Ring of Kerry

One of Ireland's most famous visitor attraction, the Ring Of Kerry is a panoramic road that circles the Iveragh Peninsula in Ireland's southwest for almost 180 km. For the most part, the circular road runs along the coast through a spectacular, almost mystical landscape. There is a wealth of sights along the route, so it is advisable to plan several days for the Ring Of Kerry - also to combine the actual route with adjacent tours such as the Skellig Ring. If you are short of time or don't want to drive yourself, you can take a coach from Killarney during the summer months for a day trip on the "Ring".

So what exactly makes the Ring of Kerry Ireland's most popular visitor attraction? First of all, there is the unique landscape: The lake district around Killarney, the majestic mountains in the hinterland and in front of it an incredible coastal landscape. Beautiful beaches at Rossbeigh or Derrynane, unspoilt nature in the far west of the peninsula and magnificent panoramic views over the Atlantic. The Iveragh Peninsula also offers deep insights into ancient Ireland with a number of Stone Forts, Ogham Stones or Standing Stones. Along the route there are places worth seeing that have retained a certain originality. Sneem, for example. The place is firmly in the hands of tourists at lunchtime, but towards evening the excited bustle of the day is as if wiped away. Then the charm of the Irish village community awakens with all its warmth and cheerfulness.

The tour around the Ring Of Kerry begins in Killarney. The word tourist stronghold describes the small town quite aptly. But as soon as you leave the town on the N71, the road winds through dense forests along the large lakes of Killarney National Park up to Moll's Gap. On the way, it is worth stopping at the Ladies View vantage point, from where you can overlook the lake district near Killarney. The first town on the route is Kenmare, a more tranquil market town than Killarney. Situated in the sheltered Kenmare Bay, right at the apex of the Iveragh and Beara Peninsulas, this picturesque town is an ideal starting point for visitors wishing to drive both the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara.

From Kenmare, the N70 heads west, initially through a wooded area with only a few glimpses of the sea. The forest becomes increasingly dense and in a hairpin bend you cross the Blackwater Bridge, under which the river Blackwater plunges wildly down into the valley. The next larger town on the route is Sneem, which is particularly popular with anglers and sailors. The river of the same name flows through the middle of the town, spanned by a single-lane bridge with a narrow extra lane for pedestrians. Friends of the traditional Irish breakfast should try the black pudding from Sneem. It is considered the best in Ireland.

On the rest of the route, you pass a rugged stretch of coastline with small sandy beaches and towering mountains inland. At Castlecove it is recommended to leave the N70 for a detour to Staigue Fort. Staigue Fort is one of the largest and best preserved ring forts in Ireland and a prominent attraction on the Ring Of Kerry. At Caherdaniel, another detour should be made in the direction of Derrynane. There is an easily accessible Ogham stone not far from the path. Shortly after, on Derrynane beach, you will reach the former Derrynane House, the ancestral home of one of the outstanding political figures of the Republic of Ireland - Daniel O'Connell.

On the onward journey to Waterville, you pass one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in Ireland. In Waterville, where Charly Chaplin regularly spent his holidays, it is worth visiting Lough Curraine in the hinterland - an angler's paradise with large fish stocks. If you have enough time, you should set off from Waterville for two side trips that could hardly be more different: One leads inland to the "Kerry Highlands", the other is a self-contained round trip - the Skellig Ring. Via the popular holiday resort of Ballinskelligs, the Skellig Ring leads over to the fantastically beautiful St. Finan's Bay and on over the steeply ascending Coomanaspig Pass down to Portmagee. Boats leave for the Skellig Islands from the small fishing village of Portmagee - an absolute highlight of any trip to Ireland, tide permitting. You can also cross the bridge at Portmagee to Valentia Island, another jewel in the southwest of Ireland.

Back on the Ring of Kerry, Cahersiveen is the next stop. In the immediate vicinity of the town are two well-preserved ring forts and the ruins of Ballycarbery Castle. The rest of the journey takes us inland for a short time before we can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea again at Kells. In Kells, a park with subtropical plants and various theme gardens opened in 2006. The influence of the Gulf Stream is clearly visible in the lush flora here. Another scenic highlight, the extensive Rossbeigh beach, is located near Glenbeigh. Here, a narrow dune landscape stretches for several kilometres into the sea. Shortly after Glenbeigh, you reach Kerry Bog Village, an open-air museum that provides an insight into the life and work of Irish peat farmers.

Continuing on to Killarney, the route leads to Killorglin, idyllically situated on the River Laune. Killorglin is famous for the annual "Puck Fair", a three-day fair held in August. Up to 100,000 visitors then board the town, which is in a state of emergency at the time of the festival. The highlight of the event is the crowning of a billy goat as king. "King Puck", the official title of the horned quadruped, has to stay in the market square for three long days during the festival before he is released back into the wild. The origins of the festival are said to go far back into Ireland's pre-Christian past and are associated with the Celtic festival of Lughnasa, the harvest festival.

The tour ends back in Killarney, where it started. Incidentally, it was agreed years ago that all coaches would generally travel the route in an anti-clockwise direction to avoid difficulties passing each other. Car drivers are advised to drive the route in the opposite direction, i.e. clockwise, to avoid obstructions by coaches. The roads have been widened in recent years and are now in good condition. There are only a few bottlenecks. The greatest danger when driving is probably the distraction of the uniquely beautiful landscape.