Gallery Snaps

Ring of Kerry Tour

If you only take one full-day tour during your stay, the "Ring of Kerry" tour is the one it should be. From around the world visitors come to experience this fascinating, scenic and spectacular tour, and is the highlight of many visitors to Ireland. When you've experienced it for yourself, you'll know why! There's something here to suit every taste and interest too; just remember to bring your camera.

Our Pictures-in-Words Route

In absolute comfort, our Failte Ireland National Guide qualified and experienced chauffeur will head directly west to our starting point, namely Killorglin - a town on the River Laune that's famous for its annual Puck Fair; a 3-day pagan festival that dates back hundreds of years.

We now travel to the busy little village of Glenbeigh where the first expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean dominate the vista. We'll hug this spectacular coastline and see the far-off Dingle peninsula as we head for Cahirciveen and on to a special part of our tour.

This is where we take an off-track detour and cross over to Valentia Island where you'll absorb its unique scenic beauty - its breathtaking cliffs and its magnificent seascapes. This detour is one that's easily missed, but we include it as a crucial part of your day.

We leave Valentia Island and soon arrive at Port Magee - a pretty village nestling in a beautiful cove, and it's where your delicious lunch is served at Mooring's Bar - but leave room for a sumptuous desert because you're about to visit a factory with a difference; it makes creamy, mouth-watering chocolate.

Waterville then beckons. It's a lovely coastal village noted for its close association with movie star Charlie Chaplin. For golf enthusiasts, the famous Waterville links course, with some truly challenging holes, is of world renown; and the club is where Payne Stewart was an honorary member and was much loved by everyone.

A change of scenery brings us into the Derrynane National Park - a visual feast for botanists, ornithologists and other nature-lovers. Wander along one of the many nature trails and you'll soon see what we mean. In addition, here we'll see Derrynane House, the former home of Daniel O'Connell, the famous political leader. And being in Kerry, you're never far from water - and the Derrynane beach you'll see is simply magnificent.

In just a few miles, we come to the colorful and pristine, award-winning little village of Sneem, which has beautiful quaint shops and boasts a Sculpture Park that includes a garden of the senses. You'll feel that time seems to run slower here... it's a haven of calm.

Travelling north, heading for Killarney, we see Moll's Gap at the head of the pass with more breathtaking views across and through the mountain range. And just further on is Ladies View, so named because of the sheer delight expressed by Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting when they visited here over a century ago. As you look down, you'll soon see why... it's another vista that has everything: high mountains and some of the stunningly picturesque lakes that Killarney is famous for.

And as we approach Killarney, we see more splendors - Muckross House and Gardens, and get a true feel of the National Park. The house completed in 1843, which is now a museum of Kerry history and folklore is of modest proportions, but its location is unsurpassed being slightly elevated and at the head of Muckross Lake. Here, we'll head into Killarney in style back to your hotel where you can relax, dine and reflect on one truly amazing day.

Summary

Our qualified and experienced chauffeur will start the Ring passing through Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahirciveen, take a detour to Valentia Island, then on to Port Magee, Waterville, Derrynane, Sneem and finally visiting Muckross House and Gardens located within the National Park in Killarney. (Special Note: You'll see we include many places in this one-day tour and because of this, to ensure you see it all without the usual rushing around, it's likely to take a full 6 hours from door to door.)