Experience the best of Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry follows the coast road around the Iveragh Peninsula for about 180 kilometres, starting and ending at Killarney, by way of Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Sneem and Kenmare. Inland rise the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, where Carrauntoohil, at 1,038 metres, is the highest mountain in Ireland. The road alternates between sea cliffs, sandy strands and mountain passes.

Off the south-west coast, Skellig Michael, a jagged rock island, holds the beehive huts of an early Christian monastery listed by UNESCO, and Valentia Island is joined to the mainland by a bridge at Portmagee. Staigue Fort is a circular stone fort from the Iron Age, Derrynane House was the home of Daniel O'Connell, and in Killarney National Park Ladies View, Torc Waterfall and Muckross House are close to the start of the loop.

Kerry lamb, seafood chowder, smoked salmon and brown bread are the staples, and the villages along the route have pubs with traditional music. Sneem has brightly painted houses, and Waterville has a statue of Charlie Chaplin, a regular summer visitor. Weather off the Atlantic changes quickly, and summer evenings stay light until late.