Randy's Wanderings

Kerry Way Day 3 - Sept 11

Glencar to Glenbeigh

A fairly easy day to walk today.

Country roads as we walk the 'alternative' bit to pretty Blackstones Bridge and then more roads until we ascend up to the 'Windy Gap' with spectacular views and then down to Glenbeigh.

Private room at the Sleepy Camel Hostel where we were the only guests. The owner gave us the door code and left for the day.

Wandered about town in drizzle - lunch and drinks at 'The Tower' and then another local pub to taste a Murphy's then dinner at the Glenbeigh Hotel (recommended both burger and curried chicken).

12 km

Irish breakfast at the Rowan Tree B&B is a great start to the day

Big fella - across a stone fence

Blackstones Bridge

Towards Windy Gap

Windy Gap

Local trail treat

Stile style

Our stop for the night in Glenbeigh

Seafood chowder and dark bread seems to be a delish staple at most pubs

Murphy's is a lesser known dark alternative to the Guinness juggernaut

Kerry Way Day 2 - Sept 10

Black Valley to Glencar

Bit of a sleep in and cooked breakfast in hostel before leaving around 1030 hrs.

Pretty walk to end of Black Valley then over the pass to Bridia Valley. (pronounced Bri-da)

Very quiet - saw no other walkers until our lunch stop.

Weather turned nasty with rain and gusty wind for tricky trail up and down pass.

Stopped at Stepping Stones cafe for lunch then made the game time call to walk to Glencar via the country roads rather than over the next socked in pass. More rain.

Arrived at Climbers Inn where they graciously allowed us to change clothes and dry/warm beside peat fire.

Michael from the Rowen Tree Inn picked us up and delivered us two km for our nights stay.

20 km

Goats

Some of the route follows old stage coach roads

Ram - told ram/ewe ration is 1/30

Some woods walking

Molly's Cottage

Ancient standing stone

Top of the pass between Black Valley and Bridia Valley

A welcome sight!

Wet and colourful

Drying out by the peat fire

Peat

Another peat fire - at Rowan Tree B&B

Kerry Way Day 1 - Sept. 9

Killarney to Black Valley

We decided to do a slight variation on our first day of the Kerry Way by walking counter clockwise around the north side of Lough Leane and through the gap of Dunloe to Black Valley. By doing this we avoid retracing our route on the Killarney - Galway's Bridge section on the last day.

Up and breakfast in hostel.

A few showers as we walked quiet country roads to start of Gap of Dunloe section.

Stopped Kate Kearney's Cottage for second breakfast, only to learn they don't serve food until lunchtime. Luckily there was a cozy cafe just across the way.

Continued up and over the Gap and down into the Black Valley.

Black Valley Hostel is basic and tidy. Only two other couples. We had a private cottage in the back.

Temperatures were cool and hostel owner put on the heat in cottage for us.

No pub or restaurant in Black Valley but a few basic food supplies can be purchased at the hostel.
17 km.

Pretty cottages

Shepherd (?) with Gap in background

Pony trap rides for tourists

At the top of Gap of Dunloe - downhill from here into Black Valley

Looking back

Looking forward - towards Black Valley Hostel

Cake selection at Kate Kearney's Cottage

Back Valley Hostel

Kerry Way D-1 - Sept 8

Dublin to Killarney

Caught the 1100 hrs train in Dublin for uneventful ride to Killarney, arriving at 1430 hrs.

Dropped off kit not needed for Kerry Way walk at the Neptune Hostel and bought some groceries for our stay at Black Valley.

Walked the six km in soft rain to Killarney Hostel. Private room. Unloaded and walked back short way to local pub for chowder and turkey/ham dinner for R and burger for LR with a few pints.

6 km

Heuston train station, Dublin

Killarney - our starting and finishing point

Arrival at the Killarney Hostel

Dublin - Sept 4-8

Four nights and three full days in Dublin

Flight from Vancouver to Toronto to Dublin via Air Transat. Tiring as always.

Sky Backpackers Hostel room 30 - private room. Not inexpensive but well located.

Weather - Cool, cloudy sunny, rainy

Arrival day - dinner at Celt pub. Excellent seafood chowder and chicken Caesar. Sweetman's Craft Brewery later.

Day one - 3€ breakfast at hostel. LR slept in while R does walkabout through Temple Bar and medieval district. Visited Trinity college and viewed Book of Kells. After lunch (beef sandwich at Lemon and Duke pub then onto very good Archaeology museum. Walked 30 minutes north to Brian Boru Pub to join Music Makers Meetup group for fun night. Super welcoming. Watched some high level 'trad' music later.

Day two - tram to tour Gaol (very good) and Disney like Guinness Storehouse. Walked back to hostel.

Day three - split up. R walked through docklands and visited Emigration museum. LR did walking tour. Met up for lunch at Sweetman's then R visited National Art Gallery and Natural History Museum. Evening did a guided pub tour which included tastings. Fun.