County Kerrypop 145,000 / area 4746 sq km

Why Go?County Kerry contains some of Ireland’s most iconic scen-ery: impossibly crenulated coastlines, endless green fields criss-crossed by tumbledown stone walls, and mist-shroud-ed mountain peaks and bogs.

With one of the country’s finest national parks as its backyard, the lively tourism hub of Killarney spills over with colourful shops, restaurants and pubs with spirited trad sessions. Killarney is the jumping-off point for Kerry’s two famed loop drives. The larger Ring of Kerry skirts the Iveragh Peninsula, fringed by islands scattered offshore. The compact Dingle Peninsula is like a condensed version of its southern neighbour, with ancient sites, sandy beaches and glimpses of a hard, unforgiving land.

Kerry’s exquisite beauty makes it one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations. But if you need to escape from the crowds, there’s always a mountain pass, an isolated cove or an untrodden trail to discover.

When to Go?Scads of festivals take place throughout the county during the warmer months, particularly June to August (when you’ll need to book accommodation well ahead). These are some of the highlights on Kerry’s annual calendar are:¨¨ Listowel’s Writers’ Week is in June . ¨¨Dingle town has races and a regatta in August.¨¨Killorglin’s Puck Festival, which dates back at least as

far as the 17th century is also held in August. Even in the depths of winter, you’ll find storytellers

and musicians taking part in impromptu sessions in pubs throughout the county.

Best Places to Eat¨¨ Jacks Coastguard

restaurant (p282)

¨¨ smuggler’s Inn (p286)

¨¨ out of the Blue (p298)

¨¨ spillane’s (p303)

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Gormans Clifftop House

(p302)

¨¨ aghadoe Heights Hotel (p276)

¨¨ Teach de Broc (p309)

¨¨ parknasilla resort & spa (p287)

Killarney..................... 265Killarney.National..Park............................ 270Ring.of.Kerry.............. 277Skellig.Islands............284Kenmare.....................288Dingle.Peninsula........290Dingle.Town................ 292West.of.Dingle............299Northern.Kerry...........303Tralee..........................304Listowel...................... 307

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CLARE

KERRY

CORK

LIMERICK

DurseyIsland

ValentiaIsland

Bere Island

Inishvickillane

ScariffIsland

MullaghareirkMountains

DerrynasaggartMountains

KerryHead

BannaStrandBrandon

PointRoughPoint

InchPoint

MahareesIslands

IveraghPeninsula

SybilPoint

AnnaghBog

Slieve MishMountains

BearaPeninsula

DunmanusBay

TraleeBay

River K

enmare

KellsBay

DingleBay

BantryBay

BallyheigueBay

CoulaghBay

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

CashenBay

SaintFinan'sBay

BrandonBay

RossbeighStrand

Mouth of theShannon

Ring of Kerry

DinglePeninsula

DerianaLough

LoughCurrane

LoughLeane

LoughCaragh

KillarneyNationalPark

River Feale

RiverBlackw

ater

River

In

ny

HealyPass

ConnorPass

BallghbeamaGap

BallaghisheenPass

Been Hill(668m)Knocknadobar

(688m)

Mt Eagle(514m)

MtBrandon(951)

Coomacarrea(772m)

Mt Carrantuohil(1040m)

SugarloafMountain(574m)

Castlecove

Sneem

Ballyferriter

Listowel

Caherdaniel

Ballylickey

Castleisland

Ballyduff

Ardfert

Brandon

Lauragh

Banna

Inch

Farranfore

Rathmore

Lispole

Parknasilla

Fenit

Ballylongford

Castlemaine

Portmagee

Glenbeigh

Knightstown

Killorglin

BallydavidBallydesmond

Ballyheigue

Tarbert

Kells

Camp

LougherClogher

Ardgroom

BrandonCreek Blennerville

Derrynane

Annascaul

Dunquin

CloghaneKilcummin

Caherciveen

Castlegregory

Abbeyfeale

Ventry

Ballinskelligs Tahilla

Ballybunion

Glengarriff

Tralee

Kenmare

Bantry

Killarney

Spa

Cromane

Glencar

KerryAirport

Crag Cave

4¼N69

4¼N69

4¼N21

4¼N234¼N224¼N70

4¼N22

4¼N72

4¼N22

4¼N70

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#7

SkelligIslands

#7BlasketIslands #6

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Gap ofDunloe

#4

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DingleTown

#5Waterville

0 20 km0 10 miles#e

1.Row.from.Ross.Castle.across.the.Lower.Lake.to.historic.Inisfallen.Island.in.Killarney National Park.(p271)

2.Cycle.through.the.dramatic.Gap of Dunloe (p275)3.Scuba-dive.the.crystal-clear.waters.around.Castlegregory.(p303.)

4.Tour.the.Dingle.Brewing.Company.and.sample.a.pint.before.savouring.seafood.straight.off.the.boats.in.charming.Dingle Town (p292)5.Tee.off.at.the.spectacularly.sited.Waterville Golf Links.(p286),.framed.by.the.ocean.on.the.Ring.of.Kerry

6.Clip-clop.around.Killarney.(p265).in.a.horse-drawn.jaunting.car.

7.Island-hop.around.the.rocky.Skelligs.(p284).and.evacuated.Blaskets.(p3008.Cruise.through.fresh.and.saltwater.habitats.on.a.safari.at.the.Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre.(p304).

County Kerry Highlights