Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday on one of Ireland’s prettiest of peninsulas, and also a very spindly one in West Cork. The Sheep’s Head Way is just 19km long and 5km wide. For keen walkers it’s like a tardis, however, with 150km of hill walks leading you to dreamy coves, dramatic cliffs, ancient archaeological sites or to its elusive lighthouse right at the tip – all strengthened by a sandstone ridge which stretches down the core of the peninsula like a central spine. This walking holiday dips in and out of the trail, staying at small, locally-owned accommodations run by a community that was wholly committed to bringing sustainable tourism to their unique region of Ireland. One that is perfect for an idyllic insight into the wonders of Ireland’s west coast.
- Sheep’s Head Way
- Sheep’s Head Lighthouse
- Bantry
- Durras
- Kilcrohane
- Gortavallig Copper Mines
- Wild Atlantic Way
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Bantry
Arrive by scheduled bus service from Cork to Bantry. Lying sheltered behind Whiddy Island, Bantry is south-west Cork’s market town 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. In order to make the best of the walking route, your first night is spent 5km from Bantry at the start of the Sheep’s Head Way.
- Accommodation: Dromcloc House B&B or similar in Bantry
Day 2: Bantry – Glanlough – Bantry | 14km
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. Your host transfers you back to Bantry.
- Accommodation: Dromcloc House B&B or similar in Bantry
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4h, ↑285m
Day 3: Bantry – Glanlough – Kilcrohane | 13km
The day begins with a short transfer back to Glanlough, where you rejoin the trail along the ridge above Gouladane. From here, you can either descend to Gortnakilly or continue along the ridge to Seefin, the peninsula’s highest point at 345m Take a rest at Seefin Viewpoint, located on either side of the road as it passes over a rocky ridge, with great views in either direction. The walk finishes at Kilcrohane village.
- Accommodation: Bridge View House B&B or similar in Kilcrohane
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5h, ↑385m
Day 4: Kilcrohane – Sheep’s Head Lighthouse – Kilcrohane | 14km
Your hosts take you back to Kilcrohane. The Sheep’s Head Way then follows the exhilarating coastline of the western end of the peninsula through ruined villages and the Gortavallig Copper Mines. This was a Victorian mine exploiting copper from the cliff face at Gortavallig. The walk finishes at Sheep’s Head Lighthouse at the western tip of the peninsula. Your host collects you from nearby Bernie’s Café and transfers you back to Kilcrohane.
- Accommodation: Bridge View House B&B or similar in Kilcrohane
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4h, ↑110m
Day 5: Kilcrohane – Tooreen – Kilcrohane | 16km
You are transferred to Tooreen. Walk to Kilcrohane this time along the southern coastline of the peninsula. After the initial climb to the remains of a 17th-century signal tower, today’s walk is on lower ground through farms and townlands, bringing you back once more to Kilcrohane.
- Accommodation: Bridge View House B&B or similar in Kilcrohane
- Walking for the day: 16km, 5h, ↑200m
Day 6: Kilcrohane – Durrus | 16km
The route follows old paths and driving roads through hillside farms to Durrus, the largest village on the peninsula. A number of Neolithic monuments in the area at Coolcoulagha and Dunmanus indicate that a significant pre-Celtic population existed there, with standing stones, wells and burial grounds.
- Accommodation: Jo-Al B&B or similar in Durrus
- Walking for the day: 16km, 5h, ↑280m
Day 7: Durrus – Bantry | 17km
Leaving the seascapes behind, the route follows the Four Mile Water Valley before climbing through the forest to Barr na Gaoithe, or the Top of the Wind. A short climb completes the hillwalking section of today’s itinerary before descending on minor roads to Bantry, finishing with a trail through the grounds of the majestic 17th-century Bantry House.
- Accommodation: Dromcloc House B&B or similar in Bantry
- Walking for the day: 17km, 5h, ↑190m
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodations on this tour include a mix of welcoming B&Bs and guesthouses. They have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere, cuisine and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. Note that it is sometimes necessary to accommodate you a short walk away from the trail itself, as there is not always suitable accommodation close to the trail. Details will be given in your pre-departure info pack.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village inns and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This itinerary is suitable for those walkers who do not have much experience of covering long distances, with average levels of fitness and in good health. The terrain is varied and includes old boreens (a Gaelic word that literally translates as ‘little road’), open grassy and heathery moorland, field paths, quiet country roads and some short stretches of woodland paths (read more about difficulty grades). The routes are waymarked*, and the itinerary is easy to follow. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
*The Sheep’s Head Way has its own logo, showing two sheep locking horns. This was taken from a carved stone which is passed near Bantry by walkers following the route. The stone is also notable for showing the earliest surviving representation in stone carving of a boat in Ireland. One of the features of the Sheep’s Head Way is that the waymarking has been accomplished using oak posts and stone markers in keeping with the natural surroundings of the peninsula.
When to go
This trip is available from early April till the end of October. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information, see our blog on the best time to go to Ireland.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Cork Airport (ORK), Dublin International Airport (DUB), Kerry Airport (KIR), or Shannon Airport (SNN).
By train or bus
- If you’d like to travel to Ireland without flying, read our blog, How to travel to Ireland by train and ferry
- Cork Airport is easily accessible from the UK with the low-cost Ryanair and Ireland’s national airline – Aer Lingus. From Cork airport or Cork bus station, take a direct bus to Bantry (approx. 2h).
- Dublin Airport: Several low-cost airlines cover the route as well as scheduled international carriers. From Dublin Airport there is a direct bus to Cork (approx. 3h 30mins), check up to date timetables at Aircoach.
- Irish Ferries also operate from Holyhead to Dublin. The train from Heuston railway station in Dublin to Cork (approx. 2h 30mins) runs every hour.
- Shannon Airport: Flights are available to Shannon Airport from Dublin, Bristol, Manchester, London Heathrow and Birmingham, as well as Boston and New York JFK. From Shannon Airport, take the bus (approx. 2h 30mins) to Cork.
- For further information, timetables and tickets, visit Bus Éireann, Irish Rail for details or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in private en-suite rooms (B&Bs and guesthouses)
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (up to 15 kg per person)
- Detailed journey documentation and practical information (road notes, 1:50000 maps)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
- A transfer supplement will be added to tours when accommodation in our usual guesthouses in the relevant location is not available for your booking dates
