The Kerry Camino, Southwest Coast of Ireland

SUMMARY

Date: Saturday September 13th to Saturday September 20th 2025

Guide: Clara Fleming 

Walking Grade: Goat Level 2 . You require a fitness level to be able walk the distances of between 8 miles/12km to 10miles/16km per day. There are no significant steep climbs on this trail but you will have a few short steep sections.

Maximum elevation: 300m

Terrain: old pilgrims path and quite well trodden.

Maximum Distance: 16km/10 miles

Highlights: Walking the Kerry Camino part of the Camino de Santiago -a historic network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe, having time in Dingle a charming coastal Irish town, trying Guinness and experiencing the Irish food and music.

Base: We stay in 2 hotels during this trip. We always provide accommodation that will give you comfort at the end of your days walking. We will eat together in the hotels or in restaurants in the local towns. Clara will organise with you.

Sat 13th – Monday 15th Sept 2025: Rose Hotel, Tralee

Monday 15th – Friday 19th: Barr na Sraide Inn, Dingle

Arrivals: Arrive in Tralee on Saturday 13th. We will meet at the Rose House Hotel at 17:00 on Saturday for a short orientation and briefing with Clara.  There is a welcome dinner at the hotel .

Women will be arriving from different destinations and we will arrange a group pick up from Kerry Airport around 16:00 and from Tralee Train Station .

Kerry Airport is a 15 minute drive from Tralee with flights to Dublin, London, Manchester and Frankfurt. 

Shannon International Airport is a 2 hour drive away from Tralee.

There are also direct train and coach services to Tralee from Dublin to connect with ‘Rail and Sail’ from the UK.

Departures: Saturday September 20th . There will be a group transfer back from Tralee to Kerry Airport after breakfast around 10:00.

Get in touch to discuss your travel plans.

Price: £1,950 for solo occupancy ensuite room

If you bring a partner or friend and share a room there is a discount to £1,750 per person 

Includes:

• 7 nights accommodation in solo occupancy ensuite room.
• Breakfast every morning
• Packed lunches for 2 walking days
• Welcome evening meal and 2nd evening meal at the Rose Hotel in Tralee
• Final dinner together at the Rose Hotel.
• Guiding for your trip and with you throughout your holiday
• Airport pick up and return – one group transfer
• All local transport required for your walks

Not included:

• Travel to Kerry Airport or Tralee – whichever is your arrival point
• Evening meals on 4 nights in Dingle.
• Additional drinks
• Any additional  activities

DETAILS

The Kerry camino is a 35 mile/57km long-distance trail from in the South West of Ireland. It is one of the official Irish pilgrim routes and forms part of the larger network of ancient pilgrim routes of Europe. The Kerry Camino starts at St John’s Church in Tralee and follows the path taken by pilgrims to St James’ Church in Dingle Town. St James’ was originally built by Spanish sailors who dedicated it to St James of Santiago de Compostela and is where Irish pilgrims set sail for Northern Spain to continue on the famous Camino de Santiago. It also follows in the footsteps of St Brendan the Navigator who is believed to have discovered America long before Christopher Columbus!

The trail passes along dramatic coastlines, rugged mountains and through picturesque towns and villages in, according to National Geographic, “the most beautiful place on earth.” Walkers can get their Pilgrim Passport stamped at stamping stations along the way and receive a Kerry Camino Certificate at the end.

For more information on the area and the walk 

Read : “An Old Woman’s Reflections: the life of Peig, a Blasket Island Storyteller” (1930) – still a set book for Irish school children!

Watch:

Ryan’s Daughter (1970) – the opening scene was filmed in Inch Beach, Day 3 of the Kerry Camino

Wild Ireland: the Edge of the World (2017) – TV series featuring the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands

On this holiday we walk 8 to 10 miles a day with a day free in Dingle Town before ending with an (optional) ascent up the “Saints’ Road” of Mount Brandon, Ireland’s second highest mountain. Boat tours depart from Dingle harbour, including wildlife tours and the Blasket Island ferry.

ITINERARY

Our itinerary will follow the 57km/35 mile route of the Camino Way. There may need to be changes depending on the weather and at the discretion of the guide. You will be briefed each day.

There will be transport to the starting point each day – you begin your Camino in Tralee and end back in Tralee.

The trail passes along dramatic coastlines, rugged mountains and through picturesque towns and villages in, according to National Geographic, “the most beautiful place on earth.” Walkers can get their Pilgrim Passport stamped at stamping stations along the way and receive a Kerry Camino Certificate at the end.

On this holiday we walk 8 to 10 miles a day with a day free in Dingle Town before ending with an (optional) ascent up the “Saints’ Road” of Mount Brandon, Ireland’s second highest mountain. Boat tours depart from Dingle harbour, including wildlife tours and the Blasket Island ferry

Saturday: Arrive Tralee and check into the Rose Hotel around 17:00, our accommodation for the first 2 nights. You will have time to settle in.

Around 18:00 there will be a short orientation walk from the hotel into town to pick up our Camino passports before returning to the hotel for a welcome meal together. (included.)

Sunday: Tralee to Camp ​16km/10 miles, total ascent/descent 200m

Roadside and canalside paths, moorland path rocky and boggy in places.

We set off from St John’s Church in the centre of Tralee and collect the first stamp in our passports. On our way to Camp we pass Blennerville Windmill, the largest working windmill in Ireland, at the port of Tralee – departure point of the mid-19th century emigrant ships to North America. From there we start to climb up onto a moorland path and a long scenic traverse of the lower slopes of Slieve Mish with superb views across Tralee Bay and west towards Brandon mountain. Finally we descend to the Junction Bar, Lower Camp, to catch the bus back to Tralee and the Rose Hotel where we’ll take our evening meal together (included.)

Monday: Camp to Annascaul​​16km/10 miles, 270m ascent/descent

Your luggage is transported to your hotel in Dingle where you stay for 4 nights.

Old,disused road across moorland and a low pass to the Dingle peninsula’s south side with views of Inch Strand and the Inveragh peninsula mountains.

From Camp we go up along an old road to a col at 235m above sea level and then gradually descend to Inch Strand (refreshments.) From there it’s an undulating track to the South Pole Inn, Annascaul, in time to take the local bus into Dingle town where our luggage will be waiting for us at Barr na Sraide Inn, our accommodation for the next 4 nights.

Dingle town offers plenty of choices of restaurants for your evening meal (not included.)

Tuesday: Annascaul to Lispole​11km/ 7 miles and 200m ​ascent

Undulating minor roads from Annascaul lead to Minard Cove overlooked by the ruins of a 16th century castle – a wonderful spot for a picnic lunch. Then more country roads and tracks take us to Lispole and the bus back to Dingle town.

Free evening – your  guide will help with restaurant reservations.

Wednesday: Lispole to Dingle​12km/7.5miles​ascent/descent 140m

Minor roads, grassy footpaths and boreens take us back inland towards the mountains and a final push up to the Conor Pass road with views out to the Atlantic Ocean and the spires of Skellig Micheal before strolling down to Dingle town, not forgetting to get a finishing passport stamp at St James’ Church and a visit to the Tourist Information office to collect our Camino Certificates!

Thursday: Free day in/around Dingle

Your guide can offer information about activities. (It may be necessary to book some day trips in advance.)

Friday: Brandon mountain, 952 m. (Optional, and weather depending, an alternative lower level walk can be organised.)

Later in the afternoon we will transfer back to the Rose Hotel, Tralee, and a farewell meal together (included.)

Day 8 Saturday: After breakfast transfer to Tralee bus/train station or Kerry Airport for your return journeys.​