The Beara Way: An introduction https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/01/09/beara-way-een-introduction/
Day 1: Glengarriff – Adrigole https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/01/16/stage-1-glengarriff-adrigole/
The first day starts with a stretch of road out of the village and into Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve. After a while it heads into the hills and climbs to Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point of the Beara Way, with a descent to a lake shortly afterwards. The path then becomes slightly more difficult, with a tricky descent on loose stones. After a final stretch of forest, you arrive in Adrigole.
Day 2: Adrigole – Castletownbere https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/01/27/stage-2-adrigole-castletownbere/
On the second day, our taxi driver provides a shortcut. We skip some asphalt but get a tough climb in its place. It leads to an amazingly beautiful but challenging trail. The heat (it climbs above 35 degrees) and lack of shade make it challenging. But the rugged (Irish) mountains with the occasional streams and rivers make up for a lot. After a final climb, it heads towards Castletownbere and the sea, via gravel and grass paths with lots of sheep.
Day 3: Bere Island https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/02/10/stage-3-bere-island/
On day three, it’s not from point A to B but we take the ferry to do a loop walk on Bere Island. Although not too big, it does have beautiful scenery and some sights. It starts with a lighthouse where sheep shelter from the heat. Then it goes to the ruins of a Napoleonic signal tower. Finally, it is downhill and climbing to the highest point and then downhill with a view of a martello tower and a standing stone.
Day 4: Castletownbere – Eyeries https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/02/17/stage-4-castletownbere-eyeries/
On the 4th walking day, we opted for the shorter trail, which although still very rewarding. Just outside Castletownbere, we visited the Derrenataggart West Stone Circle. Then it’s on a gravel track to a grassy path through the hills. The saddle is nice walking, but challenging, with lots of pits and bumps. We descend through meadow and then heather to end in colourful Eyeries.
Day 5: Eyeries – Lauragh https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/03/15/stage-5-eyeries-lauragh/
The longest stage and probably the most beautiful. From Eyeries, it goes to and along a beautiful coastline, including a ruin. A tarmac path leads to a bay and then to Lough Fadda, a long and narrow lake. This is followed by a passage with wild heather and ocean views. There is a descent to Ardgroom. This is followed by several more climbs and descents. The predicted thunderstorm is approaching with every kilometre, so we leave the path a little early.
Day 6: Lauragh – Kenmare https://seatothelandbeyond.wordpress.com/2024/04/13/stage-6-lauragh-kenmare/
On this last day, we get a carpool to avoid a large stretch of tarmac. This puts us at the foot of Knockagarrane Mountain. On the descent, I make an ungainly smack. Then it’s between some lakes, past the Uragh Stone Circle and overlooking a (quasi completely dried-up) waterfall. We take one last climb and a technical descent, then a little later it’s on a tarmac road to our final destination, Kenmare.
From the sea to the land beyond 