Ring of Kerry

A pretty name and a prettier drive, the Ring of Kerry is a 179 kilometre (111 mile) circular drive that takes in the most stunning, rugged landscape that Ireland has to offer. It will take you through tiny seaside villages and along peaceful, scenic stretches of road. You can stop off at the abandoned 7th century monastery on Skellig Michael (a rocky island), taking a boat there in the summer months.

RING OF KERRY

The Ring of Kerry is, as these lovely things tend to be, a nickname, and the route is really called the Iveragh Peninsula which, as names go, is still an attractive one.

One of the great things about the Ring of Kerry is that you can do the whole thing in one day. The trip would take between 3 and 4 hours (not counting the time taken when you want to stop somewhere), and if you take it slowly, you can see a huge amount. You’ll come away understanding why this particular part of Ireland in County Kerry is so well loved.

Start your journey with a good, traditional breakfast in Killarney, and then head off towards the Killarney National Park. You might want to spend a little time there, but if you’re keen to keep going then do so – you can always come back another day, and since this is a circular route, you’ll end up back there anyway if you choose to do the whole thing.