Kerry: Go with the flow in riveting river walk

KENMARE RIVER WALK

FROM the post office, we set off along the pavement towards the head of the Kenmare ‘River’ (actually the headwaters of the bay) and the bridge spanning it. St Patrick’s, a pretty Church of Ireland chapel, is on the left. We cross the bridge and then turn left off the N71, after the Riversdale House Hotel, taking the road signposted Sheen Falls and the Beara Way. The Kenmare River is on our left, unseen through the trees on this heavily wooded road.

We soon cross a pretty humpback bridge over the Sheen River. It has a fine parapet to lean on and there are some dramatic cascades to the left as it plunges down to the sea. The Kenmare River is millpond calm, absorbing this mad, dashing tributary with hardly a ripple.