Kenmare to Killarney via Old Kenmare Road on the Kerry Way

FINALE! We walk the last stage under grey clouds and light that is unsuitable for photography 😢 First a few kilometres of almost car-free country road and then we can enjoy the Killarney National Park for around 16km. At Muckross House & Abbey the sun finally comes out. The last 7km of asphalt along the main road are definitely not fun! After 226km and 5,550m of elevation, we say goodbye to the Kerry Way, exhausted but happy, with our heads full of pictures and experiences 👋

"The end is the beginning is the end..." Prologue: I am on the Kerry Way and am doing my 4th heart project. And if you don't know what this is yet, take a look at my collections or here: https://lokalklick.eu/2024/02/20/das-vierte-herz-projekt-dieses-mal-fuer-den-kinderschutzbund/ Please take courage and support my project by May 10, 2024 with a donation to the following bank account: Kinderschutzbund Willich IBAN DE09 3205 0000 0000 2231 80 Please use the following as the intended purpose: "Heart Project Kerry Way" About the tour: Today I am setting off on my last stage of a good 28 km from Kenmare back to my starting point from last Sunday: Killarney. The weather was the same as when I started, and it accompanied me to my destination: with wonderful sunshine. First through the somewhat busier Kenmare, which, like Killarney, attracts many visitors. Then it goes up on a straight road to the Windy Gap. Richard and Patricia from Cork, who are on a trip, tell me that until 2 years ago it was still natural and not asphalted. On the Windy Gap there are again wonderful views. I get closer and closer to the turnoff from where I continued on to the Black Valley 6 days ago. When I get to that point, I pause briefly and stop before I start the last 16 km through the Killarney National Park. I slow down to enjoy every kilometer. On the way I meet Elmar from Holland, who, funnily enough, follows me on Insta and I follow him too, as he is an outdoor blogger on _thru_hiking. The world is a village - spectacular. 😅 He is also starting the 8-9 day tour today with 2 friends. Then we continue past the beautiful Muckross Lake, Lough Leane and finally back across the road to the center of Killarney. As wistful and sad as I am now that “my Kerry Way” is over, I am all the happier about the adventure I experienced and the memories of it that no one can take away from me. I also hope that I have done something good with my social project. I would therefore like to thank everyone who supported me, especially my family, without whom it would not have been possible. Tomorrow I will take my time to create my collection. Take a look and share the information or support me with a small donation until May 10th. Thank you for your support and motivation. Best wishes from Ireland. #markusSupertramp

Since we started the penultimate stage later, the big finale also came last. At over 26 km, this final stage was the longest of our hike. Thanks to the surprising spell of sunshine, it was also the warmest. It was a successful conclusion, even though my legs were now very tired. Some guidebooks say this section is the most beautiful; I don't want to confirm that. Simply because the climb beyond Kenmare is paved for a long stretch. That did help us cover some kilometers and spend the midday heat in the trees. But it's not the most beautiful route you walk. But whatever, all in all a great hike. And this evening we'll raise a glass to the Kerry Way. Sláinte!

The last stage today it was not sunny, even a bit of mist around the tops it was gray and gray and sometimes even exciting dark gray skies and that made it quite wonderfully mysterious and sober, an atmosphere that you can enjoy here for a day, the view was good so the wide views on some peaks were not endangered 😅 left Kenmare this morning the first part was reasonably up and not too spectacular but certainly not wrong to arrive in a gigantic beautiful valley afterwards from above you could very well see the road winding down, but also how that road went up again until it disappeared again at the top of the horizon I had never seen anything like it it is a pity that the photos cannot properly represent the dim dimension depth that would have made it even more realistic, then I entered the Killarney National Parc via a mountain pass what a beautiful nature it is impossible to explain I would say look at the photos and judge for yourself this National Parc then very gradually changed into a gigantic city park which again connected to the lakes of Killarney and so you actually walk from rugged nature to cultivated park nature along the lakes and back into the pleasant village life. I had already visited Killarney on the first day, so I didn't take any more pictures for the rest, but I did use that time to celebrate my completed Kerry adventure in the Pub an end and my legs didn't mind after 154 km. I hope you enjoyed it, I did and Ireland with its friendly population is a great lover richer after this week, and oh oh oh... how lucky I was with the weather by Irish standards 🍀😅😇🙏 In addition to these daily reports, I also created a Collection of The Kerry Way on my timeline, who knows, I may have inspired someone 😊👋

The 6th day, which was also the last day of this series, took us from Kenmare to Killarney. We had to overcome almost 700 meters of elevation and hike almost 28 km. Right from the start, it felt like we were only going uphill, but through a wonderful landscape. The route led between two mountains (Peakeen Mountain and Knock Anaguish and then Torc Mountain and Mangerton). In between, the Own Garriff River meandered with various waterfalls. Simply beautiful! Towards the end, we went on firmer ground through Killarney National Park with a varied atmosphere. We arrived in Killarney exhausted but happy!!!! 😅

The last stage... It was still going uphill after 2 km. Just ahead of me was an older Irishman who was walking steadily up the slope. We chatted all the way to the top and I was pretty amazed at how quickly and easily I had got up there. But then I had to pick up the pace. You can see him in 2 or 3 photos (the Irishman, not the tooth). From the junction where I was the Sunday before last, I met a lot of people on their first stage. It was busy for a while, but because of the length of the stage it was more crowded. In any case, this tour was a pleasure again. On the last 8-9 km, more and more day-trippers and tourists came into view. Especially in the area around the Torc Waterfall. You can see that in the pictures. Not long after the waterfall came Muckross House... There was a lot going on there. Now I have a room above a pub in a street with pubs, restaurants and tourist shops. Good idea? I don't know, but in any case...

Our final stage takes us back to Killarney. From our accommodation, we first make a detour to the stone circle, which is located right next to the town. It was probably built in the Bronze Age. Then, the asphalt road continues straight out of town, past the Holy Cross Church and a shopping center, and further out. The road becomes a single-lane. We continue straight ahead, sometimes with steep climbs and descents. After more than an hour, the road becomes a dirt track and, shortly after, an unpaved, stony path. We cross numerous puddles and small streams using rocky crossings (stepping stones). Eventually, the path turns back into a narrow asphalt road, and after a short while, we reach the turnoff to Killarney. Here, we turn right and ascend the path. We are now back on the path we took at the beginning of our multi-day hike (stage 1).

Unbelievable, our last day on the Kerry Way. Today, on the final stage, things came full circle again. The first seven kilometers were initially uphill to the Windy Gap, which is located between the two low mountain ranges of Peakeen Mountain and Knockanaguish. Absolute hardcore for the feet, because it only went over asphalt. At the top of the pass we had to used to scrambling a little. It went over stones, wooden planks, puddles, stones, stones and oh yes, stones again. The view was awesome and we enjoyed the moment. Great weather - endless sun!!! Wonderful three kilometers until we met the first part of the path again, which we were now allowed to follow again for about 16 km in the opposite direction. As before, first over open mountain country and then along the shores of Muckross Lake and Lough Leane, again through park-like terrain to the finish (and start) of the Kerry Way to Killarney. The path was just great again, the landscape was fantastic and so we enjoyed our last few kilometers. It is estimated that about one-third of the Kerry Way is tarmac, with a large number of the routes being small country lanes. The middle part is often covered with a turf and thus relieves the strain on the soles of the feet. Nevertheless, that was the biggest challenge for us. In the evening we celebrated ourselves in a quaint pub with a Killarney Brew. Here we got the opportunity to soak up the Irish flair again, as a counterpart to the silence along the trail.