Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

DRIVE 3: The Majestic Ring of Kerry 53

PLAN YOUR DRIVE

Start/finish: Kenmare to Killarney.
Number of days: 3, allowing half a
day for Valentia Island and a trip to
Skellig Michael island, and half a day
for Killarney National Park.
Distance: 210 km (130 miles).
Road conditions: Roads are paved
and signposted, but there are some
steep inclines on the passes. Turns off
Inch Inch Above Meeting of the Waters, where the Upper Lake flows the main Ring of Kerry are not always
Kilmurry into Muckross Lake, in Killarney National Park, see p59 as well signposted.
Kilmurry
Minard Minard
Ballyvirrane
TulligTullig Ballyvirrane When to go: July and August can be
Killorglin
Minard
Minard Killorglin
D i n g l e B a y y Rossbehy Meanus Laune Laune which to visit are June and September.
Knockaunaglashy
D i n g l e B a
Bull’s Bull’s PointPoint Knockaunaglashy crowded, with tour buses dominating
HeadHead Faha Faha the main routes. The best months in
Rossbehy
Meanus
Creek Creek
In the winter, many places beyond
Caragh Caragh
Church
Lough Lough Churchtowntown Beaufort Kenmare and Killarney will be closed.
Beaufort
Glenbeigh
Ross Behy Glenbeigh Caragh
Ross Behy
Caragh
KILLARNEY
Kilgobnet
Beach Beach Kilgobnet KILLARNEY Opening times: Shops are generally
open 9 or 10am to 5 or 6pm, but most
close on Sundays except corner shops.
Lough Leane
Lough Leane
KILLARNEY
KILLARNEY Muckross Catholic churches stay open all day.
Muckross
NATIONAL P
Shanacashel
Shanacashel NATIONAL PARKARK
Blackstone Bridge
Blackstone Bridge M a c g i l l y c u d d y ’ s d y ’ s Muckross Lough Lough Main market days: Kenmare: Wed;
M a c g i l l y c u d
Muckross
R
Guitane
Purple Mt
Canglass Coomasaharn Caragh Caragh Carrantuohill R e e k s e e k s Purple Mt Lake Lake Guitane Milltown: Sat; Killarney: Fri.
Canglass
Carrantuohill
Coomasaharn
PointPoint 1041m 1041m 834m834m
Lough Lough
Stoompa
Dooneen Upper Upper Stoompa Shopping: Kenmare is renowned for
Dooneen
Coomacarrea
Coomacarrea Lake Lake 695m695m
Kimego 774m774m Mangerton Mt its wide range of individual shops and
Mangerton Mt
Kimego
KERR
Doulus Head Moneyduff KERR Y Y LADIES’ VIEW 840m840m galleries selling top-quality local art
LADIES’ VIEW
Moneyduff
Doulus Head
BALLAGHBEAMA
Garrane
Garrane BALLAGHBEAMA and crafts. Look out in particular for
CAHERSIVEEN
Renard
Renard CAHERSIVEEN GAPGAP Knockbrack fine linen and lace.
Knockbrack
Geokaun PointPoint Cloon Cloon 611m611m
Geokaun
MOLL’S GAP
Mountain
Mountain Lough Lough Mullaghanattin Boughil MOLL’S GAP
Mullaghanattin
Boughil
Knightstown Tooreenmore Lissatinnig 773m773m 629m629m Major festivals: Killorglin: Puck Fair
Lissatinnig
Knightstown
Tooreenmore
VALENTIA ISLAND (Lios an tSonnaig) Cappamore (coronation of goat king), 10–12 Aug;
VALENTIA ISLAND
(Lios an tSonnaig)
Cappamore
Oghermong
Oghermong
Kilmackerrin
Coarhabeg Donnybrook Kilmackerrin Derriana Cleady Cleady Cahersiveen: Cahersiveen Festival of
Coarhabeg
Donnybrook
Derriana
Music, Jun/Jul–Aug; Killarney:
(Cill Mhic Iarainn)
Kilpearan
Skellig Experience Centre
Skellig Experience Centre Kilpearan (Cill Mhic Iarainn) Lough Lough Gearha Gearha Summer Festival, Jul.
KENMARE
Portmagee
Bray Head
Mastergeehy
Bray Head Portmagee Inny Inny Mastergeehy Cloonaghlin KENMARE
Cloonaghlin
(Máistir Gaoithe)
Teeranearagh (Máistir Gaoithe)
Teeranearagh
Coonanaspig (Trian Iarthach) Sallahig Lough Lough Templenoe
Templenoe
Coonanaspig
Sallahig
(Trian Iarthach)
Pass Pass
Keel Keel
New Chapel Cross
New Chapel Cross r r DAY TRIP OPTIONS
SNEEM
BALLINSKELLIGS
Puffin Island BALLINSKELLIGS SNEEM v e v e
Puffin Island
Ballinsk
(Oileán na gCánóg) SCENIC DRIVE Ballinskelligselligs WATERVILLE R i R i
(Oileán na gCánóg)
SCENIC DRIVE
Beach Beach
WATERVILLE
St Finan’s Ballinskelligs Lough Lough For nature and history lovers, a day
St Finan’s
Currane
Currane
spent exploring Killarney and the
Ballinskelligs
Rossmore
BayBay (Baile an Sceilg)ceilg) Parknasilla Tahilla Tahilla Rossmore

(Baile an S
Parknasilla
Island Island
STAIGUE FORT
Ballinskelligs
Ballinskelligs STAIGUE FORT Ardea Ardea National Park, with beautiful lakes and
Ardkearagh
Bolus Mountain
Ducalla Head
Ducalla Head Bolus Mountain BayBay Ardkearagh Rossdohan historic buildings, is a perfect choice.
Rossdohan
411m411m
Coomakesta Island Island Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the
Coomakesta
Pass Pass
K e n m a r e
Little Skellig Bolus Head Bridge Ville Sherky Sherky Bunaw Bunaw rugged cliffs of Valentia Island and
Little Skellig
Bridge Ville
Bolus Head
(Sceilg Bheag)
West Cove
(Sceilg Bheag) Hogs Head West Cove Island Island then a boat trip to the ancient
Hogs Head
Skellig St Michael Derrynane K e n m a r e
Skellig St Michael
Derrynane
Caherdaniel CASTLEC
(Sceilg Mhichíl) Caherdaniel CASTLECOVEOVE monastery of Skellig Michael. If time
(Sceilg Mhichíl)
DERRYNANE allows, finish with a walk up to the
DERRYNANE
BAYBAY Geokaun Mountain or Fogher Cliffs.
Scariff Scariff Lamb’s Lamb’s For full details, see p59.
Deenish
Deenish
HeadHead
Left One of many attractive cafés in
the village of Sneem, see p54
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