With its location on lovely Lake Leane and bordering one of Ireland’s most beautiful national parks, Killarney is the ideal place to begin an exploration of the Emerald Isle. It is not a large city but it is the heart of County Kerry, quaint and bustling all at once. The carriage-men of Killarney still circulate through town, the clop of a horse’s hoof being as common as the sound of a car engine.

Right in the very center of it all lies the Killarney Park Hotel with its spacious suites and tranquil garden. Settle in and enjoy the luxurious spa facilities or stroll through town before we meet this evening in the hotel’s intimate lounge.

Muckross House, the name hardly rolls off the tongue with the grace of a French chateau, but this 19th century estate at the heart of the Killarney National Park is a true gem. In the early morning as the mist clears from Muckross Lake, we stroll through the manor’s elegant gardens before other visitors arrive. Our walk this morning leads through some of Ireland’s oldest forests, over centuries old stone bridges and along the lake’s shores.

Afterwards, we are taken to nearby Ross Castle on Lake Leane. Though we are only a few kilometers from the town center, we are more likely to see deer as we are other walkers on our path back to town.

This evening, we will enjoy surprisingly sophisticated fare at the Celtic Bar & Larder. Home to over 600 different whiskeys, the Celtic also offers a variety of flights of Irish ales and gins as well. This is the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with new producers of your favorite Irish spirits. Also, a wonderful selection of fine European wines is always at hand.

Today’s walk is marvel of ever changing landscapes. We begin by wandering beside the tranquil streams of the isolated Black Valley, past lonely farms populated more by sheep than men. Then, our path slowly rises, giving way to a spectacular view of the southern half of the Killarney National Park before slipping past the Gap of Dunloe and into a narrow valley dotted with shimmering lakes. The occasional horse drawn carriage may pass as we descend back down towards civilization and a well deserved lunch.

Afterwards, our comfortable minibus will take us up to the northwest and into the heart of the Dingle Peninsula. Our new home is the Castlewood House, an elegant lodging looking out over the Dingle Harbor.

The Blasket Islands, though uninhabited today, were until recently one of Ireland’s most isolated communities. The Great Blasket Museum brings to vivid life its people, traditions and folklore. Our walk today is one of the more spectacular of the trip. Punctuated by lunch in a simple pub, we wander the cliff’s edge, the crashing Atlantic far beneath us and Great Blasket Island hovering on the horizon. It was this specific environment that David Lean chose for his sweeping Irish epic, Ryan’s Daughter.

Dingle Town is proud of its heritage as the most Irish of communities, with most residents speaking Irish amongst themselves to this day. It has also developed into a bit of a foodie town and is intensely proud of its music. In the evening the sound of Celtic ballads hums through the streets.

A journey around the Ring of Kerry abounds with a variety of personalities and possibilities. Every bend in the road brings forth not only a new vista, but often a change in the weather as well. Brilliant sunlight may illuminate the surrounding islands or the mist may shroud them to our very feet. Today we may wander to the top of Valentia Island for a spectacular view of the Skellig Islands or we might explore the smuggler’s coves of Derrynane. No trip around the ring is ever the same but we have many favorite stops along the way.

At the end of our journey we arrive at our new home, the Park Hotel Kenmare. This hotel has been privately owned and welcoming discerning guests since 1897 and is known as one of Ireland’s most special accommodations.

Just a few kilometers to the south of Kenmare lies the idyllic Sheen Valley. This is one of Ireland’s most densely historic areas with over 300 points of interest, but we come for the lovely pastoral terrain and views. The Molly Gavin land holding gives us a look back into the life of the valley in centuries past and our path wanders peacefully from farm to farm. At the top of the valley, a narrow stone tunnel is our gateway to County Cork and a sweeping panorama of Bantry Bay.

Beneath us, at waters edge, Glengarriff is a one street town with two delightful surprises. The gardens of Glengarriff are a bit hard to describe. One is poetic and whimsical, the other a perfect expression of Italian Classicism. George Bernard Shaw set down lines beneath these stately trees. This afternoon, we will enjoy the silence and views which inspired him.

Of all the areas along the southwest coast of Ireland, the Beara Peninsula is among the least well known and visited. Its interior is sparse, rocky and uniquely beautiful. At times it reminds us of the isolated valleys of the Engadine Valley in Switzerland, steep, green, dotted with lonely lakes and punctuated with waterfalls. It is the perfect environment for our final day together. After a morning exploring a private preservation estate here, we retire down to the shore and a tasty lunch of fresh crab in a fishing village consisting of exactly six houses, a pier and a pub.

After lunch, an additional surprise awaits, an exquisite shoreline garden hidden amidst hundreds of acres of forest. For over 150 years, the Derreen Reserve has been nurtured from wild woodland into an exotic and peaceful landscape. It offers a thoughtful conclusion to a truly spectacular day.

Enjoy a final walk along the shores of Kenmare Bay before continuing your journey in Ireland. No matter where your next destination may be, we will make sure that all arrangements are in order for a smooth trip onwards.