Go Together Life

📍 Circular Route | 13.8 km | 631m Elevation | 4.5 Hours
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four and a half adventure-laden stars

On our way down to the Dingle Peninsula for an epic five-day family hike along the Dingle Way, we built in a two-night pause just outside Killarney National Park, a strategic bit of R&R before the real adventure began. Our goals? Rest the legs, soak up some Irish scenery, and maybe breathe a little before logging serious miles. We’re also a bit partial to a National Park stop, so Killarney was a no-brainer.

Our accommodation turned out to be as legendary as the landscape. We had booked a hillside lodge owned by none other than Pat Falvey, famed Irish explorer, author, and mountaineer extraordinaire. And as luck would have it, Pat was home.

But first: groceries. Or, more accurately, a shopping spree. Patrick and Ally enthusiastically attempted to purchase the entire contents of the local supermarket, while Jon and Mandy quietly returned unnecessary items to the shelves like grocery store ninjas. Once stocked, we wound our way up into the hills to the lodge and straight into a welcome from Pat himself.

Warm, generous, and full of stories, Pat showed us around his home like an old friend. One of the highlights? A massive polar bear rug sprawled across the main bedroom floor, claws, teeth, tongue, and all. It had made its way to Ireland in a hockey bag, after what we can only imagine was an Everest-sized mountain of paperwork. Pat had been gifted it after it had been “taken out” by one of the last great Inuit hunters, a woman, in northern Canada. He likes to regale people with the story of how customs officers in Dublin reacted when he told them exactly what he had to declare.

Naturally, a photo op ensued.

Over the course of the evening, Pat shared tales from a life less ordinary: how he made a fortune in business, lost it all, and came back as one of Ireland’s most decorated adventurers. The only person in the world to have completed the Seven Summits Challenge twice, he’s summited Everest from both Nepal and Tibet, trekked to the South Pole, and climbed Kilimanjaro more times than he can remember. At 68, he shows zero signs of slowing down.

So when he knocked on our door the next morning and invited us on a hike, we didn’t hesitate, even though our original plan was to put our feet up. Boots on, snacks packed, we followed Pat to the parking lot at Muckross House, the starting point for what would be an unexpectedly magical and humbling hike.

We began with a scenic walk around Muckross Lake toward Torc Waterfall. The trail was flat, and the vibe was relaxed. We chatted easily, buoyed by the beauty and the gentle pace. Spirits were high. Confidence? Possibly too high.

Because from Torc Waterfall onward, the trail began to climb. The crowds faded. Conversation became sparse, except from Pat, who continued to share stories and motivational gems while we focused on breathing. The climb toward Torc Mountain was steady and soul-cleansing, with occasional snack breaks where Pat served up everything from mountaineering lessons to life philosophy. We learned about the power of failure, the healing force of nature, and the magic of setting big, wild goals.

The paths were remarkably well maintained, and while the route is rated moderate, it offered just the right amount of challenge. The teens crushed it. Us adults? Let’s just say we were somewhere between “in shape” and “respectably slow.” But we made it, catching our breath at the summit where 360-degree views of the lakes and surrounding peaks rewarded every step.

Important note: the summit is exposed, so come ready for whatever version of Irish weather decides to join you.

Pat has a hiking rule: never sweat on the way up. It prevents freezing on the way down. This translates to a slow and steady uphill, and a blisteringly fast descent. Once we’d summited and had our moment of triumph, Pat took off downhill like gravity owed him a favor. The teens managed to keep up. The adults? Not even close. Despite our best efforts, we were left somewhere far behind, limbs flailing and pride trailing in our wake.

No worries though, the trail is well marked and gorgeous, so we weren’t exactly suffering.

Back at Muckross House, we rewarded ourselves with cold drinks from the visitor centre and basked in the afterglow of our impromptu adventure. But Pat wasn’t done yet. That evening, he joined us for dinner and traditional Irish dancing at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, then capped the night with a few rousing Irish ballads back at the house. The moment “singing” was mentioned, the teens vanished.

We left the next morning with sore legs, happy hearts, and several signed copies of Pat’s books in our luggage. As far as detours go, this one was solid gold and a perfectly wild way to kick off our Dingle Way adventure.

🧳 Packing List

• 🎒 Daypack
• 💧 Water bottle or hydration pack
• ⛑ First aid kit
• 🧢 Hat & 🕶 Sunglasses
• 🌧 Rain jacket
• 🧥 Warm top/layers
• 🧦 Hiking socks
• 👟 Proper boots/shoes
• 🍫 Snacks