travel insurance options. I bought the World Nomads Explorer Plan prior to this trip so I’d be covered in case of injury or mountain rescue abroad. If you like to research multiple different companies before choosing a provider, check out Travel Insurance Master. Input your own criteria (Road trip? Adventure travel? Budget?) and they’ll show a side-by-side comparison to help you choose a plan. For international cell data for checking maps and transport schedules, I use Airalo.
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My dream is to write travel and hiking content full-time. All of my guides and itineraries are free and my travels are self-funded. If you enjoy my site and would like to support, you can donate any amount to my Ko-fi page. Thank you!!
Ok, this download is awesome!!! Thank you so much!!
This guide seems so handy! I really want to explore Ireland soon so I’ll keep this saved.
Awesome, I’m glad you may get some use out of it!
Wow what an excellent guide!! I was only in Ireland for one day (Dublin) and I NEED to go back to explore the countryside. This looks so beautiful.
I only spent one day in Dublin as well before I went down to Co Kerry, we both need to return for a full Ireland tour! I’d love to visit Northern Ireland too, and other mountain ranges like Wicklow
Ahh I was just in Ireland for the first time a couple months ago! Loved it – thanks for this informative piece 🙂
Thanks Claire! Hiking the Kerry Way was my first time in Ireland as well, I feel like I really got a thorough look at life there by doing it this way. So pretty and the people so friendly, right?
Now THIS is what I call a hidden gem! Thank you for putting this altogether and I’m reallyyyyy hoping to make it out to Ireland soon to give this a try. 🙂
Thanks Courtney, hope you’re able to explore there soon! Many portions of this trek could be done as a day hike too, if you have plans to see lots of different areas of Ireland and won’t have the full 9 days
I’m actually really interested in this hike. It’s an awesome guide!
Great to hear, it’s a beautiful one! Hope you’re able to make a trip!
What an awesome guide! Excellent job at putting together all the essential info for seeing Kerry Way! I will definitely save this for when I get the chance to go one day!
Thanks Vanessa, I hope it’s helpful!! There are always things I don’t know until I get there, and I wonder "why wasn’t this in any of the information I found?"
Wooooah thank you Claire! I just took a peek (and saved this on my computer for later.) I also asked my husband if he’d be up for trying this, and he said he would!! Squeeee!!
I hope you will write some posts with more photos of each of your epic summer walks. I would love to walk it vicariously with you.
Yaaaay, thanks Josy!! I hope you guys get a chance to tackle it! Despite all the bad weather it was maybe my favorite hike I did this summer. I’d love to hear your opinion of the Irish trails. You guys tend to take on more adventurous hikes; The Kerry Way is pretty straightforward, but you can always design your own side adventures, for instance if you wanted to add in climbing Carrauntoohil.
I may do that, glad to hear it’s something you’d be interested in. I thought maybe I already exhausted everybody with my social media photos about them lol.
Awesome guide, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Simon! Hope it’s helpful! I kind of want to pressure all my friends into hiking Ireland just so they can use this guide now, lol.