Wild Atlantic Way – Cork & Kerry Wildlife

Though travel to Ireland for this self-drive holiday is not included, we’ll be happy to help create a tailormade solution to get you here with the minimum of fuss. Regular ferry services from north or south Wales arrive at Dublin or Rosslare, giving you an easy, scenic drive to your first base in the coastal village of Baltimore.

Your Accommodation in Baltimore

On the outskirts of Baltimore, but within easy walking distance of the harbour and village centre, this traditional inn features a bar area crammed with memorabilia of years gone by leading into a bright and airy restaurant. Eat sumptuously-fresh seafood as you gaze out to the boats bobbing on the water, or chat over a Murphy’s with the locals. Rooms are extremely spacious and neatly decorated with splashes of cheery colours. A feeling of being beside the seaside pervades the place and the welcome is every bit as warm as you’d expect.

The coastal waters off the south west of Ireland are a summer feeding ground for a number of whale species – commonly seen off the south coast are both fin whales and minke whales, whilst humpback whales make a slightly later, yet spectacular entrance. All in all, whale watching in Ireland is some of the best in Europe; in recent years, some dozen or so cetacean species have been seen in the clear, unpolluted waters here. The area also plays host to resident populations of common dolphins and harbour porpoises. In addition, there are frequent sightings of other dolphin species at different times throughout the year including bottlenose dolphins and risso’s dolphins. There are some opportunistic sightings of killer whales (Orca), long-finned pilot whales, white beaked dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Other marine mammals regularly sighted include both the Atlantic grey seal and the common seal.

Something a little different – and utterly enchanting – today. Head 40 minutes northwest from Baltimore to West Cork’s own alpaca farm, established some 20 years ago by an enterprising and passionate family. On the first alpaca walks in Ireland, you’re invited to take two curious and beguiling alpacas on a gentle stroll along a well-defined yet wild-feeling trail. Take in the banks of a River Ilen tributary, home to otters, with badgers, foxes, hare and pheasant all playing their part in this undiscovered and completely organic ecosystem. This peaceful haven is also home to a Bronze-Age stone row, a 16th-century castle and a spectacular waterfall.

In the afternoon, return to Baltimore for dinner at your hotel or in the village.

No need to rush today as you bid farewell to Baltimore and make your way into the Kingdom of Kerry. This is your opportunity to meander along some of the spectacular peninsulas, including to Mizen Head, the mainland’s southernmost point, and around Sheep’s Head. Quite wonderful sections of the Wild Atlantic Way, whose cliffs and bays are often strewn with seabirds. Arriving in Kenmare, you’ll love its splash of colour, with cafes and bars ringing to the sound of Irish traditional music.

Your Accommodation in Kenmare

A short walk from the town hubbub, your accommodation in Kenmare is a family-owned hotel, with cosseting rooms, a lovely garden, lively bar and restaurant serving the very best local produce. Indeed, your host is an award-winning sausage maker! Handcrafted pieces by local artists adorn the walls and walkways throughout, contributing to an unmistakably Kerry feel.

Head out from your hotel this morning onto the world-famous Ring of Kerry, along its rugged coastline, passing through colourful Sneem on your way to the coastal village of Derrynane. Here, at Derrynane House, ancestral home of Daniel ‘The Liberator’ O’Connell, meet your expert guide and set off on a relaxed and fascinating walk through this spellbinding corner of Ireland. You’ll trail through woodland, interpreting the landscape as you go, emerging at the fabulous coastline, where a wealth of birdlife including gannet, fulmar, shearwater, petrel, guillemot and kittiwake often appear. Along the coast, your guide, a marine biologist and passionate advocate for preservation, takes time to bring out hidden details perhaps often unseen by the untrained eye.

Your last day is one of wonderful contrasts, on land and sea. After breakfast, spear south on the wild Beara peninsula on the way to Garinish, home to craggy cliffs, a breath-taking beach and tiny pier, from which you depart today. Dining lifejackets. You’re taking to the water on a fun RiB cruise away from the mainland, experiencing the beauty of the Beara Peninsula from the ocean. In the company of experienced and enthusiastic local guides, with views of the Skelligs in the distance, you’ll motor beneath the soaring Dursey cliffs and onward to Cow Rock and Bull Rock. Relentlessly battered by waves, Bull Rock is home to Ireland’s largest gannet colony and its distinctive natural arch, once considered  a portal to the underworld. Along the way,  watch out for whales, dolphins, basking sharks, seals, otters and a dazzling array of seabirds.

Homeward bound today, we’ll be happy to help make plans for your chosen route.