Stage 6
Waterville to Caherdaniel
STAGE 6 - OPTION 1 - COASTAL ROUTE
Waterville to Caherdaniel
This stage of the Kerry Way has a number of route choices for the walker to consider. The most popular coastal route follows for the most part, an old coach road which passes several archaeological sites including the ancient Loher Stone Fort and offers walkers spectacular views of Ballinskelligs Bay, Hogs Head, Skellig Michael and Derrynane harbour below. Take the optional Mass Path route to visit Derrynane House and National Park and dip your toes in the Atlantic.
Length: 11.5km / Optional Derrynane Mass Path route adds 3km = 14.5km
Hours: 3-4 hours (Optional Route 4-5 hours)
Grade/Difficulty: Moderate
Ascent: 365m
OSI map: 83
Grid Ref (Start): V 50239 66065
Grid Ref (Finish): V 55161 59532
Terrain: Mix of paths, rough mountain track, roadway and beach (optional).
See Transport page for sustainable travel options >>
The route in detail
Waterville to Farraniaragh
From Waterville the trail follows the N70 Ring of Kerry Waterville to Caherdaniel road south, passing Waterville Bridge over the Currane River, then turns right at An Baile Breac / Ballybrack and continues, through Baisleacán / Baslickane, for 1.9km on a narrow tarred road, then traversing two short sections of ‘old road’ and turning right on reaching another narrow tarred road in Ard Caorach / Ardkearagh. After travelling 750m south the trail veers to the left at Teamhair / Toor across farm land and gently rises to give breath-taking views west over Ballinskelligs Bay and to both Great & Little Skellig far out in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The trail continues to rise through An Lóthar / Loher with the N70 Ring
of Kerry Waterville to Caherdaniel road closing in on the left – the two eventually meet and cross at Baile Fhinn / Balleen. The trail continues uphill for one last stretch to reach the summit at Com an tSleabhcáin / Coomatloukane for more breath-taking views north towards Waterville and south to Scariff Island andDeenish Island. Once recovered from the gain in elevation, continue downhill and carefully cross the N70 Ring of Kerry Waterville to Caherdaniel road at An Fearann Iarthach / Farraniaragh, continuing on a track then turning right on joining a narrow tarred road. The trail follows this road downhill, swinging left at the first hair-pin junction and then reaches another hair-pin junction.
Farraniaragh to Caherdaniel
You now reach a junction in the Kerry Way Walking Route at An Fearann Iarthach / Farraniaragh – both options meeting once more at Caherdaniel Village. The optional Derrynane Mass Path Route to the right+, approximately 7.4km in length, continues to zig-zag downhill along the narrow tarred road and skirts the coast at Derrynane Harbour and Derrynane Beach before reaching a narrow tarred road that leads to Caherdaniel Village. The mainline route to the left++ is somewhat more remote, passing through rocky and wooded terrain and is approximately 4.4km in length.
*Turning right continue downhill along the narrow tarred road, zig-zagging through Com an tSleabhcáin / Coomatloukane, then turn left at the quay and continue through Doire Fhíonáin Mór / Darrynane More – firstly east on an unsurfaced road – marked as the Derrynane Mass Path, then turning right travelling south east on a meandering path across rocky terrain to reach another quay. Abbey Island, with its ruined abbey and graveyard lie immediately to the south – perhaps worth the short detour to visit, tide permitting of course. The trail follows the narrow
tarred road east then turns right at the next junction to reach Derrynane Beach. Continue east along the edge of the beach then turn left to pass through a carpark area and onto a narrow tarred road. At the next junction turn right through Doire Fhíonáin Beag / Darrynane Beg and continue on this narrow tarred road for 2km, then turn right again to reach Caherdaniel Village.
**Turning left on the mainline option, travel along an unsurfaced road for 550m then veer left along a grassy track up through rocky outcrops then a wooded area to emerge on a narrow tarred road at Cathair na Gaoithe / Cahernageeha. Turn right and then immediately left and continue through a wooded area followed by more rocky outcrops to reach a narrow unsurfaced road at Doire Fhíonáin Beag / Derrynane Beg. Travel on this road for 400m then veer left on reaching a tarred road followed shortly after by a right turn at the next T junction. Continue to the end of this tarred road then through a garage yard, farm yard and farm land. Caherdaniel Stone Fort is located just north of the trail and is worth the investment of a short detour to visit. Returning, the trail emerges onto another narrow tarred road that leads straight and east to Caherdaniel Village.
STAGE 6 - OPTION 2 - INLAND ROUTE VIA WINDY GAP
Waterville to Caherdaniel
Inland Route Option: The longer inland route option follows the shore of Lough Currane and traverses the Windy Gap mountain pass below Eagles Hill.
Length: 28km
Hours: 8-10 hours
Grade/Difficulty: Moderate to Demanding (weather dependent)
Ascent: 993m
OSI map: 83
Grid Ref (Start): V 50239 66065
Grid Ref (Finish): V 55161 59532
Terrain: Mix of paths, rough mountain track, roadway and beach (optional).
The route in detail
Waterville to Dromaid
From Waterville Village follow the tarred road north east for 1.8km through An Bhinn Bháin / Beenbane and An Sponcán / Spunkane then turn left and uphill at Na Tearmainn / Termons, through farmland, to reach a ridge. Continuing east along this ridge, the trail follows the boundary between
Garrán na Fola / Garrannafullaalong, An Chathair Bhearnach / Caherbarnagh, Bréachmhaigh / Breahig, Cuar an Mhainchín / Cooryvanaheen, Saileachaigh / Sallahig and Dúire / Doory – all the while with views south over Lough Currane and south west over Ballinskelligs Bay.
You now reach a junction in the Kerry Way Walking Route at An Dromaid / Dromod. The route to the left goes to Mastergeehy and onwards towards Cahersiveen, while the route to the right passes through the Windy Gap en route to Caherdaniel.
Dromaid to Caherdaniel
Turning right at An Dromaid / Dromod continue downhill through farm land to reach and turn left at an unsurfaced road. After 150m turn right onto a tarred road at a skewed junction. Turning left from this road cross, via footbridge, the Cummeragh River and continue through farm land and a farm road at Cathair Samháin / Cahersavane to reach a tarred road. Turning right, travel on this road for 900m then turn left onto a narrow tarred road. After 400m veer left onto a grassy path and begin the gradual climb, throughCill an Ghoirtín / Killagurteen, to reach the summit of the ridge before you at Na Comáin / Commanes.
From here continue downhill, firstly through open mountain land, then through farm land to reach a narrow surfaced road at An Gleann Beag / Glanbeg. Turning right onto this road, follow it for 3.1km, through forestry plantations and skirting the east shore of Lough Currane at Clochbhuaile / Cloghvoola, to reach a T junction at Inse Fhearann na gCléireach / Inchfarrannagleragh. Turn left and continue east for 2.9km through Gort na Meacanaí / Gortnamackanee and Na Grága / Graigues. At Tuairín Uí Dhuinnín / Tooreenyduneen turn right onto a gravel path parallel to a driveway. Continue for 2km through farm land and then gradually uphill through open mountain terrain to reach the Windy Gap at Na Gabhláin / Gowlanes. Eagles Hill (549m) shoulders you on the west while Castlecove and Cove Harbour lie immediately to the south. Staigue Fort will soon become visible to the east on beginning the decent. From the Windy Gapcontinue downhill for 3.6km through Beitheachán / Behaghane as far as An Comhad / Coad. At An Comhad / Coad you reach a junction in the Kerry Way Walking Route atCamomile Corner.
The route to the right continues along the ‘Walk of the Planets’ to Caherdaniel Village while the route to the left continues towards Sneem.
Turning right at An Comhad / Coad travel for 2.3km along a well-defined mountain road – an Old Butter Road turned Walk of the Planets along which you will encounter Saturn and Jupiter to name but a few. Continue through Baile Uí Chearnacháin / Ballycarnahan to drop down along a grassy path to your destination Caherdaniel Village.