It’s possible to travel the Ring of Kerry, in County Kerry, southwest Ireland, in one day. The “ring” is a road encircling the Iveragh Peninsula, and an excellent starting and ending point is the picturesque town of Killarney.
After a few minutes on a bus tour travelling the ring (at a cost of about 30 euro) in a counterclockwise direction, the first sight comes into view. The Macgillycuddy Reeks, with its folds and rugged terrain, is a mountain region that forms the backbone of the Ring of Kerry, and includes Ireland’s highest peak, Carrantuohill, at 1,050 metres high, and the Gap of Dunloe, a glaciated valley.
The Dramatic Landscape of the Ring of Kerry
The land surrounding the mountains, particularly closer to the town of Killorglin, is comprised of peat bogs. Peat (the result of water-rotted vegetation) is used as fuel in the winter. Evidence of its gathering lies across the bogs as stacked peat “bricks,” filled plastic bags, and cut-out sections of land.
The Carragh River, which flows into nearby Dingle Bay, is past the bogs. Grouse, with its bright yellow blooms, jolt the green and brownish landscape, especially in spring and autumn. It’s an ideal spot for taking pictures, and some of the locals may get in on the action, by posing with one or two of their farm animals, such a lamb and donkey, in exchange for a few coins.
Moving onward, the road hugs the coastline and reveals the glimmering sheet that is Dingle Bay. It covers the expanse between the Iveragh Peninsula and the Dingle Peninsula on the other side, with dips and rises in its own landscape wooing explorers. The Blasket Islands, at the end of Dingle Peninsula, are visible on a clear day but shrouded in mist look like part of the mainland.
The Birthplace of Daniel O’Connell
History greets travellers in the next main town, Cahersiveen. On its outskirts are partial stone walls, the remains of the house in which Daniel O’Connell, champion for Catholics’ rights, was born in 1775. In town, buildings bear O’Connell’s name, as well as a church, reputedly the only church in Ireland not to be named after a saint. Cahersiveen is an ideal place in which to stop for lunch, wander around, and glimpse Valentia Island, just off shore.
Back on the bus, the road curves toward the Atlantic Ocean and along the seaside town of Waterville, climbs up into the mountains and past Silent Valley, so called because of the effect the Great Famine of 1845-1849 had on the area. The ground here, covered in lush shades of green divided by stone walls and punctuated with houses, tumbles down toward the sea, and an ancient, round stone fort still exists in the valley, as well.
Dolmen on the road toward Sneem also harken back to ancient Ireland, but Sneem itself is a small town that boasts brightly painted houses, perfect for a modern-day postcard.
Valleys and Views Surround Killarney National Park
The last stop on the bus tour is the area around Killarney National Park. Passengers will ride past Black Valley, huddled within dramatic mountains and so named because it was reportedly the last place in Ireland to receive electricity. A pass over Moll’s Gap takes travellers to Ladies’ View, a lookout point over lakes and islets.
The benefit of a day trip of the Ring of Kerry on a bus tour are that travellers can just sit back and marvel at the changing landscape of the Iveragh Peninsula, from bogs and valleys, to mountains and seascapes. Plenty of stops are made along the way in which to grab a bite, take a break and take photos.
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