Walking the Sheep’s Head Way – West Cork, Ireland 2025

SUMMARY

Date: Saturday 12th – Saturday 19th  July  2025 7 nights and 6 days walking

Cork Airport pick up included on Sat approx 15.30pm and transfer back at 10am after breakfast on Saturday 19th. It is possible to make your way to the hotel by public transport. We can advise. 

If flying from the US you can fly via Heathrow to Cork. Or to Dublin and train to Cork.

There are direct flights to Shannon which is approx 2hrs 40 by road to our hotel. This is an additional cost for a transfer of approx 250 euros each way. We can arrange the pick up.

Walking Guide: Clara Fleming our local guide.

Grade: 2 Goats -the walking is 72kms along coastal paths and low mountain ridges and will be long days as we walk the Sheep’s Head Way one of the most beautiful long distance paths in Ireland. There is quite a bit of up and down but ascents and descents are gradual.Walking poles are handy as are waterproof boots and gaiters and lots of layers as the Irish weather can be changeable.

Max elevation: 400m on one day

Terrain: Good paths can be soft and sandy or boggy. Hiking boots advised and poles.

Max distance: 15km/9. 5 miles 

Base: We base ourselves in the local, cosy Bridge View House in the small Irish village of Kilcrohane. We will walk each day returning to the same place each night for our evening meal together.

Bridge View House is a family-run guest house led by Ann and her team. It is in the most westerly village, Kilcrohane, which also has a village shop and post office, the Old Creamery cafe/restaurant and the popular Eileen’s Bar which regularly hosts live music sessions. It is a short walk to a fresh water lagoon and Dunmanus Bay. There is a bus service into Bantry, and beyond, giving the option of taking a rest day and exploring further afield.

For any Graham Norton Fans – this is his base in Ireland and you can even try his own homemade gin!

Price: £2,000 per person for a weeks holiday in a solo occupancy room with your own private bathroom/ensuite fully inclusive of all meals. All transport is included for the week which mean’s you are picked up to be able to return to your cosy hotel each night.

If you bring a friend/partner and share a room the price is £1700 per person a discount of £300 per person. We will adjust your invoice once you have booked and paid your deposit.

All inclusive holiday to include:

• 7 nights ensuite bed and breakfast accommodation in your own ensuite room
• Every Evening meal together in the hotel.
• Packed lunches on your 6 walking days
• Group Cork Airport Pick up and return
• Local Transport required for walks
• Specialist local guiding for this very special trek

Not included:

• Travel to Cork
• Additional drinks

If you would like to extend your trip let us know as we can help with recommendations.

Download the brochure »

DETAILS

West Cork is one of the little-known and most isolated places in Europe so you can expect walks in unspoilt and wild Atlantic scenery usually all to ourselves. Seals and dolphins can often be spotted, and occasionally we may be lucky enough to spot basking sharks and the tell-tale sign of seabirds hovering over a whale. There are stone circles, ring forts and ruined castles to find along the walks as well as more recent sites of archaelogical and historical interest such as mass rocks, old military defences and the remains of the copper mining industry.

This year we go on a journey to cover 72km of the Sheep’s Head Way on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula – the narrowest of the 5 peninsulas that extend out into the Atlantic. Looking out over the ocean you can feel as if you are at the edge of the world .

Our adventure is the Sheep’s Head peninsula, or Muintir Bhaire, the smallest finger of the five south westerly peninsulas jutting out into the ocean. It is a rarely visited area and remains wild and unspoilt.

The route begins in the market town of Bantry and passes through the three little villages of the peninsula: Kilcrohane, Ahakista finishing at Durrus.

Kilcrohane is ideally placed for walking a section of the route each day and returning to Bridge View either on foot or by taxi each afternoon. The walking is mostly on good footpaths and quiet lanes but there are some more uneven, rocky or boggy paths too. Most day sections are between 11km and 13km in distance; on the first day we do a shorter 8km and the longest section is 15km on our last day. The highest mountain, Seefin, stands at just 345 metres and the maximum ascent and descent on any  day will be around 500 metres.

ITINERARY

Itinerary – subject to change depending on the weather and at the discretion of the guide 

The aim is to cover approx 72 km of the Sheep’s Head Way,part of the Wild Atlantic Way, walking different parts of it each day.

DAY 1  Arrival Sat 12th July – Pick up at Cork Airport approx 15.30pm 

17.00 Arrive Bridge View House, Kilcrohane to settle in and meet Clara,your guide.

Time for a short orientation walk before your evening meal at Bridge View House around 19.00.

DAY 2   Sunday Kilcrohane to Ahakista   8km/5 miles 150m ascent and descent.

A wonderful coastal view walk along the cliffs. The walk is varied with green roads, a freshwater lagoon, a bardic school, a sweat lodge and a stone circle. Clara will tell you some stories of the area.

You will return to Bridge View House around 17.00 for an evening together with dinner at your hotel.

DAY 3 Mon Ahakista to Durrus    11km/7 miles 200m ascent/descent

Today is our Moorland walk with  bogs, a ring fort, a ruined fortified house, an old grainstore as we walk to the village of Durrus.We will be picked up at the end of the day to return to Bridge House.

DAY 4  Tues Glanlough to Seefin and Kilcrohane 13km/8 miles 400m ascent and descent.

Todays walk is a ridge walk to Seefin, the highest point on the Sheeps Head Peninsula and with terrific views over the ocean.

DAY 5 Wed  Seefin to Tooreen   13km/8 miles 200m ascent and descent.

This is a walk full of delights from Finn McCool’s Seat, a Pieta, the Horseshoe Road, the Goat’s Path and some cliff walking.We see mining remains, pass a Cove, visit a waterfall, a lighthouse and finally a cafe!

DAY 6 Thurs  Tooreen to Kilcrohane   15km/9. 5 miles 150m ascent and descent

Our walk is the Ballyroon Mountain where you can see the look out post on top of the mountain. You will also see a signal tower, loughs, a butter road, a marriage stone and a cilleen.

Day 7 Friday Glanlough to Bantry   14km / 8.5 miles 200m ascent and 300m descent.

We get transport to Glanlough where our walk begins today. The walk follows a ridge to Loch na Fuilla and down to Bantry Bay passing a mass rock and holy well. We end our walk with a walk around Bantry Bay and into the lovely small town. You will have time to wander and look around the interesting shops or stop for a cuppa or perhaps a pint of Guinness! Friday is market day!

Day 8 – Saturday 19th Departure from Kilcrohane after breakfast around 10am. Your airport transfer will return you to Cork Airport for approx 11.30am.