Killarney Trip Overview
Make the most of your time in County Kerry with this Super Saver which combines two top day trips to Dingle and Slea Head, and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney Lakes and National Park. Visit The Dingle Peninsula, what National Geographic described as “the most beautiful place on earth”, bounded on three sides by the sea. Next day, experience Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, which skirts the edge of the Iveragh Peninsula, passing along the way a panorama of rugged coastline, mountains and lakes.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 hours
Starts: Killarney, Ireland
Trip Category: Tours & Sightseeing >> Bus & Minivan Tours
Explore Killarney Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Make the most of your time in County Kerry with this Super Saver which combines two top day trips to Dingle and Slea Head, and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney Lakes and National Park. Visit The Dingle Peninsula, what National Geographic described as “the most beautiful place on earth”, bounded on three sides by the sea. Next day, experience Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, which skirts the edge of the Iveragh Peninsula, passing along the way a panorama of rugged coastline, mountains and lakes.
Day 1:
The Dingle Peninsula is the most westerly point of land in Europe. Its offshore Blasket Islands are known as “the last parish before America”. The tour will pass through small towns like Milltown and Castlemaine before reaching our first stop at Inch Beach. This 3-mile long strand has provided shooting locations for several Hollywood films such as Ryan’s Daughter.
Travel onward to Dingle, a small harbour town with a population of about 1,900. Continuing the tour to the Slea Head Drive, you’ll enjoy a scenic circle loop of 26 miles (41 km). During this loop, you will travel through Ventry, Dunquin and Ballyferriter. It is here on this west side of Dingle that the Irish language (Gaelic) is the first language and is spoken in a native way. As you round the head of the peninsula there are magnificent views of the Blasket Islands. This is the edge of Europe and history is everywhere – Iron Age forts, beehive huts, early-Christian churches, 19th-century cottages and picturesque stone houses set against a patchwork of fields.
Day 2:
The first town that is passed is Killorglin, home of the famous Puck Fair, in which local residents capture a wild goat and enthrone him in the town centre. Continuing on, the first stop will be at The Bog Village. This little cluster of thatched-roof cottages demonstrate what life was like in the early 1800s. The museum village (extra charge) has a blacksmith’s forge and house, turf cutter’s house, laborer’s cottage, thatcher’s dwelling and tradesman’s house. There is also an old Irish pub where a morning coffee and scones may be enjoyed. After this stop you continue through the village of Glenbeigh with a sight of Rossbeigh Beach and a wonderful view of the hilly backs of the Iveragh.
Continue onward to Waterville, passing through Caherviveen, birthplace of Daniel O’Connell, one of the most important political figures in 19th century Ireland. You arrive in Waterville, which for years, was a favorite retreat of Charlie Chaplin. The tour continues through Derrynane, the former seat of the O’Connell clan and home to Daniel O’Connell.
The next village is Sneem, another pretty but untypical village laid out English-style around a village green beneath a semi-circle of low mountains. Here you will see lush, subtropical growth, evidence of the benign effect of The Gulf Stream. Leaving Sneem, we travel through very rugged landscape and arrive at Molls Gap, which has sweeping views of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrantuohill, standing at 3,414 ft.
Continuing from Molls Gap to Killarney, you will experience views over the broad valley of the Killarney Lakes. Queen Victoria and her ladies-in-waiting were so enthralled by this view that it was named in their honor: “Ladies View”. Heading onward to Killarney, the coach will pass through Killarney National Park and return at approximately 5pm.
