Ring of Kerry – A Must See in Ireland

Ring of Kerry. Remember the name of this spot when planning your trip to Ireland. Tuck it away for later. There’s something magical about Ireland as a whole. But there are some areas that are dramatic, outstanding examples of nature at its best. Places you cannot and should not miss. Killarney, Dublin, Dingle, and the Ring of Kerry are pure magic. If you ever find your way to Ireland promise me now you will see all of the above and be sure to visit Ring of Kerry.

In October I went to Killarney for TBEX, Travel Blogger’s Exchange conference. The location was a huge draw for me and there were some great sessions, wonderful tours and networking opportunities too of course. But towards the end of the conference when I still had not seen Ring of Kerry I was honestly feeling a bit heartbroken.

So I woke up early one morning and raced down the street to Deros Tours. Happily, they had space and together with Margarita Ibbott and her oldest daughter we boarded a bus for a day of sightseeing. It was truly one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland.

Ring of Kerry Tour

Ireland consists of 26 counties divided into 4 provinces. It’s not a small country at all. The country boasts rolling pastures, towering cliffs, crashing coastlines, small hamlets, and large cities. It is a place full of storytellers and characters and stunning architecture too. While I started in Killarney and truly loved my experience there in this charming city, I took a quick one day trip to Dingle to tour a distillery and search out a famous dolphin named Fungie. Then I was scheduled for a familiarization tour in Dublin. SUPER exciting!

On my first day in Ireland, on a lengthy bus ride to Killarney from the Dublin airport, I heard all about Ring of Kerry from another passenger. “God’s country,” he called it and warned me not to miss. My schedule was tight and Dublin was pending. Ring of Kerry was also calling. What to do? Happy to report I did get to see “God’s country” and much more.

The crashing waves, idyll tiny villages and lush vegetation coupled with friendly people along the way, made The Ring of Kerry a great experience. This scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry is the best way to see some of the most beautiful scenery you can find in the country.

The Ring passes through Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and Glenbeigh before returning to Killarney. Major attractions along the ring are many. Sneem was a sweet little spot and there are many great Instagram worthy photo spots there. Of course the Skelligs are otherworldly and infamous for being a big piece of two of the most recent Star Wars movies.

You will see the Skelligs from a distance. Loved seeing it even from a distance but wish we’d had more time to pause and capture more photos there.

Each spot or stop along the Ring of Kerry seems more dramatic than the last one. These are a few of the quaint stops we made:

• Gap of Dunloe
• Bog Village
• Dunloe Ogham Stones
• Kerry Woollen Mills,
• Rossbeigh Beach
• Cahersiveen Heritage Centre
• Derryname House
• Skellig Experience
• Staigue Fort
• Kenmare Lace
• Ladies View
• Torc Waterfall
• Muckross House
• The Blue Pool
• Ross Castle
• St. Mary’s Cathedral
• Muckross Abbey
• Faranciscan Friary
• Kellegy Church
• O’Connell Memorial Church
• Skellig Michael

Like I said, the Ring of Kerry covers A LOT of ground and some of the most famous sites in all of Ireland, and we got to see much of it with Deros Tours. The trip was 26 Euros, which was a steal in my opinion. The tour took us all through most of the spots noted above. It was one of the few sunny days we had while in Ireland and the coastline was gorgeous. At Kerry Bog Village I had the best Irish Coffee of my life.

On this particular tour we had a quick introduction to everything the Ring had to offer. It’s enjoyable leaving the drive to someone else when in a country you aren’t familiar with where people drive on the opposite side of the road. The tour guide and staff were friendly, taking our photos sometimes and answering questions on the way. At each stop along The Ring of Kerry, we learned the history behind some of the most famous spots in Ireland.

Midway through the trip, there was also a sheepherding demonstration. The shepherd talked a little about what he did, and he gave us a demonstration of how his dogs herd sheep. That was a quirky experience that cost an extra 5 Euros but was well worth it. This is a seasonal attraction. If you have the chance to witness this then take it.

There’s a chance to ask questions at the end of the sheepherding demonstration. There’s more to know about this lifestyle than you can imagine. In Sneem we stopped to look around at the shops and grabbed an ice cream before heading on to Ladies View. The gorgeous greens and blues are sharper than any artist’s palette. Even the rocks and craggy coast are cut from something a little otherworldly.

It’s easy to see why this area captivates tourists and has served well as a make believe setting for movies like Star Wars and series like Game of Thrones. The natural terrain, the greenest moss and grasses trailing right into the the sapphire blue waters making each feature seem that much brighter.

Experience the Ring of Kerry by Tour

I had a lot of amazing experiences in Ireland, and each one was memorable and educational too. The Ring of Kerry was well worth the extra time. The staff were incredibly friendly, and so were the people. No matter where you stop in Ireland you will be made to feel welcome. It was an incredible experience from start to finish, and I recommend Deros Tours if you ever tour the Ring of Kerry.

Do It Yourself

Want to stay in a castle in Ireland? Read Hannah Logan’s post – > 9 Affordable Castles in Ireland.

This is an excellent package, which will get you most of what we saw while in Ireland. Killarney, Dingle, Dublin and Ring of Kerry Tour!

A 9-day tour of Ireland, including accommodations and breakfasts – this is a steal at $1060 Canadian.

Disclosure: This tour was not sponsored. This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. If you make a purchase via one of the links I make a small fee at no extra cost to you.