Stage 1
Killarney to Black Valley
STAGE 1
Killarney to Black Valley
Stage 1 of the Kerry Way is a moderate to strenuous walk with gentle ascents and descents over the majority of the walk but a short steep climb at Torc Waterfall to the Old Kenmare Road. This leads the walker towards Derrycunnihy Church at Galway’s Bridge where the main Killarney-Kenmare road is crossed before descending into the Black Valley.
Length: 21.4km
Hours: 6-8 hours
Grade/Difficulty: Moderate to Demanding (weather dependent)
Ascent: 863m
OSI map: 78
Grid Ref (Start): V 96701 89300
Grid Ref (Finish): V 86502 82887
Terrain: Mix of paths, rough track (mountain), stone steps, boardwalk and roadway.
See Transport page for sustainable travel options >>
The route in detail
Killarney town to Torc Waterfall
The Kerry Way leaves the popular tourist town of Killarney at the start of the Muckross Road. After a kilometre the path turns off from the road and into the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park. The next 1½km of trail skirts the edge of Casltelough Bay with great views across Lough Leane to the Shehy Mountains.
Joining back up with the tarmac path, the Kerry Way approaches the popular tourist stop-off point of Muckross House. The splendid 19th century Victorian house and gardens are open all year round to the public. There is an admission fee at the door.
Leaving Muckross House the trail continues on past fields of grazing cattle. Muckross Lake lies to the west and the looming Torc Mountain straight ahead. The pleasant stroll gradually passes through a copse of trees and once again reaches the N71, Ring of Kerry Road whereupon it passes through a tunnel beneath the road.
Starting from the car park on the N71, the Kerry Way follows the Owengarriff River until reaching the base of Torc Waterfall.
Torc Waterfall to Derrycunnihy
The trail sharply ascends 80 metres through deciduous forest. Glimpses of Torc Mountain can be caught through breaks in the trees before the Kerry Way arrives at an upper car park.
The Old Kenmare Road provides firm footing for a large part of this section of the Kerry Way. Following the old cobbled road out from the forestry, the physical presence of both Torc and Mangerton Mountains can be felt looming on either side of the path. The Kerry Way soon reaches a spur which climbs the 300m ascent to the summit of Torc Mountain.
After following the Owengarriff River for several kilometers, the Old Kenmare Road slowly climbs up towards Crinnagh, leaving the river behind where it turns into Friar’s Glen. Upon reaching the brow of the hill, distant views of Ireland’s highest mountain range come into sight. At a height of 1,039m, Carrauntoohil is the highest peak of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks.
The Kerry Way then descends 50 metres or so to cross the Crinnagh River and across a marshy area. The firm footing of the cobbled road earlier in the day gives way to sections of board walk threading their way through wet areas of ground. The trail then starts to rise through Esknamucky Glen.
Soon after passing through Esknamucky Glen, a beautiful dense oak forest is reached with dense moss carpeting the rocks beneath. A reasonably steep descent sees the Kerry Way meet a tarmac road. The trail forks at this point, with Galway’s Bridge and Black Valley to the right and north, whereas the return leg of the Kerry Way comes from the south and to the left. It is a short stroll to Derrycunnihy Church at Galway’s Bridge.
Derrycunnihy to the Black Valley
Immediately after crossing the road, the trail turns off into a natural, leafy oak forest. Over the following 2km the path gently descends to the level of the Upper Lake on a dirt track at first but then connecting onto a firm gravel path.
As the trail begins to near the valley floor, views start to open up through the thinning trees, exposing Purple and Tomies mountains to the north. Upon emerging from the forestry, the foot of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks come into full view across the valley.
In the more immediate foreground is the Upper Lake. Tour boats can be seen making their way to and from Ross Castle in Killarney.
After leaving the forestry behind, the Kerry Way continues to follow a gravel path for a further 2km alongside the Upper Lake, gradually making it’s way to Lord Brandon’s Cottage.
Once having left Lord Brandon’s Cottage, the Kerry Way crosses the Gearhameen River over a beautiful six-arch bridge. The trail then joins a quiet tarmac road which gently climbs around 40m over the final 3km to reach the church and hostel, marking the centre of the Black Valley.
During periods of heavy rainfall, both local lake and river water levels can rise naturally and very quickly. Please do not cross any deep water.