Self-Guided Tours - Kingdom of Kerry (7 nights)

The yardstick against which all other beauty spots in Ireland are popularly measured is Killarney in the county of Kerry. Nestling on the shores of Lake Leane, the town boasts McGillycuddy Reeks (Mountains) as a spectacular backdrop. The surrounding area is a charmed landscape of lakes and wooded vales, rolling hills and rich green pastures.

To the west of Killarney, the Iveragh Peninsula is a region of rugged mountains and wave-lashed coves. Fine scenic roads, including the famed Ring of Kerry, trace the tortuous fingers of the coastline that jut out into the Atlantic Ocean. This is some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in Ireland. The region is also rightly renowned for its archaeological treasures and for the hospitality of its native population.

To the south of the Iveragh Peninsula is Beara – another wonderfully rugged and beautiful peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic. The Caha Mountains run down the spine of Beara, which is bounded by Bantry Bay to the south.

For the cyclist, the one downside of the region comes in the form of tourist traffic. For those who prefer to do all their riding on quiet byways, the Ring of Kerry may prove a bit daunting in stretches. With this in mind, we have designed a tour that avoids the traffic as far as is possible.

The tour will appeal to those who have done some bicycle touring before, who enjoy the challenge of some challenging hill climbing and are also confident riding in traffic as this cannot be avoided along stretches of the Ring of Kerry route.

Region and Routes

The tour starts and finishes in Killarney, a bustling centre with lots of tourist amenities that is easily reached by bus or train from Dublin or Shannon. Killarney is one of Ireland’s favourite holiday destinations and it can be crowded with tourists in the high season months of July and August. It is best to plan your tour in May, June or September if at all possible.

Leaving Killarney you climb steadily to the famous Gap of Dunloe (route 1) with its imposing cliffs and rock formations, waterfalls and deep mountain lakes. On the ascent you share the road with horse-drawn jaunting cars carrying the less energetic up to appreciate the views from the Gap. From here you pedal through quiet valleys to Molls Gap, before descending to the colourful heritage town of Kenmare. Three ranges of mountains radiate from the town snug location at the pint where the River Roughty enters the ocean. Kenmare is your base for the next two nights.

Dominated by the hulking presence of Hungry Hill (made famous by the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier), the rugged Beara Peninsula (route 2) provides wonderful cycling through spectacular landscapes. From Kenmare the route takes you south along the Sheen Valley before climbing over a 300m ridge and descending, with the Caha Mountains to the right into a densely wooded valley that leads to Glengariff. Turning west, you follow the north shore of Bantry Bay to Adrigole, before climbing to Healy Pass (287m). From here there are wonderful views over lakes and rugged hills, to Kenmare Bay and the mountains of the Iveragh Peninsula in the distance. Descending from the pass, you follow scenic coast-hugging roads back to Kenmare

The southern shore of the Ring of Kerry (route 3) has some of the best coastal scenery along the famous loop. Leaving Kenmare you follow the north shore of the Kenmare River to Lackeen Point where you turn inland to avoid a narrow, trafficked section of the Ring of Kerry. The route picks up the Ring again at the village of Sneem, a welcome refreshment opportunity. The scenery gets more and more dramatic as you round successive headlands on the way to Waterville. This small picturesque resort is situated on the wide front of Ballinskelligs Bay and is surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes. The area around Waterville is packed with interest for the archaeologist, antiquarian, artist and botanist

The Skellig Ring loop (route 4) takes you to Ballinskelligs with its Gaelic speaking population and on to Valencia Island (via Valentia Bridge). Features of the island include tropical vegetation, a huge natural Grotto, a Knights Memorial and unbridled tranquillity.

An alternative for those who prefer a day out of the saddle is the highly recommended boat trip to the Skellig Rocks, 7 miles off the Kerry coast. On Skellig Michael there are beehive dwellings of an early Christian monastery, while Little Skellig is an important sanctuary for sea birds, particularly for gannets and the rather comical puffins.

Leaving Waterville (route 5), we ride inland away from the Ring of Kerry. The interior of the Iveragh Peninsula is peacefully quiet, with scenery dominated by mountains, rivers, farmland, and bogs. A climb to Ballaghisheen Pass offers wonderful views into the valleys beyond. Descending from here, the road skirts the shores of Carragh Lake before meeting the coast again at Glenbeigh. This small fishing resort boasts a 4 mile stretch of golden sands with views across the bay to the Dingle mountains.

From Glenbeigh, the final route (route 6) leads back to Killarney via the foothills of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. A shorter, more direct route leaves plenty of time to explore the Killarney National Park, Muckross House and Ross Castle. For the ambitious riders, a longer, challenging option takes you via Ballaghbeama Gap and Moll’s Gap before heading back through the Gap of Dunloe with an exhilarating final descent to Killarney.

The details:

• Duration: 7 nights
  
• Suggested start dates: Any day from mid-April to Mid-October. The region can be busy during July & August, and we recommend that you bear this in mind when choosing start dates.
  
• Bike rental: Available
  
• Luggage transfers: Available
  
• Airport transfers: Available
  
• Trailhead town: Killarney, Co Kerry
  
• Destination town: Killarney, Co Kerry

Included in basic tour:

• 7 nights accommodation (with breakfast)
  
  
• Detailed itinerary including:
  
  
  • route maps, cue sheets and written directions
    
  • directions to and contact details for accommodations
    
  • information about en route attractions and interest sites
    
  • details of en-route services including suggested refreshment stops
    
  • information about trailhead town, staging towns and destination town
    
  • suggestions for evening meals and for evening entertainment
    
  • telephone helpline
    
    
    
• Trip preparation information about
  
  
  • what to bring (including recommended clothing list)
    
  • getting to and from the tour from arrival & departure points
    
  • money
    
  • climate and weather
    
  • shopping
    
  • eating and drinking
    
  • tipping …………etc.

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