GUIDE TO THE RING OF KERRY - Killorglin to Moll’s Gap
GENERAL ORIENTATION
The Ring of Kerry is probably Ireland’s most famous and most travelled sightseeing route, although there are several other candidates for most spectacular.
From Killorglin, at the mouth of the River Laune 10 miles west of Killarney the route traverses the Iveragh peninsula through Caherciveen and Waterville and returns via Sneem to Molls Gap.
75 miles in total, the X KILLORGLIN: 10 miles west of Killarney the market town of Killorglin marks the true beginning route offers magical of “The Ring”. One of the most famous festivals in Ireland, The Puck Fair, is held annually on scenery of ocean and August 10-12. The origins of the festival are per-Christian and it is a colourful mix of an mountains with many agricultural cattle and horse fair combined with music and festivities. The highlight is the crowning places of interest of a mountain goat as King Puck. along the route. X CARAGH LAKE: A detour from the main N70 route takes you to the beautiful forests surrounding the equally impressive Lough Caragh. Access to Carrauntuohill, Ireland’s highest peak at 3,400 feet, from the glen overlooking the lake. A scenic road circles the lake through Glencar. Glencar valley is a wild and beautiful place offering superb views of the Macgillycuddy Reeks.
X GLENBEIGH & ROSBEIGH: Glenbeigh is a popular holiday resort, primarily due to the magnificent Rossbeigh Beach, a 4-mile sandy expanse that together with Inch beach opposite on the Dingle peninsula guards the entrance to Castlemaine Harbour. Derrynane Harbour X GLENBEIGH to CAHERCIVEEN: The section between Glenbeigh and Caherciveen is where the full coastal views begin to form. The road overlooks Dingle Bay across to Dingle and the Blasket Islands. The Gleesk Viaduct is a reminder of the Great Southern Railway Line that used to run between Caherciveen and Killorglin.
The nearby village of Kells is a fishing harbour from where there are a number of snenic walks that provide panoramic viewing points. Further on, signposted from the N70 is Leacanabuaile, a 9th century round stone fort in excellent condition. Ballinskelligs Beach
GUIDE TO THE RING OF KERRY - Killorglin to Moll’s Gap
X CAHERCIVEEN: X THE MOUNTAIN INTERIOR
Modern legend has it that there are more pubs per capita in From Waterville it is possible to explore the often overlooked Caherciveen than in any other town in Ireland. You will mountain interior. Between the mountians is a rugged and certainly notice that there are lots! There is also the old upspoilt landcape, splendid and wild. Turn inland at the Inny R.I.C. Barracks, a peculiar building with a rather oriental Bridge, between Caherciveen and Waterville. The road look. The plans for the barracks were supposed to go to climbs and descends revelaing an exciting landscape as it India but ended up in Caherciveen. The barracks now carves its way to Ballagh Óisiín Pass. There is a viewing houses the Caherciveen Heritage Centre. point at the far end of the pass.
The barracks was built in response to a Fenian uprising in X WATERVILLE – DERRYNANE 1857 – this is documented along with the centres other exhibits including the Famine, the history of the R.I.C. in Leaving Waterville, high to the left there is an alignment of Ireland and the history of the first trans-Atlantic cable laid in four stones which is reputed to be the burial place of Scene. nearby Valentia Island. Scene was the wife of one of the eight leaders of the Milesians, the last legendary invaders of Ireland. The centre also covers the career of Daniel O’Connell, the Catholic Emancipator who was born in 1775 outside the The road passes through Coomakista Pass, with the first town at the (now ruined) Carhan House. O’Connell views of the Kenmare River to the south of the Iveragh achieved Catholic Emancipation in 1829 (he was elected peninsula. The three rocks that cab be seen are known as M.P. for County Clare) and lived and worked in Derrynane, the Bull, the Cow and the Calf. further along the Ring. The esteem in which O’Connell is held in Ireland can be guaged from the fact that the local Cathloic Church is named in his honour and not after a local saint as is the custom.
X VALENTIA ISLAND
Aother excursion from the main N70, take a ferry from outside Caherciveen to Kinghtstown on Valentia Island.
Drom Knightstown a spectacular drive across the mountain spine of the island offer panoramic views in all directions. Continue through the quieter Chapeltown to the landbridge at Portmagee and the excellent Skellig Centre (see Derrynane is a pretty harbour with a long history of Waterville Guide). smuggling. Derrynane is also where Daniel O’Connell lived and worked and the House and surrounding estates are now From Portmagee continue along the coast road to the quiet a National Park. There is execeptional coastal scenery, a Irish speaking village of Ballinskelligs before continuing to fine beach and a nature trail. Inside the house guided tours Waterville are available as well as an audio-visual presentation.
GUIDE TO THE RING OF KERRY - Killorglin to Moll’s Gap
X CAHERDANIEL – SNEEM X SNEEM – MOLL’S GAP
Before Chaerdaniel are some old copper mines from where The direct route to Killarney (or a diversion to Kenmare) is to ore was sent to Spain for smelting some 4,000 years ago. take the R568 route from Sneem. This road follows the An old butter road runs from Caherdaniel (now part of the coast on a more inland and higher course, ascending to long distance Kerry Way route) at the head of which is the Moll’s Gap, a spectacular vantage point near Peekeen stone fort of Caher (circa 600 B.C.). Mountain. There is ample car parking and a craft and coffee shop. Beyond Caherdaneil are the sandy beaches of Westcove and Castlecove. A little further to the left is Staigue Fort, one of the largest and finext stone forts in Ireland. 20 foot high walls that are 12 feet thick, probbaly dating to the early Christian period.
From Moll’s Gap descend to Killarney via Ladies View, Torc Waterfall and Muckross – see the Guide to Killarney.
Continue to the pretty and tidy village of Sneem where the Rivers Ardshhenlaun and Sneem meet in an attractive cascade at the village bridge. Sneem is always a good place for a pint and to meet the locals.
A longer route to Killarney is via Kenmare (continue from Sneem on the N70). The coast becomes less rugged as Kenmare Bay becomes Kenmare River.
At Parknasilla there are excellent forest walks near the shore and the cove at Tahilla has an excellent reputation for the quality of its salmon and trout caught in nearby Lough Fadda. The town of Kenmare is designated a Heritage Town – see the Kenmare Area Guide. Boat trips on Kenmare River are an excellent way of viewing the beauty of southwest Ireland from another perspective.