A visitors guide to the Ring of Kerry for Killarney
Hotels.
The RING OF KERRY
is ideally situated for Visitors staying in Killarney hotels.
From your hotel, take the Killorglin road, pass Killarney Golf Club
on your left ( 1.5 miles )
straight ahead to Killorglin. Killorglin
is famous for Puck Fair a pagan festival
dating back 3000 years ( 10/11 and 12th. August ), The River Laune
will be on your left hand side as are the McGillicuddy Reeks Mountains,
Ireland's highest mountain range and a great chalange for hill walkers
and climbers.
After Killorglin you will also pass the Red
Fox Inn and Traditional Bog Village.
This is worth a stop to see how life was in Kerry in the early days.
Next stop is Glenbeigh, it has a beautiful
beach at Rossbeigh, 3 miles
of sandy beach overlooking Dingle Bay, head back to the N70 to Kells
or go over the mountain at Cahill's pub ( cars only ) to join the
N70 or ruturn to the main road at Glenbeigh.
From the mountain stage there is a great view of Dingle bay and the
Blasket Islands in the distance, this
is a good spot to stretch your legs and enjoy the view. Behind your
back is the old railway line which now is part of the "Kerry
Way" walking path. There is a Viaduct around the next corner,
this had spectacular views for train passenger's in days gone by.
Just before you arrive in Caherciveen
at the new bridge on the left can be seen
the birth place of Daniel O'Connell " The
LIBERATOR "
and hero to the Irish people in the 1800's. His body was buried
in Dublin, yet they say "his heart in Rome", he died en
route to Rome in Genoa on
15th May, 1847. There is a large
statue in Dublin and many landmarks carry his name today. crusader
for the common man and the Human Race in general.
In Caherciveen there is a visitor information center that can be found
at the tower like building,
an refurbished R.I.C Barracks near the town center.
Continue on by the R.I.C Barracks you can also find Ballycabbery
Castle ( ruin )
once a fortress to The McCarthy Mór ( as that at Castlelough
beside the Lake Hotel ). Here there are two stone forts dating back
to the 9th.Century.
Leaving Caherciveen on your right hand side you can see
Valentia Island which can be accessed
from
Caherciveen at Renard pier by a car ferry and exit at Portmagee.
On Valentia there are foot prints of a prehistoric creature called
a Tetrapod who lived 385 million years ago,
Yes ! 385 years ago , 200 million years before the dinosaur.
VALENTIA is where the first Transatlantic
Cable was laid to America in 1857, you can also visit the Slate
Quarry and the Light House, there are many remains of old structures
including Stone (Ring) Forts and Churches.
Out to Sea you can see The Skelligs,
two Rocks shooting up 700 feet out of the Atlantic
Ocean
this was used by monks as a monastery from the 5th. Century. Boat
trips to skelligs are arranged daily (weather permitting)
You can visit the Skellig's by boat and is highly recommended so bring
a packed lunch.
Here you can pick up the mail Ring of Kerry road or head on by Saint
Finnans Bay ("The Skellig Ring") to Ballinskelligs and on
into Waterville.
Waterville known as "the
little whirlpool" turn
right at the church and left into the Village. There are very good
restaurants in Waterville for lunch like the Hunts Man, The Butler
Arms Hotel After lunch walk the beach to stretch your legs, here Charlie
Chaplin, Shirly McClaine, Walt Disney, Tiger Woods, Payne Stuart and
Michael Jordan, Alec Guinness, Michael Douglas and Cathrine Zeta Jones
have also enjoyed this beautiful Village on the Ring of Kerry..
Leaving Waterville you head up and over the
mountains at Coomakesta Pass,
park here and enjoy the views,
to the north Ballinskelligs Bay and to
the south Derrynane
and Castlecove,
in the far distance you can see Co.Cork.
If it is a nice day go to Derrynane,
to see derrynane house and the beautiful beaches.
Visiting derrynane house once, Daniel O'Connell's
home which is now a museum. You can also visit Abbey Island and stroll
on these Magnificent beaches to be seen nowhere else in Ireland, clean,
beautiful and safe
(except for the back beach, popular with surfers).
Time stands still at Derrynane so enjoy the moment !
After Caherdaniel you will pass by
Carroll's Cove home of Irelands only Beach
Bar !
Just before castlecove on the left there is a short drive to
Staigue Fort a stone fort
( 2500 years old )
Next stop Sneem
home of many famous people including The
Casey brothers,
The New York times wrote about the brothers as: " The Toughest
Family That Ever Lived " . Steve Casey
was the undisputed world wrestling Champion for more than ten
years, when wrestling was " WRESTLING ", Joe Louis refused
two offers from Steve Casey as he feared this Irish man who could
box as well as wrestle, there is a life size statue of Steve ( the
crusher ) Casey on the left as you leave Sneem. It is said his hands
were 15 inches wide form the point
of his Thumb to the point of his little finger. You can see the life
size statue of the "Crusher" on the Killarney road in Sneem,
look at his hands !
They were Legend's in their life time and one day Hollywood will honor
them with a fitting film
which will show the World their Strength and dedication in life.
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To complete the Ring of Kerry you head to Kenmare
next or turn left in Sneem and the Killarney road and head for Molls
Gap, here you will have a good view of the Mountains of Kerry. Again
you can see the highest mountains in kerry on your left. If it is
clear you can see the Cross on the summit of Carrauntuhil, Ireland's
highest mountain.
On the left at Molls Gap and you will see lakes on your left with
the Black Valley and the Head of the Gap
( the gap of dunloe ) in the distance. At Ladies View you can see
one of the finest of Killarney Hotels, The Lake
Hotel, its that white building in the distance and as you descend
you will have seen the Lakes of Killarney. You will pass the Upper
Lake and the Middle Lake on to Torc Waterfall on your right and then
on to Muckross House and Gardens, well
worth a visit and stretch those legs after a great day. All that is
left is, back to the finest of Killarney hotels to soak in the outdoor
Hot Tub or just have a cool Guinness overlooking the Lakes of killarney.
Killarney Hotels Hot Tub
Overlooking the Ring of Kerry
