Ring of Kerry Drive: Map + Stops (I’ve Driven It 15 Times)
I have driven the Ring of Kerry route 15 times, the most recent of which was last summer. In this guide, you’ll find a map with stops, an itinerary and useful info.
The Ring of Kerry is a 179km (111-mile) scenic driving route around Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula. It starts and finishes in Killarney and takes in the likes of Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville and many of the best things to do in Kerry.
Below, you’ll find the route I’ve tried and tested over the last two decades, the stops I’d prioritise, a Ring of Kerry map with the route plotted on Google Maps and 1 and 2-day itineraries with timings to follow.
Some quick need-to-knows about the Ring of Kerry drive
The Ring of Kerry drive leaves Killarney and follows the N71 to Kenmare before taking the N70 out and around the coast to Killorglin.
Driving the Ring of Kerry without a clear route planned will result in you missing key stops along the way. Here’s a quick overview.
1. Where it starts and ends
The Ring of Kerry route starts and finishes in the lively town of Killarney. Now, although Killarney is the traditional start and end point, you can always join the route wherever you see fit.
2. How long is the Ring of Kerry drive
The Ring of Kerry route is 179km long (111 miles) and takes in the towns and villages of Killarney, Kenmare, Sneem, Caherdaniel, Waterville, Cahirciveen, Kells, Glenbeigh, Killorglin and Beaufort.
3. How long the drive takes
Driving the Ring of Kerry takes around 3.5 hours without stopping. Add the Skellig Ring and you’re looking at closer to 4.5 hours. In reality, allow 7 to 8 hours for the Ring of Kerry or 9 to 10 hours if you add the Skellig Ring. Drive times can vary a lot depending on when you visit. The route is very busy between June and August, so allow extra time if you’re visiting during these months.
4. What direction to drive
You should do the Ring of Kerry drive in a clockwise direction as tour buses go anti-clockwise by rule. You can of course drive either way, but driving clockwise ensures that you don’t get stuck behind 2+ tour buses. It also ensures you have better roads for the last section (Glenbeigh-Killorglin-Killarney) when you’ll likely be more fatigued.
5. The 2 routes
There are 2 ways to tackle the Ring of Kerry drive. The official route follows the original Ring of Kerry route. The unofficial route includes the Skellig Ring. This addition is well worth adding to your Ring of Kerry itinerary, as you’ll discover below.
My Ring of Kerry map with stops
It’s well worth having a Ring of Kerry map both when you’re planning your visit and while you’re doing the drive itself.
I have three maps for you to use, one of which has, as of 2026, been used by 3.9 million people.
A PDF map to download
My first Ring of Kerry map with stops is the static map above that gives you an eagle-eyed overview of the route, the different Ring of Kerry towns and the main attractions.
Take 30 seconds to look at the route above as it’ll get you familiar with the lay-of-the-land quickly. I find this one particularly useful to have on hand for the sections of the drive where phone signal is non-existent.
A Google Maps route with directions
If you’d prefer to just follow the Ring of Kerry route on Google Maps, then I’ve created the directions for you – open it in Google Maps here.
You can simply click ‘Start’ and it’ll take you to the different stops. Please note: Don’t blindly follow these directions – I’ll take you through the route below and give you options for parking, as many places fill up and you need alternatives.
An interactive map with the stops
My final Ring of Kerry map with stops has been used over 3,900,000 times as of 2026 (you can see the view count if you don’t believe me!).
Now, you don’t have to stop at all of these places. You can pick and choose based on what you’re into.
The different coloured pointers on this Ring of Kerry map indicate the attractions located at different stages of the route.
If you’re thinking, ‘Eh where’s the Gap of Dunloe, the Black Valley and Carrauntoohil?’, they’re not actually on the Ring of Kerry route, but you can of course add them.
A 1 day Ring of Kerry itinerary
Although it’d be better to tackle the Ring of Kerry drive over 2 days, it’s doable in 1 day if you’re visiting County Kerry between April and September when the days are long.
Below, you’ll find an easy-to-follow Ring of Kerry itinerary with timings to help you conquer the route in one go. Here’s some organised tours if you’re not driving.
Take 10 seconds to look at the Ring of Kerry map above. This is a route I’ve done many times and it includes places to stop for lunch and dinner along the way.
Need a longer itinerary? See my 2 day Ring of Kerry itinerary and my 3 Day Ring of Kerry Itinerary guides
Stop 1: Ross Castle
Although the best way to explore Killarney National Park is by bike, you won’t have time if you’re tackling the Ring of Kerry route in a day.
So, park near Ross Castle (there’s a big car park right next to it) and take a stroll around its exterior. The castle has stood on the edge of Lough Leane for over 500 years, with some mighty mountain and lake views all around it.
A lot of visitors turn back after crossing the bridge – don’t. You’ll get a good view of the castle and lake from here, but walk through the castle and there’s a much better view out over Lough Leane and the mountains from the far side.
Key info:
- Drive time from Killarney Town: 5 minutes
- Arrive: 07:10
- Leave: 07:40
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 2: Muckross Abbey
The next of our Ring of Kerry stops is Muckross Abbey (not to be confused with Muckross House). If you can, try and park in this car park. It’s a much shorter walk to the Abbey from here (around 10 minutes).
If this car park is full, continue on and park at Muckross House (around a 20-minute walk). Although it’s mostly in ruin, many parts of Muckross Abbey, which was founded in 1448, are well preserved.
There’s an upstairs and a downstairs with the most impressive feature being the ancient yew tree that grows at its centre. Just be sure to watch your footing – the ground is very uneven in places.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 10 minutes
- Arrive: 07:50
- Leave: 08:40
Stop 3: Torc Waterfall
Torc Waterfall is one of the most popular Ring of Kerry stops. At 20 metres (66 ft) high, it’s particularly impressive after heavy rain.
Now, a warning – parking here causes a huge amount of confusion amongst visitors. Yes, there’s a car park right beside it, but it’s tiny and tour buses often take up all of the space.
If you arrive early and can get a spot, great – you’re a 5-minute walk to the falls. If there’s no parking, don’t worry – there’s a second car park just up the N71 (here on Google Maps).
From there, a forest trail takes you to the road opposite the main car park. Take great care crossing here as traffic moves quickly along this stretch. As a visit here is one of the most popular things to do in Killarney, I’d recommend getting here early.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 5 minutes
- Arrive: 08:45
- Leave: 09:10
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 4: Ladies View
The next stop in my Ring of Kerry guide takes us to the wonderful Ladies View. It got its name after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited in 1861.
It’s said that the Queen’s ‘ladies-in-waiting’ (i.e. personal assistants) were so taken by the view that it was named after them!
Now, look at my map above – as you can see, there are two places to park here. You’ll be tempted to park in the one opposite the cafe, as it’s the first you’ll come to, but beware – pulling out of here is very dangerous due to blind spots.
Personally, I always park in the 2nd car park. There’s lots of space and the views out over the Lakes of Killarney are just as impressive.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 20 minutes
- Arrive: 09:30
- Leave: 09:50
Stop 5: Moll’s Gap
The next stop on the Ring of Kerry drive is Moll’s Gap – a bendy pass that offers spectacular views of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks.
You can park right next to it in the Avoca car park (also a handy coffee and toilet stop!). It got its name from Moll Kissane who ran a Sibin (unlicensed pub) during the construction of the Killarney to Kenmare road in the 1820s.
She was well-liked in the area. Possibly due to the fact that she sold homemade Poitin to the men working on the road.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 10 minutes
- Arrive: 10:00
- Leave: 10:10
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 6: Kenmare
Next up is Kenmare – a lovely little town that’s a lot quieter than Killarney (it’s also home to some of the more popular Ring of Kerry hotels!).
Although the town tends to be bustling throughout the year, I’ve always managed to get a space at this car park across from the church (there’s also a handy public toilet next to it!).
Now, there are plenty of things to do in Kenmare (like the stone circle) but, as this is a 1 day Ring of Kerry itinerary, I’m going to recommend you grab a coffee and head for a wander (Maison Gourmet on Henry St. is hard to beat for coffee and a pastry!).
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 15 minutes
- Arrive: 10:25
- Leave: 11:00
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 7: Staigue Stone Fort
Many driving the Ring of Kerry skip Staigue Stone Fort, but I think it’s well worth the short detour. Built without mortar, the fort’s walls reach up to 5.5 metres high and 4 metres thick.
It’s thought to date to around 300 to 400 AD and may have been built as a stronghold for a local chieftain. Take your time on the drive in.
The road leading to Staigue is narrow with several blind spots. There’s a small car park near the entrance and, from there, it’s a short walk to the fort. You can walk inside and climb part of the stepped interior, but don’t rush off afterwards. The views across the surrounding valley are excellent.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 50 minutes
- Arrive: 11:50
- Leave: 12:20
- Parking: Here on maps
- Coin needed: €1 needed for the honesty box
Stop 8: Lunch
This is one of the optional Ring of Kerry stops. I’ve been driving the route for around 20 years, but I’ve only started stopping at the Blind Piper on my last 5 or 6 trips. It’s a lovely, cosy traditional pub in Caherdaniel and, at this stage of the drive, it’s well placed for lunch.
The menu is hearty pub food, with the likes of fish and chips, Irish stew, chowder, bacon and cabbage and steak. This is a great stop for a feed before continuing towards Derrynane and the Skellig Ring.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 15 minutes
- Arrive: 12:35
- Leave: 13:20
- Location: Here on maps
Stop 9: Derrynane Beach
You’ll find Derrynane Beach a short spin from the Blind Piper. It’s one of my favourite beaches in Kerry and a good place to walk off your lunch. Please take great care on the drive down to it.
The road is narrow and very bendy in places and you’ll be sharing it with walkers and cyclists, so take your time, particularly around the blind bends. There’s parking right next to the beach, although it gets busy during summer.
From here, you can walk along the sand towards Abbey Island, where you’ll see the ruins of Derrynane Abbey, believed to date to the 6th century. This is a detour I’d make time for, but if you’re running well behind schedule, I’d skip it and continue towards the Skellig Ring.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 10 minutes
- Arrive: 13:30
- Leave: 14:00
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 10: Coomakista viewpoint
One of the best things about driving the Ring of Kerry is the number of Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points you’ll pass along the way. Coomakista is one of the best.
After leaving Derrynane, you’ll pass two small pull-in areas before you reach the main viewpoint. It can be tempting to stop at these, but keep going.
There’s a much larger parking area at Coomakista a little further along (here on Maps). On a clear day, you’ll have excellent views from here out over Deenish and Scariff islands.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 10 minutes
- Arrive: 14:10
- Leave: 14:25
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 11: The Skellig Ring
If you look at my Ring of Kerry map with stops above you’ll see that we’re now entering the Skellig Ring. There are a number of stops along this section of the route that you can either admire from afar or stop off at.
When you leave Coomakista, you’ll reach ‘Scenic Point’ (here on Maps), followed by Waterville (a favourite of Charlie Chaplin) and then Ballinskelligs (home to a beach and a castle).
From there, you have the Skelligs Telescope Viewpoint, St. Finian’s Bay and then, finally, the magnificent Coomanaspig viewpoint that leads to the next stop.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 35 minutes
- Arrive: 15:10
- Leave: 15:30
Stop 12: The Kerry Cliffs
Next up is another spot that’s missed by many doing the Ring of Kerry drive – the 1,000 ft high Kerry Cliffs.
The cliffs, which are believed to be over 400 million years old, are reached via private land (it was €5 when I was here in 2026). It’s a steep 10-minute walk up to the view point but it’s well worth the effort.
Although Clare’s Cliffs of Moher and Donegal’s Slieve League get much of the attention from tourists, the Kerry Cliffs are strong contenders for Ireland’s most impressive cliffs.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 2 minutes
- Arrive: 15:35
- Leave: 16:35
Stop 13: Geokaun Mountain
The next stop is Valentia Island, which you’ll reach via the bridge from Portmagee. I’ve visited Geokaun Mountain and Cliffs 8+ times and it’s still my favourite place to visit in Ireland.
You can drive right to the summit, where, on a clear day, you’ll see everything from the Skellig Islands and Carrauntoohil to the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands.
A warning about the drive up: the road to the summit is incredibly steep. I’ve driven it many times and I’d strongly recommend taking it very slowly and paying close attention to the speed warnings.
It costs €8 per car to enter. When you reach the top, park up and take your time at the viewpoints. It gets fierce windy up here, even during summer, so bring an extra layer.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 20 minutes
- Arrive: 16:55
- Leave: 17:40
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 14: Dinner in Portmagee
Next is another of the optional Ring of Kerry stops, but it’ll likely be dinner time when you reach this point so head to Portmagee.
One of the best options food-wise in this little village is the Moorings. Head in and fuel up for the final section of the Ring of Kerry route.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 10 minutes
- Arrive: 17:50
- Leave: 18:40
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 15: Rossbeigh Beach
The final stop on the Ring of Kerry route is Rossbeigh Beach, a 7km-long strand just outside Glenbeigh. You can stop in Cahersiveen along the way, but if you’re following this one-day itinerary, I’d keep going.
You’ll have covered plenty by this stage. Rossbeigh works well as the final stop because it’s an easy one. There’s loads of parking right beside the beach, so you can get out and stretch the legs without adding another lengthy stop to the day.
Take a short ramble along the sand and, when you’re ready, it’s around a 35-minute drive back to Killarney.
Key info:
- Drive time from last stop: 45 minutes
- Arrive: 19:25
- Leave: 19:45
- Parking: Here on maps
Stop 16: Pints in Killarney
When you finish at Rossbeigh, it’s around a 35-minute drive back to Killarney, where this Ring of Kerry itinerary comes to an end. After a full day on the road, I’d head into town for dinner and a pint.
There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Killarney and some great pubs, but there are three I’d point you towards. O’Connor’s is a proper old-school pub that’s been around for more than a century and has live music most nights.
Courtney’s Bar is another good option if you’re after somewhere traditional, while John M. Reidy’s is one of the town’s most distinctive pubs and started life as a sweet shop in the 1870s.
Where to stay on the Ring of Kerry
For most people, Killarney or Kenmare are the best places to stay on the Ring of Kerry route. Killarney has the widest choice of accommodation, pubs and restaurants and is particularly handy if you’re not driving, while Kenmare is quieter and less touristy.
For somewhere smaller, consider Waterville for a seaside base, Sneem for a quieter stay or Glenbeigh for easy access to Rossbeigh Beach. If scenery is the priority, I’d stay around Portmagee or Valentia Island on the Skellig Ring, my favourite part of the peninsula.
Where I tend to stay: Killarney (The Towers), Kenmare (O’Donnabhain’s), Waterville (The Butler Arms) or Portmagee (The Moorings).
The Ring of Kerry stops I would prioritise
The image above shows some of my visits to the area over the last two decades. As you can see, I’ve been here during every month of the year and, while there’s no single best time to visit Ireland, I particularly like May, September and October.
If I was stuck for time and could only visit a handful of the traditional Ring of Kerry highlights, I’d prioritise these four:
- Torc Waterfall: It’s only a 5-minute walk from the car park and is particularly impressive after heavy rain
- Muckross Abbey: One of my favourite historical sites on the route. It’s free to visit and you can walk right through the remarkably well-preserved ruins
- Ladies View: One of the best viewpoints on the Ring. It’s directly on the route, so you get a huge view over Killarney National Park without adding a lengthy detour
- Kenmare: My favourite town on this side of the peninsula. It’s a good place to stop for coffee or a ramble and breaks up the drive nicely
Ring of Kerry tours
If you don’t fancy driving, there are plenty of Ring of Kerry tours to choose from. You can sit back and enjoy the scenery without worrying about narrow roads or navigation.
The trade-off is less flexibility with stops, but for many visitors, that’s well worth it.
- From Killarney: The best choice is the 7.5-hour Ring of Kerry Guided Day Tour (4.7/5 from 1,143 reviews)
- From Cork: There’s an 11-hour Ring of Kerry Guided Day Trip (4.4/5 from 1,905 reviews)
- From Limerick: There’s an 11-hour Ring of Kerry drive tour (4.1/5 from 185 reviews)
FAQs about driving the Ring of Kerry
Since first publishing a Ring of Kerry route planner many years ago, we’ve had hundreds (literally) of emails and messages asking various questions.
I’ve tried to tackle the most FAQs below, however, if you have a question that we haven’t answered, ask away in the comments section.
Is the Ring of Kerry drive worth doing?
Yes. The Ring of Kerry route takes in many of the county’s most famous attractions, like the National Park. It’s also a straightforward route with plenty of towns along the way.
How long does it take to drive the Ring of Kerry route?
The route, which follows the N71 and N70 roads, measures 179km (111 miles). Driving the Ring of Kerry without stopping takes around 3.5 hours. Allow 7 to 8 hours with stops, or 9 to 10 hours if you add the Skellig Ring.
Where does Ring of Kerry start and end?
The Ring of Kerry route starts and finishes in Killarney. It takes in key attractions like Killarney National Park, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View and Derrynane Beach. However, the magic of the Ring of Kerry drive is the scenery you encounter along the route.
Is the Ring of Kerry difficult to drive?
Although some roads along the Ring of Kerry route are narrow in places, the circuit is not difficult to drive. Make sure to plan your route and drive with care and caution.
Where can I find a Ring of Kerry map with directions?
You’ll find a Ring of Kerry map with the full route plotted on Google Maps above. Open it on your phone, click ‘Start’ and you’ll get directions between each stop as you drive.
What is the Ring of Kerry?
The Ring of Kerry is a 179km (111-mile) scenic driving route around the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. It starts and finishes in Killarney and passes through Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, Glenbeigh and Killorglin, along with many of Kerry’s most popular attractions.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.
Love this site. Thanks for all the info. My husband and I are about to embark on a guided tour ending in Shannon. We’ve then opted for three days to self-drive parts of Ireland not included in the tour. Since my ancestors are from Donerail and Limerick, we decided to drive a bit to see these smaller areas. We are picking up our rental car at the Shannon airport and have a reservation for a stay at a B&B in Killarney. We would like to drive the Ring of Kerry this first day (yes, only one day) and are wondering if you think it is feasible to see some of the main sites? If so, which would you recommend in your extensive list above? Also, what are some good places to stop for petrol and/or food along the way? Thanks for a reply
Hi Jenny,
Sorry, I’ve been away in Italy for a wedding. Catching up on comments now.
When it comes to petrol, you’ll find plenty of stations along the way. Naturally enough they become more scare when you get to areas that are more off the beaten track.
For food, I can’t really say as it’ll depend on which section you’re at come lunch or dinner. Personally, I whip out tripadvisor whenever I’m unsure as the reviews are generally fairly accurate.
Hands-down my favourite part of the ROK is ladies view. Grab a coffee in the cafe across the road and make your way up to the rooftop seating area (hopefully it isn’t raining).
You’ll have the best view in the house.
I’m also a big fan of extending it out to the Skellig Ring. Valentia Island is like no where else on earth.
Happy exploring.
Keith
Hello,
I’m confused. Your first 3 stops start south, then Ross Castle, than back down to Muckross house? This isn’t quite a ring? I stopped mapping them out after this.. am I seeing this wrong or is your guide not meant to be done in order?
Thanks,
Bridgette
Hi,
This is an alternative route. The regular route does in fact take you on a circular route.
I’ve switched it up slightly for one main reason: people that follow the ‘original route’ miss out on several fantastic natural attractions that are a stone’s throw from the route they’re following (the Skellig Ring being on of the main ones).
At the start of this guide, I’ve said to park in the National Park, near Ross Castle.
As Ross Castle and Muckross house are both in the park, you could visit them in whatever order you fancied.
Cheers,
Keith
Hi Keith,
We are super keen to experience the Ring of Kerry… even more so after reading this page! Just wondering if you recommend a particular time of year to visit? We are thinking Easter next year (early April) but will it be too bleak and rainy?
Thanks!
Jody
Hi Keith,
We are planning a trip at the end of September for 8 days. Can you recommend a specific route or preferable airport to fly into? Also, can you tell me if there are castle that you can spend the night in? ROK and the Cliffs of Moher are my top places to see when going to Ireland, I would appreciate any other suggests that you might have as this is AMAZING and I’m glad I stumbled upon it.
Thank you SO much
Ophelia
Hey Ophelia,
Thanks for the kind words! As the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher are the two big attractions on your to-see list, I’d aim to fly into Shannon.
Spend the first day exploring around you (Bunratty Castle’s a stone’s throw away), spend the next two exploring Kerry. Spend another exploring Limerick City. Spend the following two in Clare.
You then have two solid days to play with before you head home. You could easily spend an additional day in Kerry (there’s a heap of things to do in Kerry) and then do a day trip to the Aran Islands as well.
Let me know if this helps.
Cheers – Keith
Hi
I’m coming from Dublin for a week in June – I want to do ring of kerry and dingle.. originally I was going to stay Killarney 3nights, kenmare 1, valentia 1 and then dingle 2… but now reading I should travel counterclockwise .. can you advise where to stop and for how long, taking in slea head drive aswell?? I’m completely head melted over what and where to drive and stop …
Love love love the site by the way.. am going to start crossing off areas of Ireland now bit by bit
Hi Deirdre,
It’s recommended that you drive counterclockwise around the Ring of Kerry, yep!
Here’s info on the best places to visit on the Dingle Peninsula and another guide on the best stops on the Slea Head Drive.
Hopefully these both help!
Cheers,
Keith
@Keith, so clockwise or counter-clockwise? You’ve suggested to do both? I’d really rather not get stuck behind busses….thanks, mia
Thanks for copping that mistake Mia! It’s clockwise! Although you can drive either way, the danger of doing it anti-clockwise is that you get stuck behind 3 tour buses without any chance to overtake.
Love the info and suggestions. We are think8ng of doing the alternative route late August early September, in out camper van. Do you have any information on campsites along the route. Also what’s the position regarding wild camping?
Any advice would be welcome.
The best road trip guide I’ve ever gotten and everything, every place was perfect. We had 1 day in Kerry and wanted to drive the ring of Kerry and this article was absolutely spot on.
Cheers Akshay! Glad you found it useful and that you enjoyed the spin!
Awesome guide! Did an amazing one day tour today and your map and tips was a great help! I’d say 7h is a bit optimistic, plan for at least 10h!
Cheers,
Anders
We are very much in the planning stage of our trip in May 2023.
Thankyou so much for your detailed information it’s been so help full
Laura from Australia
Keith- thanks for putting in the effort to do this. We are doing the drive next week and we’ll use your guide to lead us. I did notice that the link at the end to affordable hotels is the same one as the luxury hotels so that could use a fix.
Dear Keith,
We have followed your routes this week – the Dingle Peninsula for a day, and the Ring of Kerry for a day-and-a-half, finishing with a tremendous walk at the magnificent Gap of Dunloe. Your advice along the way was absolutely superb (up there with Links’ famous book of walks in Venice!). We loved Derrynane Beach, but the tide was high at Rossbeigh Beach so it was extremely stony and rather windy there. We managed to do the whole of Torc Falls walk, which we very much enjoyed. Very many thanks for making our time such a delight!
My husband and I, along with our adult daughter, just finished your one day Ring of Kerry itinerary. It was perfect! We are picky eaters so we packed up some food and snacked along the way – also saved us some time. Our home base for our week in Ireland is Limerick (our daughter is attending TUS in Limerick and we are visiting her while sightseeing). The views were spectacular, the sun was shining, and the temperature was perfect (March 11). It was breezy and a bit cool at the higher elevations. Our favourite stops were Muckross Abbey, Staigue Fort and Kerry Cliffs. It was a long day (left Limerick at 6:15 and arrived back to Limerick at about 20:00) but well worth the time! Without your itinerary, I know we would have missed some of these hidden gems – thank you for making our planning easy!!
Dear Keith,
Thank you so much for this amazing guide (and many other info on this site)!
May I ask for your thoughts on splitting Ring of Kerry into two days? We are planning to arrive in Killarney at noon (Day 1), drive 1/2 of ROK to Portmagee, take a boat trip 10am-12:30am (Day 2), and drive back to Killarney. In this case, may I ask how you would suggest us to split the stops to both days? If we divide the ROK (clockwise) in two by Portmagee, it seem like almost all stops would be in day 1 and Day 2 won’t have much content, so I am wondering if there is a better plan to pace this drive in two days.
Thank you so much again! Your guides and itineraries are absolute gems!
Best regards,
Julia
Hey Julia! As a weird coincidence, I’ve just published this 2 day Ring of Kerry itinerary. I hope this helps!
Thanks for this guide, great tips. Had a great lunch in the Blind Piper on your recommendation, Yum!
Go raibh míle maith agat, Keith! After 7 years of living in Ireland, my family finally made it to the Ring of Kerry and used your guide — right down to parking coordinates — to navigate our day. A second day would have been nice, but we’re grateful for your guidance in helping us discover this breathtaking region of the island and look forward to getting back soon for further exploration.
I just wanted to say thanks for such an awesome itinerary. My husband and I recently completed the 1 day ring of kerry itinerary and could not thank you enough for the detailed information. Very much appreciated.
Hi Keith,
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for your blog. We are from Australia and road tripped around Ireland plus did the ring of Kerry and your suggestions were so helpful. We basically followed you exactly and were never disappointed. Thanks a million.