Driving along the Ring of Kerry is a very touristy thing to do, but it is beautiful and we had perfect weather. We started out after breakfast and gave ourselves a whole day to complete the drive. We stopped everywhere that took our fancy and by the time we got back to the hotel, it was dark. Although it was summer and there were potentially many tourists, because we were so slow and stopped often, we dodged them all and basically had the road and sights to ourselves.
We started in Killarney, took the ferry to Valentia Island to see the lighthouse which consists of a fort built in the 17th century, the lighthouse tower erected in 1837 and the lightkeeper’s dwelling lodge built in 1910. From there we traveled south to the impressive Kerry Cliffs, where it was incredibly windy. After dinner with a view in Whitestrand, we spontaneously decided to drive up to Staigue Fort. We didn’t know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised. The ring fort was built from sandstone without mortar during the late Iron Age. The size is impressive: the walls are up to 5.5 m (18 ft) high, 4 m (13 ft) thick and 27.4 m (90 ft) in diameter. By then there was nary a tourist to be seen as we drove from Kenmare past Molls Gap and back to Kllarney. As we came closer to Muckross Lake, we came across deer at the side of the road eating in the dusk.
We spent several days on Muckross Lake. The first day, we dodged the raindrops are we walked around the lake after visiting Muckross House. Before we left, we visited Muckross Abbey. There is plenty to see and do in the area and we would have gladly stayed longer.
Of course there was no shortage of delicious food.
What a wild landscape with green pastures and steep rocky cliffs under a dark gray sky. And the interiors of the great houses are so warm and welcoming. Great photos!
What a wonderful travelogue! Your photos are great, as always, but it was delightful to be able to follow along with you.