Ring of Kerry Road

Hours: Route open 24/7

Admission: Free (scenic route)

The Ring of Kerry is a coastal tourist route that circles the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, southwest Ireland. The route is renowned for its scenic coastal and mountain landscapes and is one of Ireland’s best-known driving circuits.

Travellers follow a roughly 179-kilometre loop that links towns such as Killarney, Kenmare and Cahersiveen, and offers repeated viewpoints over Atlantic bays, peninsulas and mountain ranges. Key attractions include access to Killarney National Park, coastal headlands, and viewpoints that open onto the Atlantic and nearby offshore islands; boat trips and walking trails are available from several points along the route.

Many stops on the loop provide short walks to panoramas, historic houses and local pubs; the western and southern stretches are particularly noted for dramatic coastline and island views when weather permits. The route is popular both as a self-drive circuit and as part of guided tours and is commonly completed in one long day or over several days to allow for hiking and sightseeing.

The Ring of Kerry developed as a tourist route in the 20th century as motoring and organized tours popularised coastal touring of southwest Ireland; the towns and landscape itself have much older historical and cultural associations. Traditional rural communities, archaeological sites and historic estates along the route reflect a long regional history.

Running around the Iveragh Peninsula on Ireland’s southwest coast, the Ring of Kerry lies in County Kerry with Killarney serving as a principal access town; the loop occupies a mix of coastal and upland terrain with direct Atlantic frontage.

• Length and typical visit: The full coastal circuit is about 179 kilometres (approximately 111 miles) and is commonly driven as a day-long loop with multiple short stops for viewpoints and walks.
• Weather and visibility: Weather can change rapidly; low sun and cloud on coastal stretches can create dramatic light for photography but can also reduce visibility of offshore features.

What to See#

• Killarney / Muckross: Killarney and Killarney National Park are the most common entry points for the loop, offering access to lakes, trails and historic houses such as Muckross House.
• Kenmare and Cahersiveen: Kenmare and Cahersiveen provide services, accommodation and access to different sections of the loop; both towns are traditional stopping points on the route.
• Skellig Ring / western viewpoints: The western section includes Skellig Ring viewpoints and coastal headlands that afford sea views and, weather permitting, distant views toward offshore islands.

The Ring of Kerry is driven along the N70 and other national/secondary roads around the Iveragh Peninsula (County Kerry). The circular route is commonly started from gateway towns such as Killarney or Kenmare; the roads are largely the N70 for much of the loop.

Expect a full‑day drive for the loop - the complete circuit is commonly quoted at roughly 170-180 km - and access from major Irish cities is by car on national motorways (e.g., from Cork or from Dublin via the national road network and regional connectors to Killarney).

• Start the Ring of Kerry drive early in the morning or visit late in the day to avoid the peak coach‑tour times at popular pullouts like Ladies View and Molls Gap - early starts also give better light for photos.
• Use designated lay‑bys for stopping and let faster vehicles pass rather than stopping unpredictably on narrow stretches; consider breaking the route into short hikes off the main drive to escape the busiest viewpoints.