The Ultimate Guide to the Ring of Kerry in One Day
Any visit to Ireland would be incomplete without a trip around the famous Ring of Kerry. Located in the most southwestern corner of Ireland, The Ring of Kerry is in my opinion one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The good news is that you can do the entire ring in a single day. But, there’s plenty to see and do if you’d rather take it at a slower pace. Whichever speed you choose, make sure you stop at these 10 essential places!
TIP: Our Airbnb host suggested we do the ring counter clockwise to avoid getting stuck behind the tourist bus traffic. Not sure if this actually helped, or if it was luck but we didn’t get stuck in any crowds anywhere all day.
The Town of Killarney
We used Killarney as our beginning and end point for our visit to the ring. Killarney is a picturesque town sitting within the McGillycuddy Reeks mountain range, and on the edge of Lough Leane.
There are plenty of pubs and shops to keep you busy in the center of town and make sure to try a pint from the local Killarney Brewing Company.
Gap of Dunloe
The Gap of Dunloe is a very, very narrow road running through the McGillycuddy Reeks mountain range and the Purple Mountain Group range. It’s an incredibly stressful drive through because it’s such a narrow road (with traffic going both ways and limited places to pull over to let cars pass) but the view is worth every ounce of stress. Or if you prefer, there are services you can hire to get you through instead!
Mountain Stage Viewpoint
Located on the road between Rossbeigh and Kells, the Mountain Stage Viewpoint offers up some amazing views of the Dingle Peninsula across the Dingle Bay. It’s just a quick stop, but a perfect place to take in the view and photos!
Valentia Island
If there is one place you’re going to stop during your trip around the Ring of Kerry, let it be Valentia Island. We actually didn’t plan on stopping here until our Airbnb host suggested it. I am so thankful that he did.
We took the ferry over to the island from Cahersiveen. The ferry comes often, is only a short 10 minute ride and is €12 for the car!
Our first stop on the island was the Tetrapod Trackway, which are dinosaur tracks that are thought to be somewhere between 350-370 million years old. It’s also another great place to take in some spectacular views.
Then, we made our way further into the island to the Geokaun Mountain & Cliffs. You have two options here, to hike up the small mountain, or you can drive up.
While the cliffs are beautiful, it’s really the view from the top that makes this a worthwhile stop. It offers a 360 degree look of the Skellig Islands, Dingle, The Blasket Islands, County Kerry and more. I don’t even have the proper words to explain it, so just see for yourself:
Portmagee
From Valentia, we decided to drive over the bridge to Portmagee, where we took a quick stop for lunch at The Moorings (they have great seafood chowder!).
Portmagee is a small, fishing town that also is the location where all of the Skellig Island tours depart from. We had already done the Skellig Michael tour prior to this trip, so we skipped out this time BUT if you have the time and are visiting between May and September, definitely try to schedule one. You can read all about what it is, my experience and how to schedule your own tour here!
Kerry Cliffs
Just a short drive away from Portmagee are the breathtaking Kerry Cliffs. I had heard rumors that the Kerry Cliffs were arguably more beautiful than the world-famous Cliffs of Moher. And the rumors were definitely true in my eyes. These cliffs were way less crowded, and since we had beautiful, clear weather we could see so far into County Kerry. Its €4 per person too, which is cheaper than the Cliffs of Moher.
On your way out, make sure to visit Skellig Chocolate Factory just down the road. They give free samples, have a great chocolate shop, and a café that serves some of the most delicious hot chocolate you’ll ever have!
And make sure you keep your eyes out the window the entire ride. This scenic drive offers more than just good views - you could even find yourself in an Irish traffic jam!
Ballinskelligs Castle/Beach
Ballinskelligs Castle is a 16th century castle originally built to defend the bay from pirates. While it’s mostly in ruins now, you can still explore what remains and it’s right on the beach with great views of the mountains.
Molls Gap & Ladies View
On your way back towards Killarney, there are a few viewpoints to stop and take in the mountains and lakes.
Torc Waterfall
Another fairly quick stop, the Torc Waterfall is a 70-foot high waterfall located within the Killarney National Park. It’s just a short walk from the car park, and could be a nice place to stop for lunch or you can explore the trails surrounding the area for a longer visit!
Ross Castle
Located within Killarney National Park and sitting on the edge of Lough Leane, Ross Castle is a must-see location. The grounds are beautiful, there are lake tours available that are not only scenic but provide you with interesting history of the area, and castle tours are also available (although we opted to do the lake tour instead). If nothing else, this is a great stop to see the mountains and grab some photos!