Things to do along the Ring of Kerry

What to do

Any weather Best on a dry day

Walks, heritage or coastal views

A walk needs time on foot, so shorten the drive around it. A fort or house needs time for the heritage visit. For coastal scenery, choose the places where you want to get out of the car and stay a while. Start with the activity you most want. A day can include more than one kind of stop, but it does not need every walk, house and viewpoint along the road.

The time groups allow for visits, with driving and access added separately from your actual base. A Muckross outing can take up the main part of the day before you reach the coast. The county itinerary covers a route with overnight stays if you want more time. Use this list to choose stops along that route, then leave enough room for the journeys between them.

Portmagee and Valentia detours

The official road-trip guide separates Portmagee and Valentia from the main coastal route. Choose the detour for one or two visits that interest you. The Skellig Experience offers island history indoors, Geokaun suits views, and the lighthouse is a coastal heritage visit. They are different destinations. Choose the combination you want rather than treating the whole island as one stop that must include everything.

A Skellig landing includes a sea journey, operator arrangements and a demanding climb on the island. Give it a day of its own. If the boat is the main reason for the trip, a local overnight may help with the departure. The Portmagee guide compares land alternatives. A cancelled sailing does not establish that cliffs or headland walks are suitable too; those visits need their own weather assessment.

A wet-weather version of the day

Muckross House, Derrynane House and the Skellig Experience offer indoor visits in different parts of the wider route. Choose the one nearest the area where you want to spend time. Before leaving, check current visitor access and any booking requirements, including the approach and facilities your group needs. The grounds and the journeys between buildings can still involve rain, even when the main visit is indoors.

If conditions make the coast unsuitable, a shorter route with a house visit and time in your base town can fill the day. An indoor venue farther along the route does not require you to complete every exposed detour on the way. For a trip mainly about views, keep some freedom to move the coast to another day around fixed bookings. You may get more from fewer stops in better conditions.

Children, walking needs and what to leave out

With children, choose the main activity before the amount of driving. A farm visit, house or short heritage stop gives them something different from repeated viewpoints. Leave the next stop optional so you can finish when everyone has had enough. Access depends on the particular attraction and route. A family-friendly listing cannot tell you whether each walk, approach or interior works for the children you are travelling with.

Leave out a second large park visit when the first already fills the outdoor part of the day. Leave a detour for another time if there is no room to enjoy its main attraction. Without a car, use the county transport guide and current operator routes for stops and returns. A tour may suit several selected sights when its stops and included transport match the places you want.