Ireland Walk Hike Bike Brochure

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We’ve re-branded... and our new name Ireland Walk Hike Bike says far more about the holidays we offer than South West Walks Ireland. We have holidays in many other locations now including the South West and we also offer Bike holidays - as well as our ever popular guided and self-guiding Walking and Hiking Holidays.

The reason we want to shout about Ireland Walk Hike Bike is because we adore our country and want to show you the unique Ireland as we know it: the wild & rugged landscapes, the friendliness of our people & our attitude to life with a sense of “being” – being immersed in nature, being at one with the landscape & being at one with yourself. We believe the only way to truly experience Ireland is to immerse yourself into this country & really feel its soul. Walking or cycling gives you the time to experience the real Ireland, the Ireland we know and love, as you Walk,Walk,Walk Hike or Bike through our land.

As an eco-certified business, we constantly update our holidays listening to your comments and ensuring we give you the holidays that As an eco-certified business, we constantly update our holidays listening to your comments and ensuring we give you the holidays that best suit you, while protecting the country we love. By using less “paper brochures”, we help our environment and give you an overview best suit you, while protecting the country we love. By using less “paper brochures”, we help our environment and give you an overview of all our holidays here, while our website gives you more details and specific locations. Please read on and enjoy - and visit of all our holidays here, while our website gives you more details and specific locations. Please read on and enjoy - and visit www.irelandwalkhikebike.com for more details.

Welcome to our brochure and very many thanks for visiting us at Ireland Walk Hike Bike.

Please visit our website www.irelandwalkhikebike.com for more informationPAGE 1

WALK HOLIDAYSThese are GUIDED Walk or Hike

Holidays, all inclusive with a local Irish Guide to ensure you really get the best

from your holiday.

HIKE HOLIDAYSSelf-Guiding or Individual Holidays with all

your accommodation booked, your luggage moved for you, terrific Route Notes and Maps

– leaving you to walk and enjoy.

BIKE HOLIDAYSThese can be Self-Guiding or Guided

depending on your preference – giving you terrific bikes, super routes and a wonderful introduction to Ireland.

Please visit our website www.irelandwalkhikebike.com for more information

JUST 4 UYour own private holiday choices are put together for you in

exactly the way you wish, visiting the places you would like to see, on the dates that best suit you, with one of our Guides or

Self-Guiding if you prefer. (See Page 12 for further details).

HIKE & BIKEHIKE & BIKE holidays give you a Guided holiday in Ireland with super walks & great cycles. Also available for those who prefer

without a Guide. (See Page 11 for further details).

Choosing a holiday location is often a challenge since Ireland has so much to offer and each region has its own unique characteristics. Needless to say - we love them all – so here is a brief outline of our favourites. At any time – please contact us if you would like more details.


NORTH: Sligo, Mayo and Donegal will rejuvenate your spirits in this wild landscape of craggy peninsulas, white beaches, sheep-studded pastures and a horizon carpeted with bog and heather. Immerse yourself in a distinctive Irish culture with warm and hospitable people exploring pilgrim sites, inspiring landscapes and a history that dates back to the beginning of time.

EAST: Dublin & Wicklow offer you the opportunity to mix the pleasures of a walk in the historical Viking capital city of Dublin with hiking in the peaceful hills and valleys of Wicklow aptly named the “Garden” of Ireland. Discover the picturesque valleys of Glenmalure and Glendalough with the peace and tranquillity of a 6th century monastic city.

SOuTH: Includes Kerry & Cork – two stunning areas of outstanding natural beauty, rich in archaeological remains, history & some of the most magnificent coastal scenery. This is also home to the highest mountain range in Ireland and boasts the Ring of Kerry with the amazing Lakes of Killarney, The Dingle Peninsula so well known for tradition and culture, the untouched Beara Peninsula with the impressive Healy Pass and the undiscovered Sheeps Head.

WEST: A fascinating and historical landscape dating back some 5,000 years bringing you to Clare, the Burren, Galway, Connemara, Mayo and many of Ireland’s Islands places - the stunning Aran Islands and Inishbofin to name a few. The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren with its amazing limestone landscape, make this region unique for flowers & birds.

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Congratulations to Lars Paff who WINS a FREE HOLIDAY in 2016 for his super front cover photo of the Blasket Islands, overlooking the Dingle Peninsula.

We would like to thank the following for their pictures throughout this brochure: Lars Paff, Thorsten Bronner, Ed Danielczyk, John Edwards, Oliver Rauth, Tim Bowser, Sherry Ott, Manuel Nunez, Lisa Fiore, Anne Evans, Mary Smothers, Betsy de Heer, Susan Jewell and Marcia Bos.

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Lakes of Killarney, KerryLakes of Killarney, KerryLakes of Killarney, KerryLakes of Killarney, Kerry Hiking the Kerry WayHiking the Kerry WayHiking the Kerry Way Rest time on the Wicklow WayRest time on the Wicklow WayRest time on the Wicklow Way

Walking the Dingle Way Walking in Connemara Walking in Dingle

WALK Holidays are GUIDED – fully inclusive with• Premium Bed and Breakfast accommodations• Delicious 3 course Evening meals each night• Picnic lunch on all walking days.• Your Irish Guide is with you throughout your holiday,

bringing each days walk to life with a wealth of local knowledge on your region of choice.

• All transport as listed on Itinerary’s

Our “CLASSIC” WALKS are the holidays you have been choosing for 21 years! They still remain our favourites and take you to so many wonderful & diverse places - The Dingle Peninsula, The Ring of Kerry Peninsula, West Cork and Islands, The Burren/Aran/Connemara, Donegal, Wicklow or Sligo/Mayo.

They are Graded as 2 Boots (see Grading Page 14) and each offers totally different landscapes and scenery. These are 7 nights in duration (8 Days) & some can be enjoyed as shorter breaks so please enquire directly if your time is short.

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“Just completed an 8 day guided walk in Dingle with Ireland Walk Hike Bike. I was coming all the way from Adelaide in South Australia so was anxious about how it would all go. From start to finish I was looked after and the walks were spectacular. Our great Irish guide Denis was passionate about Ireland, its history and the walking trails and made sure everyone on the trip was looked after.” Margaret, Australia

WALK and TALK holidays are Graded as 1 Boot (see Grading Page 14) and give what so many of you have been asking us for – great walks and more time to see & experience the places you are visiting along the way.

Your guide will also ensure you “experience” something typically Irish during your holiday – how to make Irish Soda Bread, “pull a pint”, make an Irish Coffee or “dance a jig”. Whatever it is, these 5-Day (4 night) holidays will give you a wonderful sense of Ireland before you return home.

Please visit our website www.irelandwalkhikebike.com for more information.

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HIKE

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HIKE Holidays are Self-Guiding/Independent holidays, giving you:

Wonderful bed and breakfast accommodations,•Luggage transport, •Detailed easy to read Route Notes and Maps, •24/7 telephone contact and backup support, •Terrific walks each day.•

These holidays give you a tremendous “feel” for the people, places and communities as you hike from place to place.

These holidays vary in duration:4 night short breaks•8 day week long breaks•10 or 11 day discovery holidays•

These holidays give you the opportunity to discover an area by walking from place to place most days. We also offer holidays based in one or 2 locations for those who prefer less moving and now for 2016 - shorter distances for those who prefer less hiking.

“Professional, knowledgeable, friendly, dependable, fun, flexible and great value. We did a 6-day self-guided on Dingle and it was flawless. Really fun trekking and these guys made it much more enjoyable. Will be back ASAP!!!” Michael, Canada

Choosing where you want to HIKE from a canvas as vast as:The • Dingle Way on the glorious Dingle PeninsulaThe• Kerry Camino - also on the Dingle PeninsulaThe• Kerry Way on the magnificent Ring of KerryThe• Burren Way including the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands and ConnemaraDonegal• - still so untouchedWicklow• - our “Garden”of IrelandThe• Beara Way on the undiscovered Beara PeninsulaOr • Sheeps Head Peninsula on the shores of the Wild AtlanticOR combine some of the destinations to make your own Just4U holidays (see Page 12 for more details)•

Please visit our website www.irelandwalkhikebike.com for more information.



Self-Guided BIKE holidays are enjoyed as Go-As-You-Please holidays with • FirstRatebedandbreakfastaccommodations• LuggageTransfers• Premiumhybrid,RacingorElectricbicycles• SuggestedRouteNotesforeachdayscycle• Highlightedmapsforeachday.• Telephonecontactandbackupsupportisavailableto you 24 hours a day. • Greatcyclingeachdayandterrificbikesallcombine to give you a wonderful holiday.BI

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“I did a Ring of Kerry walking tour followed by a bike tour of Dingle peninsula in August. Both trips were wonderful experiences. I was so impressed by Ireland Walk Hike Bike. The trips were so well planned, down to the smallest details. Food and accommodations were first rate. The staff all went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable holiday. I would enthusiastically recommend this company to anyone planning a walking or biking trip of Ireland.” Juliet, USA

Guided BIKE holidays are also available – fully inclusive with First rate Bed and Breakfast accommodations•Delicious 3 course Evening meals each night•Lunch each day.•Premium hybrid, Racing or Electric bicycles •Your Irish Guide is with you throughout your holiday, ensuring you see the places •most people miss and sharing their knowledge of the local areaAll transport as listed on Itinerary’s •

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HIKE & BIKE Adventure Holidays are a terrific way of enjoying our best Hiking and Cycling routes in one holiday– be it in the South, the West or the North West of Ireland – these holidays combine those great hikes with terrific cycles to give you a chance to see more of the surrounding region while still taking you off the beaten track & keeping you in touch with nature.

These can be enjoyed as both Guided and Self-Guided Holidays - details at www.irelandwalkhikebike.com



Just 4 u

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Just 4 u are holidays exactly as they say – Just For You. Nowadays, modern living makes holidays more precious than ever, as you want to see as much as possible and very often have little time to do so, we understand. More and more of your are asking us for your own Unique Itinerary’s for the dates that suit YOU in your favoured locations and choosing if you would like to holiday with one of our Guides escorting you or “Self-Guide” yourselves.

This unique design of holiday has answered many people’s dreams already, for such special occasions as a birthday milestones, family reunions, music and walking, “Extended” Irish immersion holidays or “Short and Sweet” stays.

You may be tempted by many different holidays on our website. If so, please e-mail us, give us your ideas and let us create the holiday of your dreams as we design a wonderful itinerary Just for you.

“I’m going home with wonderful memories of days well spent in a country that I have come to love. Thank you Linda, Kay and everyone associated with this wonderful company for a gorgeous holiday! Keep doing what you’re doing. You are bringing great joy to those who have the most fortunate opportunity to find you.” Gloria, USAPlease visit our website www.irelandwalkhikebike.com for more information

GRAD

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BIKE HOLIDAYSIreland is a country of few flat stretches of land and therefore it makes for a wonderful cycle destination as you gently cycle through undulating landscapes enjoying the views that sweep out in front of you. Below you will find our grading to help you choose the holiday which will best allow you enjoy this wonderful country on your cycling adventure.

1 Wheel (Comfortable) - Suitable for those who would like to explore a region by bike at their own pace. The cycling is mainly on flat routes with a maximum daily

distance of 50kms (31 miles). There is less climbing involved on these tours. These tours are designed for those that do not cycle on a regular basis but have a reasonable level of fitness.

2 Wheels (Moderate) - Suitable for anyone who enjoys both easy and moderate rides on the same tour covering flat or gently undulating terrain with

a maximum daily distance of 60kms (37 miles). There will be a few steep climbs involved, making these holidays ideal for those who cycle regularly.

3 Wheels (Energetic) - Designed for the fit cyclist who wishes to challenge themselves on Ireland’s rolling terrain. These tours combine moderate

rides with some challenging days in the saddle and will cover up to 90km (56 miles) per day with regular climbing involved.

If you would like further information on our grading, please call or email us and we will be happy to explain it further and recommend the right holiday to match your level of fitness.

Difficulty of Cycle

Difficulty of Cycle

Difficulty of Cycle

3 Boots (Energetic) - This grade applies to our Holidays where participants need to have a good level of fitness and previous

hiking experience is recommended. For this grade, participants need to be able to walk up to 25kms (16 miles) a day across varied terrain, some open mountain tops without tracks, some bog, beach, prepared trails and asphalt. The maximum height you will have to ascend is approx. 1,050 metres (3,300 feet) with some ascents and descents that are often demanding.

WALK / HIKE HOLIDAYSWeather conditions in Ireland both overhead and underfoot can change quickly affecting the difficulty of a walk, hike or bike holiday. Even on the sunniest of days – it is important to be prepared and always take an interest in the local weather forecast. Remember that the better equipped and prepared you are the more enjoyable your holiday will be.

1 Boot (Comfortable) - The terrain will be varied and occasionally wet underfoot. These walks are best suited to people capable of walking up to 12kms (7.5

miles) daily. During each day of walking you will encounter uphill and downhill sections with a maximum height of 600 metres (1,950 feet) approx. being our “cut-off”. This grade is ideal for your first walking holiday in Ireland or for less experienced walkers.

2 Boots (Moderate) - This grading is given to our Classic Walks and some Self-Guiding Hikes which take you across open-mountain and bogland (wet

conditions). The terrain is varied and each day will have uphill and downhill hiking, some of which may be steep. The maximum height we reach is 950 metres (3,100 feet) approx. This grade is suitable for people with a good level of fitness and capable of walking up to 20kms (12.5 miles) a day.

Difficulty of Walk

Difficulty of Walk

Difficulty of Walk

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GRADING

Note: For Self-Guiding/Independent HIKE holidays we recommend all participants are comfortable with map reading and have the ability to navigate with a compass.

Note: On Guided WALK Holidays, your Guide will normally “pace” the group according to the average pace, assuming all walkers are capable of the above criteria.

FOOD

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FOODIreland’s best kept secret is our food with a wonderful variety of excellent quality cuisine, made possible by the freshest of ingredients. Irish food writer John McKenna eloquently describes Artisan Food as a test of 4P’s, ‘a synthesis of the Personality of the producer, the Place it comes from, the Product itself and Passion in the manner it is produced’ We feel personality, place, product and passion describes your Irish food experience perfectly. Our guests comment regularly about the quality of the food they enjoy during their holiday with us in Ireland and we can assure you that you will be impressed.

ACCOMMODATIONSFor over 20 years we have travelled every road and trail in Ireland delivering world class holidays to our guests. In this time we have found a variety of terrific, friendly and comfortable accommodations around Ireland. We invite you to come and let us introduce you to the Lady of the House or “Bean an Tí” (as we say in Irish), who makes your holiday in Ireland such a unique and wonderful experience.

Our handpicked guesthouses and their owners are waiting to show you the level of hospitality we have become world famous for. For all our WALK, HIKE & BIKE holidays we choose a selection of B&B’s, guesthouses or small, friendly hotels. These are chosen to give you a better “feel” for the local people & community. All are well equipped with bathrooms attached to your bedroom. In some places the bedrooms are small & compact; in others they are more spacious. Therefore, we recommend smaller suitcases for ease of moving around your bedroom.

We are extremely proud here in Ireland Walk Hike Bike to have such truly delightful people as our Guides and many of you return year after year because of them. Each of our Guides have been selected for their abilities, enthusiasm & passion for Ireland. They all love working with people & want to ensure they show you Ireland in a truly memorable & authentic way. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and varying in age, they all share a common interest in nature & enjoying it actively while delivering a terrific Guided Holiday to you.

Many have worked with us for several years, while others guide for one or two seaons with us before moving in another direction. We are certain you will thoroughly enjoy their company during your holiday.

GuIDES

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For many years we have operated our holidays in the most Eco sensitive and responsible manner possible. In 2015 we were awarded the Irish Eco Tourism certification after a rigorous auditing of our operations and practices. We are always striving to be an industry leader in this field and we appreciate your help in ensuring your holiday has minimal impact on the unique Irish landscape and the global environment. We have information available on our website on the various conservation bodies we support as well as a carbon footprint calculator where you can offset the carbon produced by your flights to Ireland.

Please read our Leave No Trace guidelines to help you enjoy the outdoors every day in a more responsible way. Working together ensures we leave Ireland and the rest of the planet healthier and a better place for future generations.

Please visit our website www.irelandwalkhikebike.comfor more information

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The Ireland we love... taking you off the beaten track!

Foot loose!Foot loose! Irish Fine Dining!Irish Fine Dining!Irish Fine Dining! Linda’s New Company Car!Linda’s New Company Car!Linda’s New Company Car!

How we ‘handle’ customer feedback!No Wi-Fi in tonights B&B!Irish Motorway

Find us online

Contact Us: Ireland Walk Hike Bike with South West Walks Ireland. PO Box 372, Tralee, County Kerry, IRELANDT: +353-66-7186181 E: [email protected] www.irelandwalkhikebike.com

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Ireland Walk Hike Bike Brochure

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