Walks and adventure sports in Kerry
Munster
Kerry has 63 waymarked trails on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register, covering about 3,436 kilometres in total across walking (61), cycling (4).
Spots worth the trip
Named on our sport and activity guides.
Killarney Lakes
Kayaking & CanoeingSheltered flat water across Lough Leane, Muckross and the Upper Lake. The standard place to learn, and scenic enough to keep coming back to.
Carrauntoohil
Hillwalking & MountaineeringIreland's highest mountain at 1,038m, in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks. The Devil's Ladder is the usual ascent; the Coomloughra Horseshoe is the better day out.
Valentia Island
DivingSheltered water and good visibility, long used as training ground. A reliable base when the open coast is blown out.
Killarney
OrienteeringMixed woodland and mountain terrain in the national park, and a regular venue for national-level events.
Brandon Bay
WindsurfingA long Atlantic beach that works in most wind directions, with flat water inside and waves outside. Ireland's best-known windsurfing bay.
Castlegregory
WindsurfingThe village at the centre of the Brandon Bay scene, with hire, tuition and the sheltered water of Lough Gill nearby for lighter days.
Dingle Peninsula
CoasteeringSheltered coves and sea stacks with a long-established guiding scene, and enough variety to run sessions in most conditions.
Killarney Lakes
Stand-Up PaddleboardingSheltered fresh water ringed by mountains, and reliably paddleable when the coast is blown out.
Waymarked trails in Kerry
The 25 longest of 63, from the National Trails Register.
EuroVelo 1 Ireland - Atlantic Coast Route
2300 km · 21700 m climb · Very Challenging · LinearStarts at Newtowncunningham or Rosslare Harbour. Directions
Waymarked: blue text on white signs with bicycle symbol and eurovelo logo
Beara Way
241.8 km · 5245 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Glengarriff. Directions
9 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Kerry Way
232.1 km · 5310 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Killarney. Directions
9 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Dingle Way
162.9 km · 2590 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Town Park Gate to the West Side of the Ashe Hall at the end of Denny Street Tralee, near Tralee. Directions
7 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Duhallow Way
73.9 km · 560 m climb · Strenuous · LinearStarts at Clonkeen, near Rathmore. Directions
2 to 3 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Please note: This trail is currently being upgraded at the Mushera section of the trail ( 52.011803, -8.993739, grid ref: W319 851) and the Paps section of the trail at the Clonkeen side (52.012440, -9.248627, grid ref: W144 853) , walkers can still pass through both sections but please take care. If you require any further information, please contact the Rural Recreation Officer in IRD on 029-60633 It is vitally important that dogs must not be brought on The Shrone/The Paps, Mustera and the Mount Leader Fields areas of this trail (from 52.05075, -9.06831 to 52.04670, -9.06163). Bringing dogs to these areas is putting the trail at risk of closure as landowners are concerned about the impact on their livestock. The ongoing presence of dogs will lead to the closure of the trail. To keep the hills open to walkers, it is imperative that landowners and their livestock are respected.
North Kerry Way
43.7 km · 450 m climb · Moderate · LinearStarts at Tralee. Directions
2 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Shannon Way
39.4 km · Moderate · LinearStarts at Castle Green area, Sandhill Road, Ballybunion, near Ballybunion. Directions
8 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Kerry Head Cycleway
17.1 km · 141 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts near Ballyheigue. Directions
40 mins
Kingdom of Kerry Greenways - Listowel to Limerick
16 km · Easy · LinearStarts at Listowel. Directions
1 hour 20 minutes · Waymarked: white arrow on green background
Laharn Bog Loop
14.7 km · Easy · LoopStarts at Cahersiveen, near Cahirsiveen. Directions
Waymarked: blue arrow on white background
Dingle - Siúlóid an tSáis
13.6 km · 360 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Car Park, Brandon Point, near Cloghane. Directions
4 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: white arrow on red background
Please Note: This walk has unprotected cliffs - please be careful!
Kingdom of Kerry Greenways - Tralee to Fenit
13.6 km · Easy · LinearStarts at Tralee Train Station Entrance, near Tralee. Directions
1 hour · Waymarked: white arrow on green background
Keel Uphill Downhill Loop Walk
12 km · 100 m climb · Easy · LoopStarts at Opposite the Church in Boolteens, near Boolteens. Directions
3 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: red arrow on white background
The Skelligs Way
11.8 km · 269 m climb · Moderate · LinearStarts at Ballinskelligs Beach Car Park, near Ballinskelligs. Directions
3.5 hours · Waymarked: blue arrow on black background
Cahirsiveen - Carhan Letter Loop
11.1 km · 240 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Fair Green car park, Cahersiveen, near Cahersiveen. Directions
5.4 hours · Waymarked: red arrow on white background
Cailleach Beara Loop - Bonane Beara
9.9 km · 390 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Molly Gallivans Visitor Centre, Bonane, near Bonane/Kenmare. Directions
4 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Cahersiveen - Beentee Loop
9.5 km · 420 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Fairgreen Carpark (Cahersiveen), near Cahersiveen. Directions
4 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Glanageenty - Bernard Brothers Loop
9.5 km · 215 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Bernard Collins Memorial Car Park at Glanageenty Wood, near Castleisland. Directions
3 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Meelin Hill Looped Walk /Lúbshiúlóid na Maoilinne
9 km · 270 m climb · Strenuous · LoopStarts at Annascaul Post Office, near Annascaul Village. Directions
3 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Ballybunion Loops - Lahardane Hill Walk
8.2 km · Moderate · LoopStarts near Ballybunnion. Directions
1.5 hours · Waymarked: green arrow
Cullum's Cup Main Loop
7.8 km · 180 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Knightstown Church carpark, near Knightstown. Directions
3 hours · Waymarked: red arrows
Dingle - Siuloid Cholmain
7.4 km · 100 m climb · Easy · LoopStarts at Ceann Tra / Ventry Post Office car park, near Ceann Tra / Ventry. Directions
2.5 hours
Ballybunion Loops - Beach Walk
7.2 km · Moderate · LoopStarts near Ballybunnion. Directions
2 hours · Waymarked: blue arrow
Please note that this walk is tidal - please check tide times before setting out.
The other 38 in Kerry
- Portmagee Knockeenawaddra Loop Walk 6.9 km
- Listowel Village Walks - Sive Walk 6.7 km
- Ballykissane Centenary Loop Walk 6.5 km
- Emlagh Loop 6.1 km
- Portmagee Pound Loop Walk 6 km
- Bolus Barracks Loop 5.9 km
- Glanageenty - Lenihan Loop 5.6 km
- Kilbanow Mountain Loop 5.3 km
- Lisleibane Loop 5.3 km
- Cronin's Yard Loop 5.2 km
- Fionn MacCool Loop - Bonane Beara 5.2 km
- Tarbert - John F Leslie Woodland Walk 5 km
- Dingle - Siuloid na Faille 4.9 km
- Cullum's Cup Kilbeg Loop 4.8 km
- Lyracrompane Mass Path 4.7 km
- Slí na nGallán 4.6 km
- Dingle - Siúlóid na Cille 4.5 km
- Druid's Loop - Bonane Beara 4.5 km
- Siúlóid na nGleannta 4.4 km
- Caher Marsh Loop 4 km
- Glanageenty Loop 3.7 km
- Kilgarvan Village Loop 3 km
- Dingle - Cosan Cuas na nEighe 2.9 km
- Listowel Village Walks - River Walk 2.9 km
- Moyvane Village Walks - Village - Sportsfield - Nature Trail - Kiln Way 2.6 km
- Cosan Barr a Chuma 2.3 km
- Skellig Monks Trail 2.3 km
- Strickeen Trail 2.3 km
- Bray Head - Valentia 2 km
- Moyvane Village Walks - Nature Trail Way 1.9 km
- Glanteenassig - Lough Caum 1.6 km
- Reenroe Cliff Walk 1.5 km
- Rossacroo Wood - Milenium Park Trail 1.3 km
- Moyvane Village Walks - Village - Sportsfield Way 1.1 km
- Ballybunion Cliff Path 1 km
- Moyvane Village Walks - Kiln Way 0.9 km
- Glanteenassig - River Trail 0.7 km
- Glanteenassig - Lough Slat view 0
Coillte maintains 27 forest car parks in Kerry. These are the usual starting points for forest walks and mountain bike trails.
Bathing waters in Kerry
22 designated bathing waters monitored by the EPA, 13 of them flying a Blue Flag. Water quality below is the EPA's annual classification, which is a verdict on the previous four bathing seasons and not a reading for today.
Bathing restrictions in Kerry right now
Live from the EPA's bathing water service. Local authorities post restrictions after heavy rain, sewage discharges and pollution incidents, and they can appear the same morning.
Checking the EPA for current restrictions…
If this doesn't update, check beaches.ie directly before you swim.
Data from the EPA Bathing Water Open Data service, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs)
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Green Coast · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible · Beach wheelchair
Ballybunnion North
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible · Beach wheelchair
Ballybunnion South
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Ballyheigue
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Banna Strand
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Fenit
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Fionntrá (Ventry)
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Inch
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible · Beach wheelchair
Maharabeg
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Rossbeigh, White Strand
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Trá na hUíne (Inny Strand, Waterville)
Excellent Quality (2025)Parking · Accessible
White Strand, Caherciveen
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Bathing water data from the EPA Bathing Water Open Data service, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13. Positions converted from Irish Grid. The EPA publishes the full profile for each water at beaches.ie.
Sports in Kerry, in depth
The sports with named spots, accredited centres or registered trails in the county.
24 clubs and schools in Kerry
Listed by Archery Ireland, Mountaineering Ireland, Irish Sailing, Diving Ireland and Irish Surfing. Reproduced as each body publishes it, with a link back to the register. Contact details are theirs, not checked by us.
- Website
- bgramblers.ie
- Phone
- 086 3037414
- Website
- annascaulwalks
- Phone
- 0876459542
- Website
- dinglehillwalkingclub.com
- Phone
- 0894139259
Dingle Sailing Club
Club- Website
- dinglesailingclub.com
- Phone
- 0877187557
- [email protected]
INBHER SCEINE KERRY SAC
Club · Portmagee- Phone
- +353872032457
- [email protected]
Jamie Knox Water Sports
School · Castlegregory- Phone
- 066 7139411
- [email protected]
Jamie Knox Windsurfing
School- Website
- jamieknox.com
- Phone
- 066 7139411
- [email protected]
- Website
- kenmaresailing.wordpress.com
- Phone
- 087 7629813
- [email protected]
Kenmare Walking Club
ClubKingdom Waves Surf School
School · Inch- Phone
- 087 7447958
- [email protected]
- Website
- launemountaineeringclub.com
- Phone
- 0877889945
SCORA
ClubSkelligs Watersports
School · Ballinskellig- Phone
- 087 9718808
- [email protected]
Sneem Walking Club
Club- Website
- sneemwalkingclub.ie
- Phone
- 0876801306
Splashsports
School · Castlegregory- Website
- splashsports.ie
- Phone
- 086 2778236
- [email protected]
- Website
- facebook.com/MaritimeClub
- Phone
- 068 36488
- [email protected]
- Website
- traleebaysailingclub.ie
- Phone
- 087 7606795
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 0872681378
Adventure centres in Kerry
All 3 currently accredited by a national governing body, with a link to the register.
Run by Kerry ETB / Kerry College
Approved here in 2001, and still accredited today.
- Website
- cappanalea.ie
Guides for Kerry
Common questions
Where can I go walking in Kerry?
61 waymarked walking trails are registered in Kerry. The longest are Beara Way (241.8km), Kerry Way (232.1km), Dingle Way (162.9km), Duhallow Way (73.9km). Every one has a verified start point and driving directions on its own page.
How many waymarked trails are there in Kerry?
63 on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register, totalling roughly 3,436 kilometres. The register records waymarked trails only, so unmarked mountain routes and informal paths aren't counted.
How hard are the trails in Kerry?
By register grade: 23 easy, 27 moderate, 12 strenuous, 1 very challenging. Grades are set by Sport Ireland against national criteria, so they're comparable between counties.
Are there sports clubs in Kerry?
24 clubs and schools in Kerry are listed by their national governing body: Archery Ireland, Mountaineering Ireland, Irish Sailing, Diving Ireland and Irish Surfing. They cover 5 sports between them, and each listing links back to the register it came from.
Are there adventure centres in Kerry?
3 in our directory, 3 of which currently hold accreditation from a national governing body: Cappanalea OETC, Caragh Outdoors, Kerry College. Each accredited listing links to the body's own register so you can check it.
What adventure sports can you do in Kerry?
hillwalking & mountaineering, mountain biking, kayaking & canoeing, diving, orienteering, windsurfing, coasteering, stand-up paddleboarding, based on the trails registered in the county and the locations named on our sport guides.
Elsewhere in Munster
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Start points from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13. The register records waymarked trails only, so check the trail operator for current conditions and closures. Forest park and car park data from Coillte Recreation Information (CC BY 4.0), snapshot 2026-08-04, with county boundaries from OSi.