Sheep’s Head Way Walking Tour (7 Day)

Arrive in the harbour town of Bantry, which lies at the head of a bay sharing its name. Check into your accommodations and pick up your detailed information pack, which includes route guides and contact information.

The first night is yours to explore the town and prepare for the adventure ahead. If you’re a seafood fan, don’t miss the famous Bantry Bay mussels, the town’s most notable export.

Time to set off on the Sheep’s Head Way! Aim westward and walk along the northern flank of the peninsula, with Bantry Bay on your right. The beautiful vistas and fresh marine breeze make for a lovely stroll. Tracks are rocky and grassy, with some roadways mixed in.

Gradually ascend the terrain until you reach Glanlough. Here you’ll be picked up and driven to Kilcrohane, your home for the next three nights. This village is one of the westernmost on the entire peninsula and sits under the watchful gaze of Seefin, the tallest hill on Sheep’s Head.

You’ll be driven back to Glanlough to begin today’s hike. Continue along the northern coast until you reach Cahergal. Vistas of Bantry Bay are a constant, with striking cliffs and coastal features to explore.

Upon reaching Cahergal, call for your taxi to take you back to Kilcrohane for the night. Today’s paths are rocky and grassy mountain tracks, with some bog sections often wet underfoot.

For the 5-day itinerary, you will skip this portion of the route and do Day 4 here instead. This moves everything up one day (Cahergal to Kilcrohane on Day 3, Ahakista to Durrus on Day 4).

Start with a transfer to Cahergal to pick up where you left off. The very tip of the peninsula is your aim today, as far west as you can go. Here you’ll find a lighthouse whose materials had to be flown in by helicopter, and you may even spot whales and dolphins out at sea!

Loop around and begin the hike back eastwards, directly into Kilcrohane for your final night in the village.

If you are doing the 5-day version of this route, you will be spending your final night in Durrus, with a transfer to Bantry on the following morning and departing the region via your own arrangements.

The day starts with a quick ten-minute car transfer to nearby Ahakista. This coastal village is the site of a memorial for the Air India Flight 182 crash which took place off the coast in 1985.

Hike eastward along the coast to the village of Durrus, at the head of Dunmanus Bay. This is a lovely spot for walking about and sampling the local fare. Traditional arts and crafts are abundant, and don’t miss a sampling of delicious Durrus Cheese!

Your final day on the Sheep’s Head Way. Head inland as you make your way towards Bantry. The final descent past Bantry House, with its gorgeous, terraced gardens, makes for the perfect conclusion to your adventure.

Enjoy your final night in West Cork with a hearty Irish meal and a toast to the Sheep’s Head Way!

Time to depart from West Cork. Check out of your Bantry accommodations and embark on your own travel arrangements from the region.