Ring of Kerry

Stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean, the Iveragh Peninsula has a backbone of mighty mountains. Every environment is here, from the snow-capped Corrán Tuathail, Ireland´s loftiest peak, through woodland and blanket bog, to the sandy beaches of the coast. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream ensure a mild climate all the year round. Sub-tropical plants grow quite happily here - adding marvellous splashes of colour to the countryside.

This is the setting for Ireland´s greatest tour, The Ring of Kerry. The 110-mile (176k) circuit takes in Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Caherciveen, Waterville, Sneem, Kenmare, and Killarney. Any one of the many stopping points along this magnificent odyssey makes an idyllic holiday destination. Killorglin, the home of the legendary Puck Fair, straddles the Laune, an excellent salmon-fishing river. The village of Glenbeigh is hugely popular in summer because of the glorious beach at Rossbeigh and the links course at Dooks.

At Caherciveen you can visit the birthplace of the great justice-seeker and parliamentarian Daniel O´Connell (1775-1847). The Liberator, as he was known, eventually settled near the beautiful secluded beaches of Derrynane. In this century, Charlie Chaplin of silent screen fame was a regular visitor to Waterville. Last year the people of the town erected a monument to his memory. Sneem, possibly Ireland´s most colourful village, has won national awards for its beauty and neatness. George Bernard Shaw did much of his playwriting while staying at the nearby Parknasilla Hotel. While much of the coach traffic takes the direct route from Sneem to Moll´s Gap, it is worth going the extra miles to visit the town of Kenmare with its delightful shops and excellent restaurants. If you travel the Ring anti-clockwise, as most traffic tends to do, then spectacular views await you as you head from Moll´s Gap down into the Killarney Valley.

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