A Guide To Healy Pass: One Of The Most Unique Roads In Ireland

The bendy road at Healy Pass in Cork is one of the highlights of the Beara Peninsula.

Often described as one of Ireland’s most unique drives, this is a mountain pass that reaches an elevation of 334 metres.

Built as a part of a Famine relief scheme in 1847, Healy Pass waves through isolated countryside, taking drivers and cyclists across into Kerry.

In the guide below, you’ll discover everything you need to know about Healy Pass – one of the most unique attractions in Cork.

Some quick need-to-knows about Healy Pass in Cork

Although a visit to Healy Pass in Cork is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

The Healy Pass is located in the Beara Peninsula, in the Caha mountain range, in south west Ireland. It straddles the Cork and Kerry border and although most of it lies in Cork, a section is in Kerry.

2. The route

The route starts at the Adrigole Bridge in County Cork and proceeds to the Lauragh Bridge in County Kerry. It is about 12 kilometres in length. You can explore it, and the area around it, on the Ring of Beara route.

3. Safety

The road is extremely bendy, twisting and turning through mountainous terrain. While the Healy Pass is perfectly safe, drivers need to be on the lookout for walkers and cyclists who also love the challenge the route presents.

4. Famine relief

The Healy Pass was created in 1847. Built during the Great Famine, the road was put in place to prevent starvation and was later named after Timothy Healy, who was the first governor general of the Irish Free State.

The History of Healy Pass

The original Healy Pass was called ‘the Kerry Pass’ and it was cut through the mountains during the famine years as a poor relief public works project.

It is one of many ‘Famine roads’ that can be found dotted around Ireland. The building of Famine roads began during Robert Peel’s Conservative Government’s initiatives to improve Ireland’s infrastructure.

Aside from this, they also strengthen Ireland’s economy and provided employment to the many that were devastated by the failure of the potato crop during 1845.

Unfortunately, this scheme was hit by problem after problem. It was badly managed, there was a shortage of appropriate tools and the workers suffered due to malnutrition.

The wages were poor and there were regularly delayed payments being made, which resulted in the scheme being abandoned.

The previously named ‘Kerry Pass’ was improved and renamed the Healy Pass in honour of former governor general of the Irish Free State, Timothy Michael Healy.

The Healy Pass drive/cycle route

In my opinion, having visited Healy Pass many times over the years, the best way to approach it is from the Cork side.

The reason for this is you get to drive/cycle towards Glanmore Lake once you reach the top – this is scenery like no other!

If you follow the Ring of Beara route, you’ll visit the Pass in a logical manner that takes in the areas other attractions (you can start from Kenmare or Glengarriff).

The main viewpoints at the pass are:

• This one: Note that there is only space for one car and care is needed
• This one: There is more space to pull in here at the top

Where to grab a mighty view at the Healy Pass

If you continue up the hill towards the highest point of the Healy Pass (on the County Cork side), you will find some space to pull in and park (here on Maps).

There isn’t a lot of room here, and the pull in area sits at the top of a hill, so it’s extremely important to ensure that you never leave your vehicle out on the road.

Next to this spot, there is a hill that is easy enough to walk up (although be careful when it is wet).

On the Cork side, you’ll be able to see the whole Healy Pass, while on the other side you will get incredible views of Glanmore Lake and beyond.

Things to see nearby

You’ll find many of the best things to do in West Cork a short spin from the pass.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Healy Pass!

1. The Beara Peninsula

Backed by the Miskish and Caha mountains, the Beara Peninsula juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.

This is a wild and unspoiled landscape that is home to walks, beaches, historical sites and glorious scenery.

2. Bere Island

A short ferry journey from the Beara peninsula, Bere Island is one of seven inhabited islands on West Cork’s coastline.

There are lots of archaeological sites on the island dating from the Bronze Age right through to the Medieval periods, and you’ll find tombs, ring forts, standing stones and burial sites.

3. Dursey Island

Ireland’s only overseas cable car takes you from Beara over to Dursey Island.

Suspended over the water as the cable car makes its slow and steady progress toward the island which is home to several walking trails.

4. Gleninchaquin Park

This award-winning Gleninchaquin Park and farm in County Kerry is a long, narrow Coombe valley on the north-west side of the Beara Peninsula.

You’ll discover mountain paths with carved steps, lakes and waterfalls.