Sheep's Head Way

Introduction
Bantry Ireland The Sheep's Head Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland is undoubtedly one of Ireland's least developed and most undiscovered places. It is a narrow peninsula bordered by Bantry Bay to the north and Dunmanus Bay to the south. A narrow spine of mountains culminating in Seefin Hill at 345m. The Sheep's Head Way is a long distance walking route of 88km (55miles) which follows old tracks and roads. Your route will take you right to the tip of peninsula.
The trail starts and finishes in Bantry. You will walk coastal sections as well as inland, forested sections on your return to Bantry. Accommodation is not readily available so you will spend three nights in one accommodation. Our hosts there look after our walkers exceptionally well.

Accomodation

Important Notes- Please Read:

You will be staying in comfortable guesthouses and farmhouses. Most rooms have en suite facilities.

Your hosts will transfer your luggage each day. PLEASE do try to notify your estimated time of arrival.

 Due to the unavailability of suitable accommodation on this route, you will overnight in two accommodations for two nights and your hosts will transfer you to and from walks. Please also note that there are very few places en route to purchase provisions. There are small grocery outlets in Kilcrohane and Durrus.

You must show your accommodation list to your host each day on your arrival. Your luggage will be transferred for you each day by the guesthouse owners or by local taxi service. It should be there by 4.00pm or before you finish your walk. Please appreciate that B&B’s are often busy with preparing their premises for new guests and transferring luggage is not a usual function. This service is only provided for walkers. Occasionally your luggage will not be there before you arrive but it does always arrive. In some places you will have a voucher for a taxi company who will be transferring the luggage, as it is not a service the B&B provides.

One of the attractions of a self-guided walking holiday is that your luggage is transferred for you and you do not carry it! Do please remember that someone has to carry it! Please try to pack a reasonable amount and in a good suitcase or backpack. Please also make sure your luggage has your name on it, as sometimes the B&B will be transferring to more than one accommodation and for more than one walking company!

Please phone your guesthouse prior to arrival each day.

On some routes you will require a transfer either by your hosts or by a pre-arranged taxi to the start of your walk. Your hosts will agree a time for this transfer with you. Again, please appreciate that the B&B’s only provide this service for walkers.

Meals: You can enjoy evening meals in the guesthouses in some locations, but the hostess needs to be notified beforehand. Evening meals are usually priced between €18-25.00 per person.  Picnic lunches can be supplied at a cost of €4.50-6.00 p.p. Your route notes will advise each day as to the availability of lunch en route and evening meals at your overnight stop. Some guesthouses can provide an evening meal (approx. €15-20) and will also suggest alternative places to eat. This may be a pub or restaurant and prices will vary enormously depending on where you are but are usually between €15.00 and €25.00 Meals are served in pubs until about 9.00pm. If you choose to eat with your hosts in their home, please ring them the previous evening, or the morning before you arrive to book a meal. They may have to travel some distance to get supplies!

Lunches such as sandwiches or filled rolls are often available in local shops or supermarkets, and many also have hot food counters. Look for names such as Centra, Londis, Statoil, Spar, or check in petrol stations. Please note that it is advisable to carry lunch with you unless told otherwise in the route notes. Do tell your hosts when you arrive if you would like them to provide a packed lunch for the next day (approx. €3.50-4.50).

Tailor-Made Tours office 066 9766007 (also answering machine)

Tailor-Made mobile tel. 087 3344031 & 087 3344031

Bus Information 01 836 6111 www.buseireann.ie

Train Information 01 836 6222 or 01 836 3333 www.irishrail.ie

Tourist Information www.ireland.travel.ie

Climate information www.onlineweather.com

Cork Tourist Office 021 427 3251

Time of Year: You can walk this route anytime between April and October. In April/May and October the weather can be unpredictable so knowledge of map reading and compass are important.

Included in your tour: 7 nights Bed & Breakfast guesthouse accommodation; luggage transfers each day; detailed route descriptions and maps.

Excluded: Other meals; transfers to and from Bantry; entries or excursions

Riding

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cork. Travel to Bantry lying sheltered behind Whiddy Island. Bantry is the market town of southwest Cork and an ancient port facility. The deep waters have hosted a succession of fleets, French, Spanish and British which add to the good looks of the natives! Gulf Oil came in the 1970’s to build an oil terminal. In order to make the best of the route, your first night is spent 5km from Bantry at the start of the Sheep’s Head Way.

Day 2: Walk from Bantry to Glanlough overlooking Bantry Bay and Whiddy Island. 14km Ascents 285m Approx. Walking Time 5 hours
The route starts on small farm access lanes from Dromcloc Farmhouse and climbs one of the mountain roads that cross the peninsula. At the top, it is out onto the hills, a glorious ridge walk through sheep grazing country to 223m, before descending to Glanlough and Seamount Farmhouse.

Day 3: Walk from Glanlough to Kilcrohane on the ridge to Seefin Mountain. 13km Ascents 385m Approx. Walking Time 6 hours
Your hosts will assist you today with a route to Kilcrohane. The ridge walk continues over Gouladane, from where you can descend to Gortnakilly or continue on the ridge to Seefin, the highest point of the peninsula at 345m. The walk finishes at Kilcrohane village from where you will be transferred back to Glanlough.

Day 4: Kilcrohane to Tooreen, the end of the peninsula.
14km. Ascents 110m Approx. Walking Time 4 hours
Your hosts will return you to Kilcrohane. The Way follows the exhilarating coastline of the western end of the peninsula through ruined villages, the Gortavallig Copper Mines to Bernie’s Café at the edge of the world! Your host for tonight will collect you at this point and transfer you to your accommodation in Reenmore.

Day 5: Transfer back to Tooreen. Walk to Reenmore along the southern coastline of the peninsula.
16km Ascents 200m Approx. Walking Time 5 hours
After the initial climb to the remains of a 17th century signal tower, today’s walk is on lower ground through farms and townlands to return to Kilcrohane village. You host will collect you and transfer you to Reenmore.

Day 6: Walk from Reenmore to Durrus.
16km Ascents 280m Approx. Walking Time 5 hours
The route follows old paths and droving roads through hillside farms to Durrus, the largest village on the peninsula. There are many pre-Christian remains, standing stones, wells, burial grounds, indicating the ancient importance of the area. Overnight in Durrus.

Day 7: Durrus to Bantry.
17km Ascents 190m Approx. Walking Time 5 hours
Leaving the seascapes behind, the route follows the Four Mile Water valley before climbing through forest to Barr na Gaoithe, the Top of the Wind. A short climb completes the hill walking before descending on minor roads to Bantry town, through the grounds of the majestic Bantry House.

Day 8: Departure from Bantry

        Subject to change

Maps and Information:
We will supply you with color copies of the relevant sections of the Ordnance Survey maps 85 and 88; scale 1: 50.000. ( 1 set per 2 participants). You will also have text descriptions in English of each day’s walk and information on where you are staying and where you can eat. The information pack will be mailed to you at home on receipt of full payment. If you are booking through an agent, it will be mailed to your booking agent on receipt of your booking. If there is not time to send it to your agent, it will be at your first guesthouse and you will receive instructions to get there.

Rates and Dates for Sheep's Head Way

Dates Note: Any time during the season.

Other Info
Meeting: Bantry
Airport: Cork, Shannon
Transfer: Cork or Shannon - by public transport (not included)

Climate:

Ireland has a reputation of being wet but it is also famous for having 40 shades of green! The expression "a soft day" is a popular one with the Irish and describes light rain in mild temperatures. Because of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream, the weather can be very unpredictable, so waterproof rainwear is essential.

Temperate zone; mild all year round, due to the North Atlantic Drift.
Coldest months: January and February with average temperatures of 4 - 7 degrees Celsius during the day.
Warmest months: July and August with average temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees Celsius.

The sunniest months are May and June, with between five to seven hours of sunshine per day.

Your clothing must be warm but also easy to put on and take off as you climb and descend. Tight clothing or jeans are NOT recommended. The temperatures can range from 5° - 19° Celsius and the highest will rarely go over 25° Celsius. Due to the high humidity it can get very warm in summer but on higher ground it can suddenly become colder due to the wind-chill factor.

Cell phone rental is available and can be pre-booked through www.rentaphone-ireland.com

 If you are travelling from the USA you may wish to check out unlocking your cell phone to use and Irish SIM card. Check out www.unlockitfree.com or  www.bilemo.com/unlock  

Please pack carefully and only pack ONE piece of luggage at a maximum of 15kgs for transfer each day.