The world famous Ring of Kerry is one of the highlights of any vacation in Ireland. It is a 180km (110 miles) circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula, passing through the intimate towns of Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Killorglin. The winding, twisting, secondary route is littered with panoramic views, breath-taking scenery and heaps of major attractions. Popular stop-offs include the Gap of Dunloe, Cahersiveen Heritage Centre, Derrynane House, Skellig Experience, Staigue Fort, Moll's Gap, Ladies View, Torc Waterfall, Muckross House and Ross Castle. Strewn around these sights are pristine beaches, rugged promontories, medieval ruins and cosy, little pubs.
The route can be easily done in a day but you could also drift around in a number of days or even lose yourself for a week amongst the magnificent mountains and gushing glens. However, most people opt for a comprehensive day trip. Because the roads are so narrow, the tour companies must drive their buses in an anti-clockwise direction, travelling via Killorglin first. If you are in a car you can go either way, though both directions offer challenges, anti-clockwise you can get stuck behind a bus which can be tedious but the other way you may meet one on a blind bend, which can be rather hell-raising! However, having your own car has the added bonus of being able to stop wherever you please (which invariably you will wish to do, again and again and again…) and you get to whisk off the beaten trail onto the tip of the peninsula where the Skellig ring is too narrow for coaches or the Ballaghbeama Gap which cuts across the central highlands.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net
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