The Ring of Kerry is a beautiful and well-known attraction among tourists visiting Ireland. If you have a rental car and are trying to figure out where to stop on a one-day loop around the Ring of Kerry, look no further. Our fast-paced timeline is listed below.
Total duration: 10 hours
10:00 AM: Bike in Killarney National Park
To start our day, we rented bikes from Killarney Bike Rental, a shop very close to Killarney National Park. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining that morning, so we were able to bike around Muckross Lake and check out Muckross House. We maintained a good pace with limited stops. Muckross offers tours, and the area is rich in nature, allowing for extended exploration. Knowing our limited time, we enjoyed as much as possible but kept moving to start the journey.
12:00 PM: Stop at Ladies View
We made a quick stop at Ladies View since it was on our way. Highly recommended in all our research, unfortunately, the weather wasn’t the best at this hour. Nevertheless, it’s worth a stop for its great overlook directly along the drive.
1:00 PM: Lunch in Kenmare and Shopping
Kenmare is a charming seaside town with colorful shops lining the streets. We spent time eating lunch at Davitts Restaurant, did some quick shopping, and stopped at a café before hitting the road again.
3:30 PM: Swim at Derrynane Beach
As a family that loves water, we always look for swimming spots. Derrynane was a lovely beach spot worth checking out. Despite being overcast and cool, we took the plunge into the Irish Sea, which was refreshing and a great break from the drive.
4:00-5:00 PM: Scenic Drive
The section after Derrynane was breathtaking, with stunning water, nature, and rolling hills that had us in awe. We made a couple of stops at overlooks to soak in the views.
5:00 PM: Kerry Cliffs
Before anything else, let me say this – DO IT. Kerry Cliffs are a must-see in Ireland.
We heard mixed reviews on the Skellig Ring. The day was already flying by, so we skipped the full Skellig Ring and drove directly to the Kerry Cliffs via the R565.
This stop is WELL worth it, more breathtaking and less touristy than the Cliffs of Moher. I wish we had stayed overnight in the area just to enjoy the view for a day. Like anywhere in Ireland, I’m sure it would be a different experience with cold weather and rain, but we lucked out with the weather.
Update: we made a second trip to this area. See this post for more information on our thoughts on the Skellig Ring.
Note: Confirm hours when planning your trip, as they vary by season and day. During our last visit, we were surprised they closed at 5:30 PM.
6:00 PM: Coomanaspic Pass
Since we skipped the Skellig Ring, we backtracked slightly to drive up the hill to the Coomanaspic Pass, a quick detour with a great view from higher elevation.
6:00-7:30 PM: Scenic Drive
Continuing our trek on the Ring of Kerry, this drive had charming towns we would have loved to stop at, although we didn’t have the time. They were still enjoyable to drive through, along with the coastal portions offering views of Dingle across the water. See this post for more information on our must-sees in Dingle.
7:30 PM: Gap of Dunloe
Our last stop was the Gap of Dunloe, with options for transportation: driving on the single-lane road, walking, or paying for a Jaunting Car Ride. Driving is typically recommended early or late in the day due to high traffic. Nearing sunset, we drove up to the Wishing Bridge without issues, a relaxing end to the day.
8:30 PM: Dinner in Killarney
To conclude our successful trip around the Ring of Kerry, we dined in downtown Killarney.
The Ring of Kerry can definitely be done in a day, however if you have extra time it would be even better. If you don’t have extra time, a quick trip is a great way to find the areas you love for your next visit (like we did)!