Excursions

Kingdom of Kerry

In this beautiful county – known as ‘the Kingdom of Kerry’, – sandy bays alternate with cliffs & rocky headlands jutting into the wild Atlantic, while inland there are serene lakes, glens & river valleys carved during the ice-age. The scenery is constantly changing as cloud shadows move with the wind across the dramatic landscape. The colours are amazing! Patchworks of green/brown bog-lands dotted with purple heather and dancing white bog cotton, roads flanked with fuschia-clad hedgerows…then in winter deep purple mountains blend into rust/copper & even more dramatic skies & seas.

South Kerry is not only beautiful, but steeped in history. In fact, there are so many places to visit within one hour of Westcove that our visitors are ‘spoiled for choice!’ I have recently updated the list of the excursions I would strongly recommend to our visitors. As there are now so many links on-line for every attraction, I have tried to select the most informative ones to save you valuable time when planning your outings! The following suggested day trips are mostly on – or easily approachable from -The Ring of Kerry itself, but if you are determined to drive the full circular route in one day, do consider one of our super tour guides especially if you are with a large group.

Excursions

The excursions below are our favourite local day trips; there is a sketch map to accompany each one. Click here for a larger scale sketch map of the area around Westcove.

Local area

We are lucky to have two of the most popular Kerry visitor attractions ‘right on our doorstep’….Derrynane House and Gardens – the country retreat of Daniel O’Connell known as ‘The Liberator’, – and Staigue Fort, the largest and one of the most well preserved pre-Christian ring forts in Ireland. Also some of the best beaches in Kerry! Sketch map

The Skellig Ring and Valentia Island

Many many possibilities on this fascinating route, but my ‘links’ will help you plan your day! Sketch map

Kells Bay Gardens

Kells Bay Gardens, about fifteen minutes drive beyond Cahersiveen, is a fascinating excursion in a fabulous location. Well worth a visit, but allow at least half a day! Sketch map

The Beara Peninsula

Drive East to Kenmare – Wednesday is ‘market day’ – then head south to Glengarriff and Bantry Bay via spectacular mountain passes! Sketch map

Killarney

Head East to Sneem, then inland towards Killarney. This is the most scenic section of the Ring of Kerry, with panoramic views over the highest mountains in Ireland and the beautiful Lakes of Killarney . I have selected the best links to the visitor attractions on that route, and also added a paragraph about Dingle. Sketch map

The Local Area

Caherdaniel: About 5k West towards Waterville. Just before Caherdaniel, there is a sharp left turn follow this road and you eventually get to a pretty little natural harbour. You can park there and walk up the hills or out to an unspoilt rocky shoreline – especially dramatic in heavy storms! When walking over any local hills, always watch out for slippery rocks and unexpected boggy patches. and please keep dogs on leads if there are sheep about.
In Caherdaniel itself – go to The Blind Piper – a young atmosphere and serving excellent food from 12.30 – last orders about 8pm. Don’t miss their live music sessions at about 9pm on Thursday evenings throughout the year! In summer, there’s a very lively market in the village hall between 10 and 12 on Friday mornings – well worth a visit – lots of local produce, arts and crafts.

Castlecove: 1.5k East towards Sneem. The largest and one of the best preserved examples of a pre-Christian ring fort in Ireland, Staigue Fort is less than 15 minutes drive away. Turn right towards Castlecove, and it is signed to the left, just before the village. Well worth a visit, especially on a clear day, when the views out over the Atlantic are breathtaking. On your way back you will see the Staigue Fort Hotel on your right just before joining the main road. There you will find a small ‘Visitor Centre’ which makes a thought provoking attempt to explain the origin of this magnificently built stone circle. More importantly, this is an ideal venue for Sports Fans as they have Sky T.V. in their very welcoming Pub area. Sheila Galvin, the proprietor will probably make you sandwiches and although West Cove is only a mile away, will arrange transport back for you – (if necessary?!)

Sneem: 14.5k East of Westcove – 15-20 minutes drive away – is an exceptionally colourful village with a very pretty river running through it and fun pubs. It has a small supermarket, an excellent butcher, a friendly and helpful chemist, a florist with a selection of Skellig chocolates. The only ‘minus’ being being that it is also a very popular stop for the numerous Ring of Kerry tour buses, especially round mid-day in the summer!

Sketch map of Local Area

The Skellig Ring /Valentia Island: Go through Waterville, and when you see the Butler Arms Hotel, take the left fork towards Cahersiveen. This takes you past The Waterville Craft Market on your right with an exceptionally good selection of woollen goods, pottery, interesting books and lots more. Shortly after crossing the bridge over the River Inny, turn left signed Ballinskelligs. Just before the village, look out for a round stone building on your left with a thatched roof. This is The Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, where you can browse through a fascinating collection of paintings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, bog wood carvings – mostly the work of Irish artists but also featuring international painters and sculptors, many of whom have stayed at the inspiring Cill Rialaig Artists Retreat.
In the village of Ballinskelligs, take a right turn signed ‘Skellig Ring’ and follow this very scenic route towards Port Magee. Six miles on, look out for the Skellig Chocolate Factory on your right, an essential stop for chocoholics! You can watch their truffles and other irresistible chocolates being made (and taste before you buy!) Although closed in January they are open the rest of the year from 10-5 on weekdays and also at weekends in July and August from 12-5.
The road then winds its way up to the top of a hill, with magnificent views over The Skelligs, Valentia Island and beyond, before descending to Port Magee with its colourful array of fishing boats lined up along the quay. Why not stop here for great ‘pub grub’ at The Bridge Bar or a more formal meal at The Moorings restaurant next door ?
A visit to The Skellig Experience is an absolute must ! This is an excellent visitor’s centre – on the left just over the bridge linking Port Magee to Valentia Island. Watching their 25 minute video, shown regularly throughout the day, is the next best thing to actually landing on Skellig Michael itself and climbing the 700 steps to the monastic settlement (the location for the final scene of the latest Star Wars). They also offer a wonderful 2 hour cruise around both islands (again, weather dependant).
At this point, you have 3 options!.
Option 1: If you’ve had enough for one day, the fastest route back to Westcove – about a 40-45 minute drive – is to go back over the bridge, turn left and follow signs to Waterville.
Option 2: A slightly longer but good alternative to the above, even if you don’t have the time/energy to explore Valentia to the full, is to turn left out of the Skellig Experience and follow signs to Knightstown, where you can take the little car ferry to the mainland – a 10 minute trip which runs continuously between May and September . As you land, you will see The Point Seafood Bar (and pub!) where you will be assured of a very warm welcome from Bridie and the rest of the O’Neill family, and be offered the freshest ever selection of simple seafood dishes, open for lunch April – September. On the left, as you make your way back to the Ring of Kerry road, is the KerryFish ‘factory’, well known for its multi-award winning Wild Smoked Salmon, but you can also choose from their large selection of freshly caught fish and crustaceans straight off their own local trawlers.
Option 3: Energy, time – and weather – permitting, you could spend another 2-4 hours exploring Valentia Island itself. I suggest you visit valentiaisland.ie and click on their ‘visitor attraction’ link… depending on your interests, the following are the ones I would recommend – Geokaun Mountain: Walk or drive to the summit of Geokaun Mountain on the north east of the Island, which on a clear day affords spectacular 360 degree views over the surrounding mountains and the Atlantic as far as the eye can see. There is a picnic area and 50 info plaques on the mythology, history, fauna and geography of the region. Valentia Slate Quarry: Well worth visiting, not only to catch a glimpse of the skilled work taking place in the huge grotto – they have provided slate from the early 19th century for many great European buildings including the Houses of Parliament – but to admire the stunning views from its location on the coast, 2 miles from Knightstown. Glanleam Subtropical Gardens -also signed from Knightstown, is a wild garden with walks through exotic specimen trees and hydrangeas, opening out to vistas of the Lighthouse and the dramatic rocky shoreline of the Atlantic. The Valentia Heritage Museum, in Knightstown itself exhibits include the fascinating account of how the very first transatlantic cable station was laid in the mid 19th century between Newfoundland in Canada and Valentia Island- the westernmost point of Europe! Tetrapod Track: This Trackway, as the name suggests, comprises the fossilised footprints of a 380 million year old tetrapod – here is the best, most thought provoking link I can find on this fascinating subject!

Sketch map of the Skellig Ring and Valentia Island

Kells Bay Gardens: Kells Bay Gardens, known locally as ‘The Jewel on the Ring’, cover 17 hectares (42 acres) of spectacular topography with magnificent vistas over Dingle Bay and contain arguably the finest collection of Tree Ferns and other exotic ‘southern hemisphere’ plants in Europe. There are over 3km of walking routes taking you past Ireland’s longest rope bridge, waterfalls and fascinating ‘dinosaurs’ and other wood sculptures carved out of fallen tree trunks – something for all ages and interests!
Since 2016 the gardens have been owned by a world-renowned Irish dendrologist Billy Alexander under whose expert eye the gardens are constantly evolving . The Delligeenagh Cafe – open throughout the year – offers a good variety of food, from light snacks to interesting Thai dishes. The more formal and highly praised Sala Thai restaurant, run by the owner’s wife, is open for lunch and dinner during the summer months.
From Caherciveen follow the N70 – ‘Ring of Kerry’ road – towards Killorglin. Ignore the 1st sign to Kells, (a long narrow road with no passing places), and 3 miles on – about 15 minutes drive from Cahersiveen – turn left opposite Kells Post Office on the L7520 road signed ‘Kells’. Shortly after you will find the magical Kells Bay Gardens , which are open all the year round. For further information. please visit their excellent comprehensive website!

Sketch map showing Kells Bay Gardens

The Beara Peninsula/Bantry BayAlthough you need to set off early and do quite a lot of driving, the following day trip has always been really popular with our guests – especially those who appreciate beautiful scenery and gardens.
Drive to Kenmare (about 45 minutes from Westcove). This town has so much to offer – especially on a Wednesday when it boasts a lively street market. You could spend a whole day there, lunching at The Purple Heather and browsing the excellent selection of shops , but if you’ve set out to visit the Beara Peninsula, don’t linger as you’ll run out of time! At the top of the wide one-way street turn right, and then left at the ‘T’ junction signed Glengarriff/Bantry . 3 miles before Glengarriff, as you descend the spectacular mountain pass is The Ewe Sculpture Park – a unique, quirky experience for all ages, open June – August – good descriptions on 5* ‘tripadvisor’ reviews! Glengarriff has some good pubs, but on a sunny day between April and September – do take a little ‘ferry’ to the beautiful ‘Italian’ Garden on ‘Garnish Island’ – boats leave regularly from the main pier at Glengarriff. The walk around the well signed garden trail takes about 1 hour – quite hilly in parts but an absolute ‘must’ for garden lovers! There is a good snack bar on the island, just as you disembark from the ferry.

Sketch map of The Beara Peninsula

Killarney: “How can you buy Killarney!?”. This iconic Irish/American ballad was in many ways responsible for my father buying Westcove House. In 1961 our family were on a fishing holiday in Connemara, not a cloud in the sky, so hopeless for fishing. “Let’s do a tour of the famous ‘Ring of Kerry’ and visit Killarney, the town I’ve been singing about for so many years”, said my father. We came across a ‘for sale’ sign pointing towards Westcove House – and the rest is history!

The drive via Sneem – or Kenmare – to Killarney is generally considered to be the most scenic section of the Ring of Kerry, with stunning views over the McGillicuddy Reeks and the legendary Lakes. Sadly Killarney town itself has become the victim of its own popularity… huge hotels, tourist buses and a warren of souvenir shops, especially in the summer. However, the drive itself is certainly worthwhile – (although small children may need to take travel sickness pills!) – and I would thoroughly recommend the following ‘stops’ on the way:
Avoca – craft shop and restaurant at Molls Gap, about half way between Sneem and Killarney ‘perhaps the most spectacular location for breaking any journey to enjoy a unique shopping experience and superb country cooking’.
Torc Waterfall – well worth the five minute walk up from the A75, about 7k before Killarney
Muckross House and Gardens – 2.5k on from the falls, a house full of history with beautiful gardens, traditional farms, weaving, pottery, excellent restaurant and more!
Muckross Abbey – The well-preserved ruins of a 15th Century Franciscan Friary only 5 minutes walk – or horse and buggy ride – from Muckross House car park.

If you’ve visited all the above ‘attractions’, you’ll no doubt be more than ready to head back to Westcove the way you came! However there are 2 more very different options well worth considering in the Killarney area:
The Killarney Falconry: provides group and private hawk walks for all ages. Set off around Killarney’s Lakelands to fly a hawk/hawks and experience the moment when a hawk scoops down to land on your gloved fist. The falconry is based 5 minutes north of the town centre, off the Tralee road. See here for more info. Amazing reviews!
The Gap of Dunloe: This famous mountain pass ‘was carved out 2 million years ago by slow moving glacial ice’. You’ll find signs to the entrance to the Gap at Beaufort 10k west of Killarney on the N72 Killorglin road. You can drive, walk or cycle through ‘The Gap’ even hire a pony and trap. See here for the best info on all the possibilities!

Sketch map of Killarney

‘Dingle‘ is a household name when considering a visit to South West Ireland…It is a beautiful rocky peninsula with lovely long stretches of sandy beaches, but its main claim to fame is Fungi – the legendary Dingle dolphin Sadly, after 37 years, due to the COVID-19 curbs, tour operations were stopped. Fungie missed human interactions and by mid-October 2020, the Dolphin had vanished. The people of Dingle gathered to remember Fungie the Dolphin on Sunday, 17 October, a year after it was reported missing.

Dingle town is a good 3 hours’ drive from Westcove, on winding roads, so you’d have to set off very early in the morning to make this trip, and with so many other excursions to choose from with much less driving involved, I urge you to think carefully before embarking on this one!

Kerry Experience Tours, run by a charming Dutchman, Gerrit, based locally in Sneem, has been highly recommended by recent tenants as being a very knowledgeable guide, great company and an excellent driver. He can take any number from 2–6 in a car and up to 16 in his minibus. Gerrit has many options for different sightseeing trips in the area including a full day Ring of Kerry tour. Please take a look at his Brochure for Westcove Visitors. Kerry Experience Tours has been awarded “Private tour company of the year 2018 – Ireland” with the Travel and Tour Hospitality awards. They have also received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Click to see the TripAdvisor reviews. web: www.kerryexperiencetours.ie
email: info@kerryexperiencetours.ie
phone: +353 (0) 862554098

Sean O’Shea is based locally in Caherdaniel and is proving to be a very popular tour guide, especially with our American visitors. ‘Seano’ – as he likes to be called – also offers taxi and minibus services – to and from airports, golf courses etc. web: www.seanosbus.com
email: sheilaseano2@hotmail.com
phone: +353 (0) 872069471

Please note: Seano is not able to offer fishing trips himself this year, however, his son, John O‘Shea (Mobile: +353 (0) 87 689 8431 – call or Whatsapp) is our most popular choice for taking groups fishing/whale watching/trips and to the Skellig Islands – weather permitting. See our Activities page for Angling and Boat Trips.