Ring of Kerry in 3 days/nights

veryangryman

Hi, Im looking for ideas on where to see/stay over a 3 night trip. I want to do the full ring and strategically stay over in some of the towns en route. Regular 3/4 star hotels and maybe take in 2 or 3 attractions per day with allowance for pints and craic in the towns the nights.
Any recommendations for plan

dobman88

veryangryman wrote: »

Hi, Im looking for ideas on where to see/stay over a 3 night trip. I want to do the full ring and strategically stay over in some of the towns en route. Regular 3/4 star hotels and maybe take in 2 or 3 attractions per day with allowance for pints and craic in the towns the nights.
Any recommendations for plan

Cahersiveen is a great little spot. Always had great nights down there.

I'm from Killarney so have to recommend it but somewhere like Killorglin might be better craic as it's smaller and the locals are sound. Some nice pubs too.

Parknasilla hotel down near Sneem if budget allows is fantastic and would be a nice treat to finish up on.

Loads of things to do on the ring no matter where you are. I stumble on something new every time I do it. My advice would be to just drive and not plan anything unless you want to go horse riding or take a boat tour or something as they'll need to be booked.

Davidth88

Skellig chocolate factory is really worth stopping at ..... lovely spot. Sneem is just lovely make sure you visit the sculpture park most people miss it.

SmartinMartin

Would highly recommend a night in Kenmare and a night in Dingle, two best towns on it......
imho.

James Bond Junior

Make sure to do the skellig ring too and take in a stop in the chocolate factory.

Davidth88

SmartinMartin wrote:

Would highly recommend a night in Kenmare and a night in Dingle, two best towns on it...... imho.

Dingle isn't on the Ring of Kerry.
.. however is a great place !!!

dobman88

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Would highly recommend a night in Kenmare and a night in Dingle, two best towns on it......
imho.

You'd be doing well to find Dingle on the ring of kerry :pac:

byhookorbycrook

Did this out for a friend at one stage:

Allow as much time as you possibly can, I am only outlining SOME things but stop wherever takes your fancy and have the camera ready. Driving the Ring is usually best starting from Killarney to Killorglin and onwards. Going the other direction means you will be meeting big tour buses coming against you on some narrow stretches, best avoided!

Your first town will be Killorglin, home to the famous Puck Fair. Bar a photo opportunity with the statue of the puck goat near the bridge as you enter Killorglin, there’s not too much to detain you here.The Bianconi is good for food or if you want to pick up picnic supplies or nice nibbles, Jacks is worth a stop. https://tastekerry.ie/county-kerry-food-and-drink-producer-directory/listing/jacks-bakery-2

You’ll come to the Kerry Bog Village between Killorglin and Glenbeigh and if a somewhat contrived “attraction” is your thing, you can stop, for me, there are better things to come. http://www.kerrybogvillage.ie/

Glenbeigh is a handy stop for coffee and a pee! The nearby beach of Rossbeigh is similar to Inch, miles and miles of clean sand and clear water. Good for stretching legs and blowing away the cobwebs. In ancient folklore many Fianna legends are associated with Glenbeigh where Diarmuid and Gráinne are believed to have spent some days hiding in a cave in the valley of the Behy. Rossbeigh is said to be the location where Oisin and Niamh took to the sea on their white horse to live in the land of eternal youth - Tír na n-Óg.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/folklore-of-ireland/folklore-in-ireland/traditional-storytelling/fionn-and-the-fianna/heroism-in-the-fianna-cyc/

http://www.horsesoftirnanog.org/legend.htm

Just outside Glenbeigh you will see Wynne's Folly a castellated mansion built by Lord Wynn in 1867. While World War I was in progress the Castle and grounds were let to the British Military Command and used as a training centre for reservists. In 1921 Republican forces burned the castle to the ground and it was never rebuilt.

Next you go through the so called "mountain stage"- the tunnels at Drung Hill and the Gleensk Viaduct, a relic of the Great Southern and Western Railway Line, which ran from Cahersiveen to Farranfore Junction.

You’ll meet Kells bay away to your right .Gardens here benefit from the Gulf Stream so plants grow here that won't grow in other parts of Ireland. http://www.kellsgardens.ie/

The old barracks in Cahirciveen , located down a road to your right is amazing, it was reputed to have been meant to be built in India but the plans got mixed up(take that with a grain of salt)It is worth a photo but I wouldn't pay to go in .With with the barracks on your right hand side continue over the bridge immediately ahead, at the next crossroads take a left and follow the signposts for the castle, it is approximately two miles on the left. Also well worth visiting in this area are the stone forts of Leacanabualie & Cahegral- these are similar to Staigue, free and nowhere as crowded.. Situated near the water’s edge you will see the remains of Ballycarbery Castle. This castle was once home to the McCarthy Clan and built sometime in the 15th century. It is probably the largest castle built on the peninsula and is still very impressive from a distance. Not too safe to walk around though.

Valentia island has a lot to offer and doesn't have the hordes on the main ring route.In 1857 the first transatlantic telegraph cable was landed in Ballycarbery strand on Valentia. The island was once home to a huge slate industry. It was closed by a rock fall at the mouth of the quarry in 1911. Apparently it supplied slate to prestigious locations such as The house of Parliament in London, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. It is also claimed that there are 21 miles of shelving in the Public Record Office in London made of Valentia slate!! There is a pretty grotto here. There are tetrapod tracks to be seen on the island but they are not very easy to find. However if you have the time find The Lighthouse Café which is signposted and relatively easy to find. Next to this you will find the track way, it's a bit of a scramble here and there and can be muddy. I'd spend a night on the island as it's off the beaten track but well worth your time.

Geokaun Mountain is the highest mountain on Valentia Island and the Fogher Cliffs are sea cliffs of 600ft .It offers beautiful views including a 1200 meter roadway/pathway from the public road to the peak, with a spectacular viewing deck at Fogher Cliff -for which there is a charge.

If you can't get out to the Skelligs ,a visit to the Skellig Experience is interesting, especially if the weather is wet.

http://www.skelligexperience.com/skellig-michael/

Head for the "Skellig Ring" on to Saint Finians Bay, home of the Skellig Chocolate factory and well worth a visit.It's tiny but the produce is fab! Follow the signs to Ballinskellig. This is a Gaeltacht/Irish speaking area. There is a good cafe /art gallery where works from Cill Rialaig -an artist's retreat nearby-are on display. The ruins of Cill Rialiag, an early Christian monastic settlement are located beside the road at Bolus Head. The remains include an Oratory, two inscribed stones and traces of Beehive huts. On the main beach at Ballinskelligs, you'll see the ruins of a castle-supposedly built to deter pirates!!

Waterville is the next place you will meet. Not a great fan of the place, though Charlie Chaplin was and there is a statue to him near the waterfront, if you want to take a picture with "him."

he main road brings you to Coomakista Pass where the views are stunning.

Just off the main Waterville-Sneem road you will find Staigue fort. Staigue fort is one of the largest and finest ring forts you are likely to see in Ireland. There are others like Leacanabuaile in Cahersiveen, which is free and won't have the crowds Staigue would have.

Derrynane, home of Daniel O'Connell is worth a look, the house itself is smaller than you might expect but for me the beach beyond is worth the trip alone. The O'Connell wealth was built on trading (some say smuggling!!) and the beach would lend itself to unseen visitors. The ruined church that is Derrynane Abbey dates back to the tenth century.

The beachside bar near Castlecove at Glenbeg is worth a stop for a cool drink if the weather is good. It also does food. https://www.facebook.com/ocarrollscove

Onwards to Sneem where you'll find one of only two coral beaches in Ireland (the other is in Co.Galway near Carraroe) It can be found near Gleesk pier in Sneem. The sculpture park is located just behind the village. Amongst the exhibits are “the peaceful Panda” donated by the Peoples Republic of China, Arbor Chalybeia Immaculate (from Israel) and the Goddess Isis (from Egypt).
Also located in the square in Sneem are sculptures of former President of Ireland, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh who lived in Sneem for many years and Steve “Crusher” Casey (World Champion wrestler 1938 to 1945)

Next stop is Kenmare. Consider visiting the old cemetery. It can be found just outside the town Take the road to Glengarriff and just over the bridge turn left. You will find the graveyard just before you come to the Sheen Falls Hotel. There's a sign that says no access but this means no access to the land beside the Burial Ground. The graveyard was the site of an early monastic settlement Sounded by Saint Finian of Innisfallen who died at the end of the 7th Century. The Church of St Finian is in now ruins. South west of the Square is an early Bronze Age stone circle, one of the biggest in southwest Ireland. Fifteen stones and a boulder dolmen make up the circle. I'd spend my next night here.

After Kenmare, you will be heading once more towards Killarney. Your route brings you along some terrific viewpoints in the Killarney National Park. At Molls Gap, where the Avoca shop and Café are located, you get great views towards the Gap of Dunloe and the Black Valley. The Avoca Café is good for food and quirky (expensive) gift.

The road meanders slowly towards Killarney, again there are lovely views to be had at Ladies’ View (pull in by the shop.)

The next place to watch for is to your right, Torc Waterfall. There are steps leading to the top of the falls but you don’t get any real view from there to justify trudging all the way up the dozens of steps. TAfter the waterfall you will come to the entrance to Muckross House ,Farm and Gardens, but by now, I’d imagine you are ready for home and you can do another day on the immediate surroundings of Killarney itself.

uck51js9zml2yt

Davidth88 wrote: »

Skellig chocolate factory is really worth stopping at ..... lovely spot. Sneem is just lovely make sure you visit the sculpture park most people miss it.

Thought they went on fire.are they open again?

Ciarrai76

Antonella Wooden Vigilance wrote: »

Thought they went on fire.are they open again?

Yes they are open again, cafe also open there.

amdaley28

Ciarrai76 wrote: »

Yes they are open again, cafe also open there.

Was out there only yesterday.
They have chocolate to die for

JonathonS

Great post above by byhookorbycrook.

For me the best part of the Ring is from Glenbeigh to Sneem, including Valentia Island and the Skellig Ring, so I would plan on maximising my time in that area. You will find good places to stay/eat in Cahersiveen, Valentia and Portmagee. I would recommend O'Neill's Bar at Renard Point for dinner. AFAIK the Lighthouse Cafe on the Island is closed.

Kenmare is also a good place to stay from a dining perspective.

Personal highlights would be:
Kells Bay Gardens (and a swim at Kells Beach if its a nice day)
Cahergeal Stone Fort outside Cahersiveen
Ferry from Renard to Valentia
Valentia highlights mentioned by bhobc above, plus the shortish walk to Bray Head for spectacular views.
Skellig Chocolate Factory at St Finian's Bay
Derrynane Beach
Stroll around Sneem village
Seafari cruise in Kenmare (http://www.seafariireland.com/)

amadain

Always thought DINGLE was part of this tourist trail - IT SHOULD BE !

3 nights coming from Cobh ?
then I would drive via Killarney (& a Muckross House stop, Ladies View & Molls Gap) and stay in KENMARE,
then a night in DINGLE (travel via St Finian's Bay, Portmagee & Valentia Island & Killorglin - bests views for your passengers on left),
and onto KILLARNEY (travel via Slea Head, Ballydavid, Conor's Pass, Inch Beach stop on the way back) for the third night.

Maybe try this ?
DAY 1 http://www.bearatourism.com/map.html
DAY 2 http://www.theringofkerry.com/more-information/map-ring-of-kerry
DAY 3 http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/

dobman88

amadain wrote: »

Always thought DINGLE was part of this tourist trail - IT SHOULD BE !

3 nights coming from Cobh ?
then I would drive via Killarney (& a Muckross House stop, Ladies View & Molls Gap) and stay in KENMARE,
then a night in DINGLE (travel via St Finian's Bay, Portmagee & Valentia Island & Killorglin - bests views for your passengers on left),
and onto KILLARNEY (travel via Slea Head, Ballydavid, Conor's Pass, Inch Beach stop on the way back) for the third night.

Maybe try this ?
DAY 1 http://www.bearatourism.com/map.html
DAY 2 http://www.theringofkerry.com/more-information/map-ring-of-kerry
DAY 3 http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/

Too much over and back and no real route doing that, if you go that way, you're travelling to Killarney to head south, to head back north west to come back south again. Makes no sense.

You could do 3 days in Dingle alone and not be bored but I wouldn't even think about trying to include it if you wanna do the ring

CeilingFly

amadain wrote: »

Always thought DINGLE was part of this tourist trail - IT SHOULD BE !

3 nights coming from Cobh ?
then I would drive via Killarney (& a Muckross House stop, Ladies View & Molls Gap) and stay in KENMARE,
then a night in DINGLE (travel via St Finian's Bay, Portmagee & Valentia Island & Killorglin - bests views for your passengers on left),
and onto KILLARNEY (travel via Slea Head, Ballydavid, Conor's Pass, Inch Beach stop on the way back) for the third night.

Maybe try this ?
DAY 1 http://www.bearatourism.com/map.html
DAY 2 http://www.theringofkerry.com/more-information/map-ring-of-kerry
DAY 3 http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/

Do you know how much driving that is?? - on a good day, that would be about 4-5 hours continuous driving per day!

1st Night, I'd stay in Sneem - Sneemhotel is excellent and alway had decent offers and walking distance to the town. https://www.sneemhotel.com/

2nd night, i'd stay in the Moorings in Portmagee http://www.moorings.ie/restaurant-and-bar/bridge-bar/

3rd night, I'd stay either in Kells Bay gardens if you'd like a quiet night and amazing Thai cusine http://www.kellsbay.ie/accommodation or in the Towers hotel Glenbeigh http://www.towershotel.com/

I'd avoid Killarney as an overnight - its just a big touristy city and a few hours on the way home is more than enough

Then next year, come back and do the Dingle penninsula, which needs three days in itself.

amadain

DAY 1. ONLY a 3h 14mins drive (comfortable with various stops !)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Killarney/Muckross/51.9380432,-9.6570605/51.8712104,-9.5819308/51.7491879,-9.553198/51.6538417,-9.9028651/51.6403112,-10.0443761/51.7327895,-9.8983491/51.8050346,-9.7477809/51.879216,-9.5835095/@51.8755333,-9.5845037,15.86z/data=!4m22!4m21!1m5!1m1!1s0x48453c0cb4976ed9:0xa00c7a9973174c0!2m2!1d-9.5044265!2d52.0599353!1m5!1m1!1s0x48453c3445a8804d:0xf95f518b06aa19e4!2m2!1d-9.4899871!2d52.0251269!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

CeilingFly

amadain wrote: »

DAY 1. ONLY a 3h 14mins drive (comfortable with various stops !)

Google 3 hours 14min no stops, assuming no traffic v Reality 5+ hours with no stops

Google bases it on no traffic and a constant speed of almost 60kmh.

Reality is substantially different.

To properly enjoy any of the penninsulas in Kerry you need 3 days each.

amadain

DAY 2 just over 4 hours

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/51.880094,-9.5835452/Parknasilla/51.765543,-10.1195426/51.8282035,-10.173725/51.8214793,-10.2745378/St.+Finian's+Bay/51.8914657,-10.3689565/51.9253558,-10.2871241/51.9285432,-10.2775058/52.138591,-10.2712619/@51.9673294,-10.2625279,10z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m22!4m21!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x4845648a841d1837:0x2600c7a819bb33f2!2m2!1d-9.8718553!2d51.8184051!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x484f93bfd6a92c05:0x8c010bebe03882da!2m2!1d-10.3358552!2d51.846166!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

DAY 3 2h 40mins

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/52.1385476,-10.2717691/Ventry/52.0977504,-10.4510791/52.1496614,-10.4664614/52.1905113,-10.3744509/Feohanagh/52.2249239,-9.9187129/52.1781184,-9.9864979/52.1423551,-9.9824553/52.0597395,-9.5192615/@52.0263561,-10.255745,10.46z/data=!4m22!4m21!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x484ffb3325edd2db:0xa00c7a997318d00!2m2!1d-10.3617104!2d52.1333113!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x484ffd109d1873ed:0x19b42de905c7e2f9!2m2!1d-10.3515472!2d52.2165156!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

amadain

THREE lovely days for an ANGRY MAN (lol)

ENJOY !

CeilingFly

amadain wrote: »

DAY 2 just over 4 hours

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/51.880094,-9.5835452/Parknasilla/51.765543,-10.1195426/51.8282035,-10.173725/51.8214793,-10.2745378/St.+Finian's+Bay/51.8914657,-10.3689565/51.9253558,-10.2871241/51.9285432,-10.2775058/52.138591,-10.2712619/@51.9673294,-10.2625279,10z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m22!4m21!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x4845648a841d1837:0x2600c7a819bb33f2!2m2!1d-9.8718553!2d51.8184051!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x484f93bfd6a92c05:0x8c010bebe03882da!2m2!1d-10.3358552!2d51.846166!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

DAY 3 2h 40mins

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/52.1385476,-10.2717691/Ventry/52.0977504,-10.4510791/52.1496614,-10.4664614/52.1905113,-10.3744509/Feohanagh/52.2249239,-9.9187129/52.1781184,-9.9864979/52.1423551,-9.9824553/52.0597395,-9.5192615/@52.0263561,-10.255745,10.46z/data=!4m22!4m21!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x484ffb3325edd2db:0xa00c7a997318d00!2m2!1d-10.3617104!2d52.1333113!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x484ffd109d1873ed:0x19b42de905c7e2f9!2m2!1d-10.3515472!2d52.2165156!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

you'd need a holiday after all that driving

amadain

May we suggest that Very Angry Man WALKS the entire area !

After all it's a 'Walkers Paradise'.

If not, then consider hiring a bike in Dingle or Killarney.

Quackster

amadain wrote: »

May we suggest that Very Angry Man WALKS the entire area !

After all it's a 'Walkers Paradise'.

I would second that (for those that way inclined).

Apart from the Kerry Way, sections of which are up there with anything anywhere in the world (eg Old Kenmare Road), the Iveragh Peninsula has some fine mountains, most of which are practically deserted as the hordes confine themselves to Carrauntoohil.

Some delightful roads for driving/cycling off the Ring too, such as the Gap of Dunloe - Black Valley and Caragh Lake - Glencar - Ballaghbeama Gap.

IMO, Iveragh is best enjoyed by discarding any iteneraries and just losing yourself completely.

Having just spent last weekend in Beara (my personal favourite of the five peninsulas), I think we really don't realise much of the time just how blessed we are in this part of the world!