Distance: 20km
Time to Allow: 7 hours

Black Valley is nestled at the foot of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks mountain range which lie to the North. These are the highest mountains in Ireland, with Carrauntoohil being the highest peak at 1039m. The Kerry Way keeps its distance, running parallel to the range and rising out of the valley to cross the gap between Carrauntoohil to the North and Broaghnabinnia. The trail comes off-road onto rough terrain and reaches a height of around 300m.

The Kerry Way steeply descends into a new valley and briefly rejoins a tarmac road for a kilometre before veering off to the North-West and starting on another steep ascent of 300 metres, crossing the lowest point of the ridge at that leads into another valley to the north.

The track takes another steep descent into a narrow valley and eventually links back to a minor road and skirts around Lough Acoose from the eastern side in an anti-clockwise direction. Those who have booked into Lough Acoose House will find it along this stretch of road. After walking nearly three-quarters the way around the lake the main road then swings off to the west and passes a forrested area before finally reaching the area of Glencar.