Best Autumn / Winter Walks to see Autumn leaves in Kerry
I grew up by the sea, the tideline and dunes my playground and later, my refuge. I always loved the woods too, but never really had many around us here in the wild south west coast. In 2021 I decided I wanted to connect more deeply with the forest and trees and went on to become a Forest Bathing Guide. My relationship with the forest deepened in new ways. I’ve carried this through in my 12 month seasonal wellbeing programme for women, called Seasonal Soul.
The even greater understanding that the health of the forest is so inextricably linked to our health and mental wellbeing encouraged me to move a little distance away from the sea (25 mins!) and into the middle of the forest, surrounded spruce and pines. Hundreds of acres of evergreens now surround me. It’s like a big green hug! As the spruce and pines stay green all year long, the autumn colours of the sycamore, ash, copper beech, hawthorn and larch scattered around my land and interspersed at the edges of the tree plantations, seem to be all the more vivid in their gold, yellow, mottled brown, red and ambers. The larch trees are particularly eye-catching against the deep emerald backdrop. I also have two little foreign visitors – a red Japanese acer which is stunning and a little ginko tree who’s already shed its leaves. The sycamores too have almost finished their letting go process and their distinctive forked leaves lay like a dark brown carpet on the lane to my home.
Here in Kerry, we have the best of both worlds – the sea and rugged coastline and expanses of beaches but also treasures like Killarney National Park. This time of year is perfect for watching the changing of the seasons’ guard as we move from Autumn to Winter. So I thought I’d share my favourite places for Autumn / Winter walks to watch the leaves change and fall.
Killarney National Park will always rank up top with a spectacular walk from Muckross to Torc with trees flanking all sides
A real hidden gem is Kiflynn’s Fairy Trail (it transforms to this during the annual Fairy Festival in Summer) but the rest of the year, it’s quiet, not very well know and has the most incredible red and golden display from the beech trees that tower overhead
Tarbert’s John F Kennedy Woodlands, another less known, quiet place to wander. Enjoy the fairy village and trail and easily accessible paths through this small, yet perfectly formed woods
Glanageenty though with a heavy covering of spruce is also a haven for many natives such as hazel, hawthorn and ash
Reports from the South tell me that the woods by Derrynane House are gorgeous right now, always worth a trip and this time of the year, the roads are much quieter, parking easy to find and pay a trip to the Blind Piper in Caherdaniel for lunch, the food is epic!
Lickeen Woods is one of my favourite places in Kerry, Blackstone Bridge has this magical aura about it too. Pop down for a visit and call into Emilies Bakery for the best sourdough loaves in Ireland!
Ballyseedy Woods – right here on the edge of Tralee. I was there last weekend with leading a Forest Bathing experience as part of a Retreat at Ballygarry Estate Hotel. Though many of the leaves blanket the ground, leaving bare branches and tress, it’s a beautiful time to wander and breath in the damp earthy scent of the forest
The smell of the forest that we all know and love, it’s just soothing to inhale, forest air carries naturally occurring substances, called phytoncides (wood essential oils), which are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds derived from trees. They have a beneficial effect on the human immune system, calms our nervous system and enhances our mood. All scientifically proven by the way! So by talking a walk in the woods, not only will you bear witness to the change of seasons helping you align with the rhythm of the year and see the stunning colours of the leaves changing but you’ll also be absorbing a host of other health benefits from the forest itself.
If you’d like to join me for an outdoor workshop, or a Forest Bathing experience please visit the events tab of this website.
I’d love to hear of other forest and woodlands that put on a great Autumn leaves “show”, please do let me know of your favourites in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and please do share it with anyone else whom you think might enjoy this blog.
Le grá,
Maeve x
PS. Heres a few other good resources to check out the leaves change in other parts of our lovely country!