What's in store at this year’s Wander Wild festival in Killarney

The Wander Wild Festival allows participants to immerse themselves both mentally and physically in the beauty of Killarney, writes Deirdre McArdle

Roz Purcell, at Derrycunnihy, with Piaras Kelly of Kerry Climbing, leading The Nature Valley Hike, as part of the Wander Wild Festival in Killarney National Park. Pictures: Valerie O'Sullivan

The thing about Killarney, and what makes it the incredibly popular tourist destination it is — over 1 million tourists visit the town each year — is that it lies right in a national park, an area of spectacular beauty that takes your breath away.

The team behind Wander Wild, Ireland’s Great Outdoors Festival, has harnessed that beauty, from the rugged mountain peaks of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks to the serene lakes dotted throughout the park, to create a festival that focuses on nature and all its wonder.