Kerry county is one of the most beautiful and scenic in all of Ireland. Kerry’s history, beauty, and romance draw visitors worldwide who want to experience all that old Ireland has to offer.
There was only one runway in the Kerry airport back in 2003 when I visited, but I have read that it services over four hundred thousand passengers every year!
I was there with my mom, and there were only a handful of people in the airport that day. When I walked to the ticket counter I noticed a lot of commotion. The little red haired guy behind the counter was literally hopping up and down in excitement because he had heard that the actor, Hugh Grant was in the airport. The guy reminded me of a real live leprechaun. It turns out that he was correct. I turned the corner and there my mom and I were in an empty airport lobby face to face with Hugh Grant and another guy. No one else was around. It was freaky. I didn’t want to disturb his privacy, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a photo.
My mom took the picture of us standing arm in arm. Sweet right? However, I had one of those old school digital cameras back then that has a delay after the click before it shoots. So when we thought she had taken the picture we moved apart then…click! Ha! The picture looks like he was trying to get away from me! Too funny. I’m not going to include it on this post without his permission, but I still enjoy telling the story of my brush with fame.
What is the Ring of Kerry?
The Ring of Kerry is a 120 mile circular road around the Iveragh Peninsula, but it is more than just a road. It’s a special road that takes you through 10,000 years of history with magnificent landscapes – from jagged rock cliffs, beautiful lakes, the crashing waves on the coast, deep woodlands, tumbling waterfalls, magical castles, quaint chapels, museums, villages, estates, and parks which are all contained in the Ring of Kerry. You can drive around without stopping in just a few hours, but it is best experienced if you take your time and stop along the way to soak in this beautiful countryside and all the attractions.
Insider Tip: Make sure to drive it clockwise to avoid getting stuck behind the tour buses going the opposite way.
Here are a few things you will want to make sure you don’t miss:
1. Killarney National Park
The Ring of Kerry starts in one of the best parts: Killarney National Park. This part of the journey takes you through what I think is some of the most breath-taking scenery in all of Ireland.
There are some great hiking trails in the park, most of which are nice and flat. The famous Lakes of Killarney are there, and you can kayak or canoe with beautiful views everywhere you look. The lakes host numerous top class golf courses and have several top rated places to stay.
2. Muckross Estate
Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932. This was before the creation of Killarney National Park in Ireland. It was the first national park on the Emerald Isle. Muckross House, built in 1843, was eventually opened to the public in the early 1960’s, but you can only see it with a guided tour. I wish I could tell you about the tour, but I did not get a chance to do that.
The beautiful estate sits on 1,300 acres and is full of history. I have heard that it is well worth the visit. There are walled gardens and farms that make it look like a movie scene.
3. Torc Waterfall
My husband and I love waterfalls. If you love waterfalls as much as we do then make sure to visit Torc Waterfall before leaving Killarney National Park. It is well worth seeing and like all waterfalls, it is best seen after heavy rains. Fortunately it rains often in Kerry!
Torc Waterfall is a 5-minute scenic woodland walk off the N71 Killarney Kenmare road. The waterfall is some 70 to 80 feet high and the Owengarriff river which feeds it rises in what is called “The Devil’s Punchbowl” on nearby Mangerton Mountain. If you want the best view you will need to climb up a pretty steep set of steps, but it is not too bad. Seeing this magical waterfall is definitely one of the best things to do on the Ring of Kerry, so make sure to take the time to see it.
4. Moll’s Gap
MacGillycuddy’s Reeks is known as the country’s highest mountain range. Moll’s Gap, on the way to Kenmare via the Ring of Kerry is a great place to get a great view of the famous ‘Black Stacks’. The spot is named after Moll Kissane who was the owner of a small pub in the 1820s.
5. Ross Castle
Many people travel to Ireland just to see the castles so you don’t want to miss the wonderful Ross Castle on the bank of Lough Leane.
The history books tell us that it was first built by the O’Donoghue clan in the 15th century but later became occupied by the Brownes, who were the Earls of Kenmare, during the Second Desmond Rebellion in 1580.
The chieftain who built the castle was O’Donoghue Mór, a man known for his wisdom and wealth. Irish folklore says that he lies sleeping under the lake to this day but appears every seven years to grace his land with good fortune. They say that anyone who sees him the first morning of May will live a long and prosperous life. He is supposedly the gallant spirit who appears beneath the water before circling the lake on his huge white horse. Let me know if you see him.
6. Ladies View
Ladies View is a shining star in Killarney National Park. In 1861 during Queen Victoria’s royal visit here it is said her ladies-in-waiting liked the spot so much that it was named in their honor.
Spotlighted on thousands of Instagram pages every year, it is one of the most photographed spots in Ireland. Be sure to stop at the various viewing points along the Ring of Kerry en route to Kenmare and take in all the spectacular views.
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7. Skellig Islands
Attention all Star Wars fans! A trip to the Skellig Islands should be on the top of your bucket list. These islands were the filming location for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi.” I admit that I lost interest after about the third movie in the series, but if you are into it you can channel your inner Luke Skywalker as you tread the same ground as your beloved hero.
And for nature lovers, Skellig Michael and its close neighbor Little Skellig is a haven for wildflowers. Michael is a rocky island occupied by an abandoned 7th-century Christian monastery and is a major tourist destination. During the summer several boats from Portmagee make the journey there.
Home to a colony of Atlantic Puffins during the warmer months, the Skellig Islands is a place of natural beauty, historical interest and Hollywood significance.
And did someone say chocolate? That’s right. About 15 minutes off the Ring of Kerry, Skelligs Chocolate Factory is the perfect place to take a break and indulge your taste buds.
There are free tasting sessions every day (did I mention that free is my favorite price?) and a great little café.
Its location is actually pretty remote, so it is only open from Easter to September. But with the amazing views of the Skelligs Rock and the mouth watering taste of quality chocolate how can you resist?
8. Killorglin, Puck Fair
I’m not really including this in my you can’t miss this list, because I’m not a fan of worshiping goats. But if you are taking your Kerry road trip in the month of August, did you know that some people plan their entire trip around a mountain goat? During one weekend in August the locals all gather in the town of Killorglin for what is thought to be the oldest festival in Ireland. Puck Fair, which dates back to Pagan times sounds like a truly unique experience.
After carefully selecting a mountain goat, they take him into the town, crown him King of Ireland and spend the next three days worshiping him with a weekend of song, dance and drink. Not my thing, but it is interesting to read about.
9. Sneem
Wouldn’t you like to go back home and tell people you spotted a fairy on your trip to Ireland? Well Sneem is the place to find them.
Home of “The Way the Fairies Went” (also known as The “Pyramids”), it is a wonderful stop off point to take a break and explore some of the magic of Ireland.
Known as ‘The Knot’ in The Ring of Kerry this interesting little village is full of places to eat, rest and explore. Rated as one of Ireland’s Top 10 Tourism Towns Sneem is a place where the mountains and water meet. It is definitely worth making the time to visit.
10. Kenmare
Down the road some from Moll’s Gap is the quaint little town of Kenmare. Translated from Gaelic it means ‘Head of the Sea.’ Kenmare has activities for all ages. There is golfing, shopping, horseback riding, and awesome places to eat or try that Irish pint. An overnight stay is a great idea, but it is smart to plan ahead during heavy tourist seasons.
Enjoy More of my Ireland Pictures Below:
Which part sounds the most interesting to you? Do you think you might visit Ireland sometime? Share your thoughts below.
