KERRY CLIFFS VIA SKELLIG RING AND THE RING OF KERRY (SMALL GROUP TOUR)

Killorglin The first town on the route is Killorglin, home to the famous Puck Fair festival held on the 10th, 11th and 12th of August every year. Residents capture a wild goat in the mountains and enthrone him in the town centre. For three days of the festival, the goat acts as the King, and the locals “act the goat”. The Bog Village The first stop will be at The Bog Village – also a comfort stop. This little cluster...

Killorglin

The first town on the route is Killorglin, home to the famous Puck Fair festival held on the 10th, 11th and 12th of August every year. Residents capture a wild goat in the mountains and enthrone him in the town centre. For three days of the festival, the goat acts as the King, and the locals “act the goat”.

The Bog Village

The first stop will be at The Bog Village – also a comfort stop. This little cluster of thatched-roof cottages demonstrates what rural life was like in Kerry in the 1800s. The museum village (an optional feature with an additional small charge) has a replica blacksmith’s forge + house, turf cutter’s house, labourer’s cottage, thatcher’s dwelling, and tradesman’s house.

See the stacks of turf piled high by the road. There is also an old Irish pub named The Red Fox Inn, where you can enjoy an early drink or tea/coffee and scones. NOTE: Primarily a comfort stop, time is very limited at this stop as we make our way around the ring.

Entry to Bog Village Museum (€7)

Glenbeigh

After departing the Bog Village, we will continue through the village of Glenbeigh with a view of the beautiful Rossbeigh Beach and a fantastic view of the hills at the back of the Iveragh Peninsula.

The Kerry Cliffs

The Kerry Cliffs at Portmagee are one of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring stops on the Skellig Ring. Often overlooked by those sticking only to the main road, these cliffs offer some of the most spectacular views in all of Ireland.

Standing over 1,000 feet (300m) above the Atlantic, they were formed over 400 million years ago and provide a raw, powerful look at the edge of Europe.

Entry to Kerry Cliffs (€5)

Waterville

Then, continuing into Waterville, an idyllic beach resort between Lough Currane and Ballinskelligs Bay. The Waterville area and its hinterland are steeped in history and dotted with archaeological monuments.
For years Waterville was a favourite retreat of Charlie Chaplin, and there is a life-size statue of him on the promenade.

Derrynane

The tour continues through the area of Derrynane, a rocky cove notorious as a port of call for smugglers in the 18th century. It is the former seat of the O’Connell clan and home to “The Liberator”, Daniel O’Connell.

Sneem

The next stop is the small village of Sneem – perhaps Ireland’s most colourful village. The stop in Sneem is to avail of a comfort stop. Its two squares straddle the estuary of the River Sneem, with a quaint Italianate church(1865) and chequered houses.
An untypical village laid out in an English style around a village green beneath a semi-circle of low mountains.

Sneem was gifted a panda sculpture by the People’s Republic of China and a goddess Isis sculpture by Egypt. Sneem marks the start of the most sheltered part of the Ring of Kerry’s coast. You will see lush, subtropical growth – wild rhododendrons and azaleas, evidence of the unique effect of the Gulf Stream.

Moll's Gap

Leaving Sneem, we travel through the very rugged landscape and arrive at Moll’s Gap, where the viewing point at the Gap offers sweeping views of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Ireland’s highest mountain, Corrán Tuathail – 3,414 feet high

Ladies View

Continuing from Moll’s Gap to Killarney, we experience far-reaching views over the broad valley of the Killarney Lakes. On her visit in the 19th century, so enthralled by this view, Queen Victoria and her ladies-in-waiting promptly named in their honour: “Ladies View”.

Killarney National Park

Between Ladies View and Killarney, the coach will pass through the Killarney National Park and return to Killarney in the late afternoon.