Not everyone is looking for guaranteed beach and sun holidays. Many look for spectacular landscapes and nature in its purest state, almost unaltered for centuries, quiet villages and trips of light exploration. All that we can find in the Ring of Kerry, a wonderful route through Ireland that will be a joy for all the senses.

It is a tourist circuit for the County of Kerry, in the southwest of Ireland, which runs for 170 km of road . Yes, it’s not much distance, you could do it in a day if you wanted, but it’s your thing to do it slowly, enjoying and breathing.

Broadly speaking, these 170 km form a circle that goes from Killarney , around the peninsula of Iveragh , and passing through Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Killorgling to return to the starting point. Among what you enjoy are also the lakes of Killarney and the national park of the same name.

All that route is thousands of years of history, and the landscapes go from forests to coastal postcard images, castles, crossing with wild animals that you import with your visit and streams of crystal clear waters full of jumping fish.

Our advice is to do it calmly, staying in small lodgings, stopping at picturesque pubs to have a drink with the locals and leisurely and enjoying. Among the must- sees is Muckross House, Staigue Fort and Derrynane House. Also, the curiosity to visit the statue of Charles Chaplin in Waterville, since he spent the summer there on many occasions.

To visit it also has its rules, and the buses of the excursions have the obligation to do it in the opposite sense to the clock , as we have told you, among other things so that the narrowness of certain areas does not cause the buses or cars stuck.

In doing it calmly, if schedule planned, so you can afford the luxury of touring the National Park of Killarney by bicycle or something much more picturesque: a jaunting car , which is a carriage with pony.

If you want more, from the area are easy to access the Island of Valentia and the Islands of Skellig (yes, where was shot ‘The Last Jedi’).

Other places that are worth a stop are:

  • The 11th century Skellig monastery
  • The stone fort of Cahirciveen
  • Portmagee
  • Waterville Lake
  • The Kenmare Cemetery
  • The incredible Moll’s Gap Gorge
  • The castle of Ballycarbery