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Dawn Pilgrimage and Swim in West Cork
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1 hour 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in:
English
Offered languages
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- English
While the short hike on the pilgrims path is designed for people of all faiths and none, many people describe this dawn hike on a 1,500 year old pilgrims path as almost a spiritual experience.
Combined with the dip or swim afterwards and a hot breakfast, it is the perfect way to start your day in West Cork.
What's Included
Swim-buoys provided.
Coffee and/or Tea
We provide a hot breakfast of porridge plus plenty of tea and coffee that is guaranteed to warm you back up.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
We meet at Castlehaven Strand about 2km southwest of Castletownshend on the Wild Atlantic Way
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What to expect
Begin your day with a peaceful walk to a 1,500-year-old holy well, steeped in legend. Take an invigorating sea swim at Castlehaven Strand—wetsuits and swim buoys included. Warm up with a hearty hot breakfast, and savour enthralling tales of local history and folklore.
We start with a short dawn hike using a pilgrims path that dates back over 1,500 years to visit the secret holy well known as Tobar Bearcháin.
Local seafarers and swimmers traditionally travelled this path to ask St Bearcháin for protection from the sea.
We then return to the strand and after a brief safety chat, we will dip or swim on the beach using the swim buoys and optional wetsuits provided.
While this is an exceptionally sheltered bay and we stay close to the shore at all times, no swim buoy = no swim.
We will finish with a hot drink and a light breakfast back on the shore and listen to two amazing stories about the prince of Donegal, Aodh Ruadh Uí Dhomhnaill and the martyr known as Blessed Dominic Collins who are both associated with this tiny beach.
Fun fact: this pilgrimage is 400 years older than the Camino.
We start with a short dawn hike using a pilgrims path that dates back over 1,500 years to visit the secret holy well known as Tobar Bearcháin.
Local seafarers and swimmers traditionally travelled this path to ask St Bearcháin for protection from the sea.
We then return to the strand and after a brief safety chat, we will dip or swim on the beach using the swim buoys and optional wetsuits provided.
While this is an exceptionally sheltered bay and we stay close to the shore at all times, no swim buoy = no swim.
We will finish with a hot drink and a light breakfast back on the shore and listen to two amazing stories about the prince of Donegal, Aodh Ruadh Uí Dhomhnaill and the martyr known as Blessed Dominic Collins who are both associated with this tiny beach.
Fun fact: this pilgrimage is 400 years older than the Camino.
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by
Gormú
Tags
Hiking Tours
On the Water
Swimming
Small Group
Excellent Quality
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
from
{{currencySymbol}}{{ summaryFromPrice }}
per person
Was {{currencySymbol}}{{ summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount }}
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