Drive the Ring of Kerry

Killarney, Ireland

4.7/5

based on 3 reviews

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Added by Elyse Clark

As one of Ireland's most scenic drives, this ~175km (110 mile) route is a perfect day trip to explore medieval ruins, rocky coasts, and rugged mountains.

Most people drive the Ring of Kerry as a day trip from the town of Killarney, and it is best done in a clockwise direction to go the opposite way of tour buses.

From Killarney take the N-71 through Killarney National Park, making short stops at the scenic Muckross House, Ross Castle, and Torc Waterfall on your way out of town.

Continue on to Kenmare and from here take the N-70 to begin your loop around the Ring of Kerry. After the town of Sneem, visiting Staigue Fort, a stone circle built between 500 B.C. and 300 A.D., is worth a short side trip. From here the road begins to skirt the scenic beaches and rocky coast of Ireland.

When you get to Waterville, you have the option of continuing on to Cahersiveen via N-70, but I would recommend taking the Skellig Ring. The Skellig Ring follows road R-566 to Portmagee and from there you can head over to Valentia Island to see more cliffs and a lighthouse. Take the Valentia Island Ferry (5 euros per car and only runs in summer season) to reconnect with the main road at Cahersiveen.

Complete your Ring of Kerry trip by following the N-70 to Killorglin, then take the N-72 back to Killarney.

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Reviews

Explorer

Cat Ekkelboom-White

Explorer

Drive the Ring of Kerry

11/23/20

I have wonderful memories from my youth of driving this with my family, stopping at little villages for pub lunches and sleeping in little B&Bs and farmhouses.

5.0

Natalie F

Drive the Ring of Kerry

07/23/20

Unfortunately, a lot of this drive was either in the dark or in the rain for us, but the parts that we saw were breathtaking! Ireland is such a gorgeous country!

5.0

Jackson Redditt

Drive the Ring of Kerry

11/09/18

My wife and I actually just completed this yesterday and we also drove around the ring of Skellig right off of ring of Kerry which is amazing. We stopped by the cliffs of Kerry and saw Luke skywalker’s island for Star Wars fans.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Drive the Ring of Kerry

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Hike the Muckross Lake Loop Walk

Hike the Torc Waterfall Loop

Walk to The Meeting of the Waters and Old Weir Bridge in Killarney National Park

Hike the Gap of Dunloe

Caherconree Peak

Hike a Part of the Sheep's Head Way near Kilcrohane

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