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Black Valley Hostel is conveniently located on both the Kerry Way Walking Trail and the Ring of Kerry Cycle Route. The hostel can be found in the centre of Black Valley beside the church and near the base of the road leading up to the Gap of Dunloe.
It contains a range of different sized rooms from the recently opened private 4-bed rooms with ensuite to 6-bed, 8-bed and 12-bed dormitories. Check-in times for the hostel start from 5pm. A shop can be found to the front of hostel selling basic food supplies. This is open from 9am to 9pm during summer months.
The hostel is part of the nationwide chain of An Óige hostels. The sister hostel at Killarney International is situated 15km away in Fossa. An alternative start to the Kerry Way would be to walk through the Gap of Dunloe between the two hostels. Walking this stretch avoids repeating the section between Killarney and Galway's Bridge at the official start and end of the trail.
Hill-walkers staying an extra day in Black Valley may wish to climb Carrauntoohil (1,039m) or Purple Mountain (832m). These mountains do not have sign-posted trails, so good navigational skills are essential to tackle these summits. Alternatively, horse and cart trips can be organised to the Gap of Dunloe. The Gearahmeen River is also a popular spot for canoeists.
