Overview
A Sense of Place
A Sense of Place offers bespoke historical tours in Valentia and elsewhere in South Kerry. Our intention is to help you discover the hidden heritage and real history of this amazing area. Megalithic tombs, iron age walls, ring forts, ogham stones, Early Christian sites, Norse and Gaelic settlements, castles, towers, abbeys, and Cromwellian forts: South Kerry has an amazing history. Let us help you discover this!
The tours are given by Eoin O’Neill, a native of Dublin, who spent many summers in Kerry (his mother is from Glenbeigh), and who has been living in Valentia for several years. Passionate about history, he did his doctorate on the Nine Years War (and his currently writing a book on this). Since moving to Valentia he has set about exploring the area’s heritage and its history (and running the Foras Feasa: Exploring Irish History YouTube channel, a great way to get a sample of the history of South Kerry).
In addition to the walks below we do other walks in South Kerry. We also do individualised walks. Please contact us for greater details. Finally, remember to bring appropriate footwear and clothing on all walks.
Contact Details:
Phone/WhatsApp: 085 878 2775
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: A Sense of Place – Kerry
Valentia Walks
Knightstown-Quarry Walking Tour
Starting at the Clock Tower in Knightstown, this walk will explore the planned town of Knightstown, passing the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottages, the Heritage Centre and Kilmore Protestant Church (where Maud Delapp is buried), before going through the wonderful gardens and forest of Glanleam to reach the Lighthouse. After exploring the Lighthouse and its exhibition, as well as taking a break in its café, we will go to the Slate Quarry, all the while taking in the spectacular views of Valentia Harbour and Dingle Bay.
4 hours
St Brendan’s Well Walk Tour
Explore the wilder side of the island. This walk starts with St Brendan’s Well, still in use today, and the ancient stone crosses nearby. Here find out Valentia in the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages, such as: a stone trackway found under the bog; a bronze age sword also found in the bog; fulacht fiadh; and enclosures. Afterwards, the walk continues along the coastline of Valentia, passing the remnants of ancient iron age walls and other echoes of the past.
3 Hours
Bray Head Walking Tour
Discover how this part of Valentia has changed over history by visiting a series of sites from different times in Irish history. All with amazing view of the Skelligs, the Atlantic, Portmagee, and the entrance to Valentia Harbour (Beal Inse). The walk starts in the carpark, looking onto Foilhomurrun Bay, where the transatlantic cable first came ashore – and also the site of a Cromwellian fort. After this it follows the track up Bray head, making a few deviations. Discover standing stones, the unique ruins of Crompeol Gaelic village, monastic huts with stone carvings, ancient field enclosures, and finally the signal tower.
Please note that this involves some steep slopes and passing through boggy areas, especially to reach the monastic huts.
3 hours
Walls of Valentia Walking Tour
Explore the back of the island with its stunning views of Dingle Bay and the Blasket Islands. Here you will discover a different view of Valentia and most especially the amazing complex of iron age walls and huts. This is a very special experience, one which is often capped by kestrels or falcons flying overhead (and even buzzards if you are lucky). 2-4 people only.
3 hours
