You’ve seen the photos. Those jagged emerald cliffs, the winding gray ribbons of road, and maybe a stray sheep or ten blocking the path. Everyone says you have to do the Ring of Kerry. But honestly? Most people do it wrong. They treat it like a checklist, racing from one "must-see" point to the next, stuck behind a 50-seater tour bus, and ending the day with a stiff neck and a blurry camera roll.
If you’re looking at a ring of kerry map attractions list, you’re probably seeing the same dozen spots: Torc Waterfall, Muckross House, maybe a mention of Ladies View. Those are great, don't get me wrong. But the real magic of the Iveragh Peninsula is found when you ditch the "main loop" mindset and actually look at the terrain.
The Clockwise vs. Counter-Clockwise Debate
Here is the thing. If you ask a local, they’ll tell you the tour buses all go counter-clockwise (Killarney to Killorglin). They have to—the roads are so narrow that two buses passing each other is basically a game of high-stakes Tetris.
If you want to avoid being part of a diesel-fume parade, go clockwise. Start in Killarney and head toward Kenmare first. You’ll be driving against the grain of the big coaches. Yes, you might have to squeeze past one on a tight bend, but you won't be staring at its rear bumper for four hours.
Why the Skellig Ring Is Actually the Best Part
Look at any standard map. Most of them show the N70 highway. But there’s a little detour called the Skellig Ring (the R567 and R568) that most big buses literally cannot physically fit on. This is where the "real" Kerry hides.
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- Kerry Cliffs: People rave about the Cliffs of Moher, but the Kerry Cliffs at Portmagee are arguably more dramatic because they feel more raw. They tower 300 meters over the Atlantic. There’s a small entrance fee (usually around €5), but the view of the Skellig Islands from here is unbeatable.
- Valentia Island: You can drive across a bridge at Portmagee to get here. It's home to the Tetrapod Trackway, which basically looks like a few indentations in the rock but is actually a 385-million-year-old fossilized footprints from one of the first creatures to walk on land. It’s wild to stand there and realize how old the world is.
- Skelligs Chocolate: Just a bit further down the road is an open-plan chocolate factory. They give out free samples. Seriously.
The Fortress Most People Drive Right Past
About 15 minutes past Sneem, there’s a turn-off for Staigue Fort. Most tourists miss the sign because they’re too focused on getting to the next "town."
Staigue is a massive dry-stone ringfort from the Iron Age, built between 300 and 400 AD. The crazy part? No mortar. Just stacked stones that have stood there for nearly two millennia. It’s 5.5 meters high and about 4 meters thick at the base. You can actually climb the internal stone stairways to the top of the wall. Standing up there, looking down the valley toward the sea, you get this weird, quiet sense of history that you just don't get at the crowded gift shops in Killarney.
Derrynane: The Soul of the Kingdom
If you only make one long stop, make it Derrynane National Historic Park. This was the home of Daniel O’Connell, "The Liberator." The house is cool if you're into 19th-century politics, but the beach is the real star.
Derrynane Beach has white sand and turquoise water that looks like it belongs in the Caribbean, except the air is about 20 degrees cooler. There’s a small, ruined abbey on Abbey Island which you can walk to at low tide. Just keep an eye on the water—getting stranded on a tiny island with a 10th-century ruin is a great story until you're actually doing it in the rain.
Scarriff and Deenish: The Forgotten Viewpoints
As you climb the road out of Caherdaniel toward the Coomakista Pass, pull over. Most maps mark the "Coomakista Viewpoint." It’s high up—about 215 meters above sea level. From here, you’re looking at Scarriff and Deenish Islands. They look like prehistoric beasts floating in the water.
A lot of people just snap a photo and leave. But if you sit there for ten minutes, you’ll see the light change. The Atlantic moves from navy blue to a bright, glassy teal. It’s the kind of view that makes you forget about your phone for a second.
The Final Stretch: Cahersiveen and Beyond
As you head back toward the "finish line," stop in Cahersiveen. Check out the Old Barracks—it looks like a Bavarian castle but was actually a police station built by the British. Local legend says the plans were swapped with a station in India, which is why it looks so out of place in rural Ireland.
Just outside the town are two more stone forts: Cahergal and Leacanabuaile. They’re less "restored" than Staigue, which makes them feel even more ancient. You’ll often find yourself completely alone there, just you and a few very confused-looking sheep.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning this trip for 2026, here is the move:
- Download an offline map: Cell service is basically a myth in the mountains between Kenmare and Waterville.
- Pack for four seasons: You will experience sun, rain, wind, and mist, often within the same 20-minute span.
- Start early: If you leave Killarney by 8:00 AM, you’ll beat the first wave of tour buses to the Gap of Dunloe or Torc Waterfall.
- The Skellig Michael Caveat: If you want to actually land on Skellig Michael (the Star Wars island), you need to book your boat months in advance. They only allow a few hundred people a day, and the boats won't sail if the water is even slightly choppy.
- Eat in the villages: Avoid the big "tourist lunch" spots. Grab a sandwich or some seafood in Portmagee or Sneem. The quality is better and you’re actually supporting the local economy rather than a massive catering operation.
The Ring of Kerry isn't a race. It’s a 179-kilometer loop that should probably take you two days if you’re doing it right. Slow down, take the side roads, and don't be afraid to get a little bit lost.