| County Kerry |
| The Ring of Kerry |
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The Ring of Kerry - Landscape1
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The Ring of Kerry - Landscape2
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Accommodation_Kerry
The
Ring of Kerry is a 179km road itinerary which goes around the Iveragh
Peninsula. It is the major tourist attraction of Ireland with
spectacular scenery .
KILLORGLIN is a lovely town on the River Laune over which an
eight-arched bridge stands since 1885. Every year Killorglin hosts the
Puck Fair Festival when a billy goat is installed on a pedestal, its
horns adorned with ribbons. The town then enjoys longer hours in the
pubs who have special licensing |
during the three days of the festival.
Out of Killorglin on the road to Glenbeigh is the Kerry Bog Village
Museum (call 066 976 9184 for information), a recreation of a
19th-century bog village.
Next stop on the Ring of Kerry is CAHERCIVEEN which is nested deep into
the Iveragh Peninsula. This little town has a number of interesting
attractions such as the Heritage Centre (call 947 2777 for information)
which is located in what was before the Royal Irish Constabulory
Barracks. Ballycarbery Castle & Ring Forts are within 2.4km from
Caherciveen. Every August Bank Holiday, the Caherciveen Celtic
International Music Festival takes place. Accessible via a bridge at
Portmagee, VALENTIA ISLAND is an 11km long and 3km wide stretch of land
on which the fossilised footprints of a marine creature were
discovered. The fossile probably dates back to 365 millions years. The
Skellig Experience (call 947 6306 for information) is worth a visit if
you are to visit the Skellig Islands as it will provide you with
excellent background information.
A boat trip to the SKELLIG ISLANDS is a must if you are travelling to
Ireland. Even though the sea can make your crossing rough, the scenery
is nonetheless spectacular and worth it. Bird-Watching is a very
popular activity when visiting the Skelligs as they are said to be a
bird paradise. Among the many species that you can observe are storm
petrels, puffins, gannets, kittiwakes… The larger of the two islands,
Skellig Michael is a 217m-high rock which has been designated as a
Unesco World Heritage site. The ruins of monastic buildings are perched
150m above the sea. As a bird sanctuary, you will not be able to land
on Small Skellig. WATERVILLE is more than anything else a very popular
seaside resort with a lot of pubs, restaurants and shops. If you are
into angling though you will enjoy fishing trout in nearby Lough
Currane or wild salmon in the Inny River. The scenic route linking
Waterville to Portmagee is known as the SKELLIG RING. On the way a
visit to Siopa Cill Rialaig Art Gallery (call 066-9479324) is worth as
it exposes excellent works from local and international artists. Also
on the Skellig Ring is Ballinskelligs Monastery & Bay, ruins of a
medieval monastic settlement.
Between mountain and sea, CAHERDANIEL is an attractive town close to
nice and sandy beaches. The Derrynane National Historic Park (call 947
5113 for information) is an amazing park through which you will enjoy
walking, as you discover Abbey Island, an Ogham Stone, or spot wild
birds on your way. Derrynane House can be visited.
STAIGUE FORT lies near Castlecove. It was probably built around the 3rd
or 4th century and curiously enough, it cannot be seen from the sea
although there are nice views on the coast from the fort. Quite a
sophisticated building, it is not certain what the use of the fort was.
Picturesque and elegant KENMARE stands where the rivers Finnihy,
Roughty and Sheen empty into Kenmare river. If you are coming from
Killarney, the scenery along the N71 road is spectacular. The history
of the town is recounted at the Kenmare Heritage Centre (call 41233 for
information). The 15 stones ringing a boulder dolmen along Market St
and Pound Lane are the so-called Druid Circle. The fine Holy Cross
Church dates from the mid-19th century and one has to admire the 14
angles carved into its wooden roof.
GETTING AROUND THE RING OF KERRY:
Bus Eireann runs a Ring of Kerry bus service from late May
to mid-September (call Killarney bus station on 064-30011 for
information)
There is a bus from Kenmare to Killarney and another to
Skibbereen (via Glengarriff and Bantry). Once a week, a bus service
operates to Lauragh, Ardgroom and Castletownbere. ..
A ferry service (call 947 6141 for information) operates
between Knightstown on Valentia Island to Reenard Point, West of
Caherciveen. A number of operators are available to reach
the Skelligs Islands, although there are limits on how many people can
visit on the same day. You can try Owen Walsh on 066-9476327/9476115,
Michael O’Sullivan on 066-9474255 or Sean & Sheila O’Shea on
066-9472069. |
| PS : Railtours website link
http://www.affiliate.viator.com |
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