Ring of Beara Highland Track
Wild Atlantic way meets mountain wilderness
The highland section of the Ring of Beara breaks away from the tourist-packed coastal route to climb into the Caha Mountains via a network of narrow mountain tracks between Lauragh and Ardgroom. These single-track roads wind through ancient peat bogs and past abandoned copper mining sites from the 1800s, reaching the Healy Pass at 334 meters where the views stretch across Bantry Bay to the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. Stone walls and ruined farmsteads dot the landscape, remnants of communities cleared during the Great Famine.
Moderate difficulty requiring careful navigation as signage is minimal and GPS can be unreliable in the mountains. Stock 4WD recommended for the steepest sections and loose stone surfaces, especially after rain. Best driven May through September when mountain mists clear and the track isn’t waterlogged. No permits needed but respect private farmland and close gates. The payoff is experiencing Ireland’s most remote peninsula without crowds, with wild camping possible near mountain lakes and unmatched access to hiking the Beara Way.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 25 mi / 40.2 km |
| Duration | 6-8 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1095 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD |
| Nearest town | Lauragh, Kerry |
| Land manager | Cork County Council |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4WD handle the Ring of Beara Highland Track, or do I need a lift?
A stock 4WD is the stated minimum and will get through, but high-clearance helps on the rougher rocky sections in the Caha Mountains. A lifted setup gives you more margin, especially after rain when ruts deepen. Don't attempt this in a 2WD or low-clearance AWV crossover.
When does the trail become impassable and is it open in winter?
May through September is the reliable window. Winter brings persistent bog saturation, low visibility fog, and sections that turn to deep mud — the high ground above 1,000 ft stays wet and exposed well into spring. Cork County Council doesn't formally close it, but conditions will close it for you.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the track. Dispersed camping is available but Ireland's right-to-roam laws are more restricted than you might assume — stick to open commonage land and not private farmland, which you'll cross signs of throughout the Beara. Leave zero trace; locals notice.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The roughest going is on the exposed high spine of the Caha Mountains where the surface breaks down to loose rock, embedded boulders, and eroded bog track. It's not a rock-crawl, but narrow off-camber sections with steep drop-offs demand attention. Moderate is accurate — it's more about commitment and weather than technical skill.
How far is the nearest fuel stop and is there reliable cell service on the route?
Lauragh is your starting-point town but fuel options are thin — tank up in Kenmare (about 20km east) or Castletownbere (roughly 30km west) before you run the track. Cell service is spotty throughout, with near-total dead zones on the high mountain sections, so download offline maps and don't count on a signal to bail you out.
Trail track
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