Ireland - Sightseeing - Sightseeing in Kerry
County Kerry is deservedly renowned for its scenic vistas and picture postcard beauty. The coastline is magnificent and inland you will find rolling green hills, Ireland's highest mountains, Carrantuohill and Mount Brandon and pretty lakes.
The southwest coast of the region has three peninsulas: the Beara, the Iveragh, and the Dingle; and the road known as the Ring of Kerry makes a complete circuit of the Iveragh Peninsula. The most visited part of Kerry is Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, though it is very easy to get off the tourist trail and find a piece of Ireland all to yourself.
The Ring of Kerry and the Iveragh Peninsula
The Ring of Kerry is a 104 mile (166 km) drive around the coastline of the Iveragh peninsula. The trip can be made comfortably in one day and the scenery is stunning with breath-taking views over the Atlantic. There are plenty of bus tours of the Ring of Kerry that also take in the main tourist attractions of the area.
Bus Tours
Bus Eireann
The Travel Centre
Killarney
Tel: + 353 64 30 011
June-Sept only
Corcoran's Tours
8 College Street
Killarney
Tel: + 353 6436 666
Deros Tours
Main Street
Killarney
Email: deroscoachtours@eircom.net
Website: Deros Tours
O’Connor Autotours
Ardross
Ross Road
Killarney
Tel: +353 64 6631052
E-mail: oconnorautotours@eircom.net
Parks
Derrynane House
National Historic Park
Caherdaniel
Tel: +353 66 947 5113
Fax: +353 66 947 5432
3.5km from Caherdaniel - off N70 - Ring of Kerry
Derrynane House is the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Situated on 120 hectares of parklands the House displays many relics of O'Connell's life and career.
The Inner Ring
A beautiful drive which skirts the foothills of McGillycuddy's Reeks and Lough Acoose and crosses one of the most wild landscapes of Ireland - the Ballaghbeama Pass - before joining the Ring of Kerry road at Moll's Gap and returning to Killarney. About 2.5 hours drive.
The Dingle Peninsula
The Dingle Peninsula is the most westerly part of Europe and stretches away from the mainland offering mountains for hiking, sandy beaches and some of the best celtic ruins in Ireland. The films Ryan's Daughter and Far and Away were filmed on the peninsula.
Visitor Centres
Blasket Centre Museum
Dún Chaoin
Tel: +353 66 915 6444
Fax: +353 66 915 6446
The Blasket center celebrates the cultural and literary traditions of the Blasket Islands and the history of Corca Dhuibhne, the Gaeltacht (Irish language) area.
Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium
Near Dingle Harbour
Dingle Town
Tel: +353 66 915 2111
Fax: +353 66 915 2155
Website: Dingle Oceanworld.ie
The Freshwater Experience
Emlagh
Lispole
Tel: +353 66 915 1045
Fax: +353 66 915 1804
Email: info@freshwaterexp.com
The Celtic and Prehistoric Museum
Cill mhic an Domhnaigh
Ceann Trá
Tel: +353 66 915 9941
Ceardlann Craft Village
The Wood
Dingle
Tel: +353 66 915 1778
A cluster of traditional cottages set on the hillside above Dingle town and harbor. Local craft workers produce and sell handmade felts, fun jewelry and mosaics, and traditional Irish musical instruments, silver jewelry and ceramic pictures.
Historical Buildings
Eask Tower
Carhoo Hill
Dingle
Tel: +353 66 915 1850
Eask Tower is a 40 foot (15m) solid stone tower which was built in 1847 as a signal for Dingle Harbour. From the top of Carhoo Hill you'll get panoramic views of Dingle Harbour, Connor Pass, Slea Head, and, on the far side of Dingle Bay, the high peaks of the Iveragh Peninsula.
Archeological Sites
The Dingle Peninsular hosts some of Ireland's oldest and most impressive archeological sites. You can see ring forts, beehive huts, oratories and stone crosses and the best of these ancient monuments lie west of Dingle town and include Dún Beag, near Ventry; and the medieval church of Kilmakedar. Contact the Dingle Peninsula Tourist office for more information.
Dingle Peninsula Tourism
Comharchumann Turasóireachta Chorca Dhuibhne
Dingle
Email: dingle@eircom.net
Sciuird Archaeological Adventures
Sciuird
Holyground
Dingle
Tel: +353 66 915 1606
Email: archeo@eircom.net
Guided mini-bus tour provides insight into life on the Dingle Peninsula over the past 6,000 years. Tour includes visits to 4 or 5 archaeological sites and some walking. May-Sept
Advance bookings essential
Walking Tours
Dingle Guided Tours
c/o The Mountain Man
Strand Street
Dingle
Tel: +353 66 915 2400
Guided walks of the peninsula's scenic highlights including Mount Brandon. June-Sept
Hidden Ireland Tours
Dingle
Tel: +353 66 915 1868
Website: Hidden Ireland Tours
Guided tours around the cliff walks, hills, mountains, woods, and lakelands of Dingle, interspersing commentaries on local history, archaeology, folklore, and culture along the way. Reservations essential. May - Sept
Killarney Guided Walks
Currach, Aghadoe,
Killarney, Co Kerry,
Tel: +353 64 33471
All year walking tours of Killarney. Great relaxing walks where the emphas is on fun and relaxation.
Cruises
Fungie the Dolphin Tours
The Pier
Dingle
Tel: +353 66 915 1967
Dingle Bay Cruises
Dingle Marine Eco Tours
Tel: +353 86 285 8802
See the Dingle Peninsula from Dingle Bay with a commentary on the archaeology, geology, history, birdlife, wildlife, and local folklore. May - Sept.
The Skellig Rocks
Weather permitting a trip to the Skellig Rocks is a fine way to spend a day. The Island of Skellig Michael was once the spartan retreat of a group of monks, who lived in the beehive-shaped stone cells at the summit.
Cruises
Skellig Islands Sea Cruises
Skellig Experience
Tel: +353 66 947 6306
Seanie's Sea Quest
Tel: +353 066 947 6214
Email: seanie@iol.ie
Joe Roddy
Tel: +353 66 947 4268
Dez Lavelle
Tel: +353 66 947 6124
The Beara Peninsula
The Beara is less wild than Dingle. At the southwestern tip is Dursey Island, accessible only by Cable Car, and there are the attractive villages of Allihies and Castletown Bearhaven. It is a much less touristy than the Ring of Kerry and equally as attractive.
Visit Garnish and Lehanmore to see archeological sites such as Ring Forts and Wedge Graves. The beaches at Garnish are both beautiful and safe and can get busy during the summer months.
Killarney
Killarney is a busy centre of tourist activity in southern Ireland not least because of the surrounding landscape and its three shining lakes, Lough Leane (the Lower Lake), Muckross Lake (the Middle Lake) and the Upper Lake.
Historical Buildings
Muckross House
National Park
Killarney
Tel: +353 64 31440
Fax: +353 64 33926
Website: Muckross House
Victorian Mansion built in 1840 containing fine examples of Irish furniture, craft shops and a restaurant. The estate includes beautiful gardens, the ruins of Muckross Abbey and a fascinating recreation of farms showing how life was lived in rural Ireland in earlier times.
The estate gives access to paths around Muckross Lake, and on to spectacular scenery, the 20 metre Torc Waterfall and up the iste of the Torc mountain if you wish.
Ross Castle
Ross Castle was built in the 15th century on the shore of Killarney's Lower lake by O'Donoghue Mór, who lost it after the Desmond rebellion at the end of the sixteenth century. The castle was the last irish castle to hold out against Oliver Cromwell. In the
18th adn 19th century the castle was used as military barracks. It has now been restored and is open to public.
Parks
Derreen House
Derreen Garden
Lauragh
Killarney
Tel: + 353 64 83588
Derreen House and gardens are open to the public and stocked with plants that flourish in the mild sea climate, including tree ferns, bamboo, rhododendrons and camellias. April - Sept
Tours
Lakeland Tour
7 High Street
Killarney
Kerry
Tel: + 353 64 32496
Fax: + 353 64 35088
Kenmare
Kenmare is the place for shopping in Kerry. With designer boutiques and delicatessens it is organised in an X-plan and the main street has neat rows of colourful terraced buildings.
