Views! Fresh air! This walking festival has a wholesome plan for your bank holiday
They say slow and steady wins the race.
For those who love the great outdoors but don’t fancy a gruelling run, the Bantry Walking Festival is the perfect event to get your heart pumping.
This annual weekend runs from Friday, June 2nd to Sunday, June 4th, 2023 in one of West Cork’s most beautiful seaside towns.
This year, the festival kicks off at the launch on Friday in Bantry Community Tourist Office, followed by the Historical Walk of Bantry Town at 6.30pm so you can get your bearings and meet your fellow walkers and mountaineers.
On Saturday, it’s off to the most picturesque valley in West Cork. The first walk of the day is a challenging guided climb up the Beara/Brefini Way. Starting at the iconic Gougane Barra church, the group will trek through Lough Fada and continue to Conigar mountain via the Borlin Valley and Cnoc Bui, where panoramic views of Bantry Bay await.
The walk loops around to Bealisk before descending through the forest track in Gougane Valley and back to the church.
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On Sunday, The Sheep Head Walk will see walkers take the Cahergal Loop, which traverses the width of the narrow Sheep’s Head Peninsula on laneways, tracks, and mountain paths, passing through the remains of mine buildings at Crimea and close to cliffs, for stunning views of neighbouring Beara and Mizen Peninsulas.
For those who want to explore historical sites, there is an option to head to Whiddy Island on Saturday and Sunday for an absorbing and informative tour. Here, you can see the ruin of O’Sullivan Bere’s castle, deserted English gun batteries, a World War One seaplane base, and explore the island alongside your fellow walkers.
What do I need to bring?
Walkers are advised to bring a spare set of clothes in case of a change in the weather, and the cost of the ferry is included in the €20 ticket price.
Tickets for the Gougane Barra Climb and Cahergal are €35 while the Whiddy Walk is €20. Hiking boots and rain gear are essential for all walks and climbs and you can book your ticket from Eventbrite here.
