From Cork: Ring of Kerry Guided Day Trip

About This Tour

The Ring of Kerry is one of those drives that people plan entire holidays around. A 179-kilometre loop around the Iveragh Peninsula, it takes in some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Europe, with mountains dropping to the sea, tiny fishing villages clinging to rocky shores, and views that change dramatically around every bend. This day trip from Cork lets you experience the full circuit with an expert guide doing the driving so you can focus on the scenery.

The route heads west from Killarney and follows the coastline through a string of villages that have barely changed in decades. Cahersiveen is a proper Kerry market town with colourful shopfronts and a relaxed atmosphere. Waterville, further along the coast, is famous for its beach, its golf course, and a bronze statue of Charlie Chaplin, who holidayed here with his family for years and loved the place so much the town adopted him as their own.

The mountain passes are where the Ring really shows off. Moll’s Gap cuts through the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks with steep drops on either side, while Ladies View offers a panoramic sweep over the three Killarney Lakes that earned its name when Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting declared it the finest view in Ireland during a royal visit. Whether or not you agree with their assessment, it is hard to argue with the scale of the landscape from this vantage point.

Starting from Cork rather than Dublin or Killarney gives you a different perspective on the trip, and the approach through County Kerry is scenic in itself. It is a long day at 12 hours, but the variety of stops and scenery makes it fly by.

What’s Included

• Return coach transport from Cork city centre
• Professional guide with live commentary throughout
• Multiple scenic stops around the Ring of Kerry
• Stops in Killarney, Cahersiveen, and Waterville

What’s Not Included

• Meals and drinks
• Entry to any attractions along the route
• Tips for the guide

Good to Know

• This is a 12-hour day, so bring water, snacks, and a packed lunch or plan to buy food at the village stops
• The Ring of Kerry road is narrow in places and coaches travel anticlockwise by convention to avoid meeting oncoming traffic
• Weather in Kerry is unpredictable, so come prepared with waterproofs and layers even in summer
• Window seats fill up quickly on the coach, so arrive at the pickup point a few minutes early
• The viewpoints at Moll’s Gap and Ladies View can be windy, so secure hats and loose items