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For information about the annual one-day charity cycle, see ringofkerrycycle.ie.
For information about the annual one-day charity cycle, see ringofkerrycycle.ie.
For tips on how to enjoy cycling the Ring of Kerry over three days, read on here.
For tips on how to enjoy cycling the Ring of Kerry over three days, read on here.
NB: Click the top-right button to expand the panel on the left of the map, to show/hide places and route for each day.
Ring of Kerry Route
Ring of Kerry Route
Anti-clockwise Ring of Kerry cycling route (with some embellishments), starting and finishing in Killarney.
This is designed for a 3-day cycle, but would work just as well by car.
Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1_j2PvsGgJ5LZjizzinlrQqqahwc&ll=52.024665%2C-9.635853999999995&z=11
Day 1 (82 km)
- All rise in Killarney. Pick up rental bikes.
- Immediate diversion. Cycle into Gap of Dunloe. Not on the Ring of Kerry, but worth the detour. Pretty interesting landscape for inland. [images] Confuse our Beelines.
- U-turn to head back northwards, we’re supposed to be doing the Ring of Kerry.
- Pint in Killorglin. Nice little town. Famous for the puck fair, where they honour a goat.
- Check out Rossbeigh beach. This is a long beach. Swim? Ride horsies?
- Check out Kells, though probably not for long at all. Maybe just a shandy. This town peaked a long time ago (“Book of Kells”), winning no hospitality awards these days.
- Depending on time, maybe swing by Ballycarbery Castle (fairly unspectacular ruin, but a grand spot for a big bag of cans).
- Overnight in Cahirsiveen, a bustling metropolis with Ireland’s only church named after a lay person. What a legend.
- Check in at Sive’s Hostel. Drop bags, shower. Phone +353.66.9472717.
- Maybe check out the waterfront, maybe see if any buzz around Mannix Camp site?
- Bounce between pubs. Pronounce many “s” sounds as “sh”, e.g., “wesht of Ireland”. Session in the Fertha at 9pm. Lad in the Sheebeen says he stays open til around 1.
- Sleep at Sive’s Hostel [booked]. €22 dorm beds.
Day 2 (87 km)
- Ferry to Knightstown on Valentia island (€5, runs every 15 mins or so)
- Detour to west of Valentia island, see if it’s any Beeline-instagram-worthy.
- Roll off the island in style via short bridge to Portmagee.
- Photo stop in Kerry cliffs. Beehive huts? See if we can see Skelligs. [images]
- Cycle to Ballinskelligs.
- Note: Might make sense to delay in a pub to watch a bit of GAA if the atmosphere is good. Unfortunately Kerry’s a football stronghold, and pretty useless at hurling. Hurling makes for a better spectacle to watch. Anyway, plenty games at this point in the season, so may stumble upon some passionate GAA heads in some pub along the way. Fixtures: http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/?
- Pint in Waterville.
- Pint in Derrynane. Swim? See Ogham stone if we haven’t seen the more impressive Ogham stones yesterday in Beaufort.
- Shandy in O’Carroll’s cove
- Overnight in Sneem, another teeming oasis with population in the high triple digits.
- Sleep in Sneem Hotel (€60 per head) or luxurious Parknasilla (it’s pricey but nice). Before booking, phone Parknasilla to ask for discount.
Day 3 (69km or less if we don’t lap around Muckross lake)
- The least cycling, since we need to be back in Killarney to return bikes by 6pm.
- Kenmare (lots of pubs)
- Scenic inland ride via Moll’s gap. This is where we’re glad we did it anti-clockwise, so we’re facing north, looking at the lakes of Killarney as we ride.
- Time-permitting, step off bike to walk up to Torc waterfall.
- Cycle by the biggest lakes of Killarney. See Muckross House (big, old, but not exciting).
- Maybe check out Ross Castle if we’ve time to kill (not likely)
- Head on back to Killarney town. Return rental bikes.
Recommended reading
Recommended reading
Cycling on Valentia island
Cycling on Valentia island
A humorous guide to route and attitude:
www.valentiaisland.ie/explore-valentia/get-active/cycling/
Skellig islands
Skellig islands
Depending on visibility, we should be able to spy the Skellig Islands (scenery featured in some recent Star Wars movie, it was a great day for the parish, there was fierce excitement around the town at the time).
It's all fully visible from the mainland, anyway, via Google Maps.
Gap of Dunloe
Gap of Dunloe
Fun fact: Day 1, when we're in the Gap of Dunloe, we’ll be near the highest point in Ireland. That would be a hike for another day, not a cycle.
Rent bicycles
Rent bicycles
We rented ours here for €15 per day:
Killarney Rent A Bike (3 locations in Killarney)
Tel: +353 (0)64 6631282
I assume many alternative options exist. Whoever you go with, check if they provide pannier bags and locks.
Other places in County Kerry and beyond
Other places in County Kerry and beyond
There are many more places to visit besides the Ring of Kerry! Swim with a dolphin called Fungie in Dingle (great town), or check out the nightlife in Tralee. Then tour on up through other counties: dance in Ennis, enjoy traditional ("trad") music and craic in Doolin, or stay in the friendliest city in the world, Galway City. Go on up and explore north Mayo's coast, en route to Donegal. There are way too many gems on Ireland's west coast to mention in this site, so I'll leave this page to focus on cycling the Ring of Kerry and advise you check out sites like discoverireland.ie if you've a car and are planning more touring up the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way.
About this website
About this website
This is a write-up of the trip I took with three friends in 2017. I took a moment to plan our route, so decided to share it here.
Again, if you're looking for info on the annual one-day group cycle which raises money for charity, please go here instead: http://www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/ (That route is a simplified lap of the peninsula, easily doable in one day.)
Questions / comments / tips? Find me on Twitter @MbyM
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