Approx. 30 minutes to Portmagee, then a boat trip. Ask our reception to arrange!

A trip to Skellig Micheal is a must when visiting the west coast. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, 12km off the coast, is home to a sixth-century monastery on a jagged rock rising from the Atlantic. It also appeared in the recent Star Wars films. Landing trips run in the summer season, weather permitting, and places are limited, so book your boat well in advance. If you can’t land, a cruise around the Skelligs is still a highlight, with puffins and gannets in season.

2. Valentia Island

Cliffs, Lighthouses and Fossil Trackways

Approx. 40 minutes

Cross the bridge at Portmagee, or take the car ferry from Reenard Point, and explore Valentia Island. Climb Geokaun Mountain and the Fogher Cliffs for panoramic views. Visit the lighthouse at Cromwell Point and the Tetrapod Trackway, which preserves some of the oldest fossil footprints of a four-legged animal in the northern hemisphere. Valentia was also the European end of the first transatlantic telegraph cable.

Approx. 30 minutes

Between Portmagee and Ballinskelligs, the Kerry Cliffs rise about 300 metres above the Atlantic, with the Skellig Islands on the horizon. A short path leads to several viewing points. They’re often less crowded than better-known cliffs elsewhere in Ireland, and they’re a fantastic spot for photography at sunset.

Starts around 15 minutes away

Many visitors take the Ring of Kerry and miss the Skellig Ring! A shorter loop through Ballinskelligs, St Finian’s Bay, Portmagee and Valentia. Expect winding coastal roads, small beaches, Irish-language place names and views that make you pull over every few minutes. Allow a half day or more with plenty of stops.

Stone Forts and O’Connell Heritage

This lively town on the Iveragh Peninsula is the birthplace of Daniel O’Connell, “The Liberator”. Nearby are the stone ring forts of Cahergall and Leacanabuaile, which date back over a thousand years, and the ruins of Ballycarbery Castle. Cahersiveen is also a good stop for coffee, local shops and a pub or two.

7. Derrynane House and Beach

History by the Sea

Near Caherdaniel, Derrynane was the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell and is now a national historic park. Beyond the house, the gardens and the Atlantic-facing dunes and beach are lovely for a stroll. It’s a great option for a family day out, rain or shine.

8. Staigue Fort

An Iron Age Stone Fortress

One of the best-preserved stone ring forts in Ireland, Staigue Fort is thought to be over 2,000 years old. Its dry-stone walls are several metres thick, and the setting in the hills above the sea is atmospheric. It’s easy to reach by car, and the walk from the car park is short.

9. Coomakista Pass:

The View That Stops Traffic

10. Waterville Itself

Beach, Lough Currane and Stargazing

Don’t overlook the village you’re staying in. Stroll the seafront promenade, say hello to the Charlie Chaplin statue (the actor holidayed here for years), try a round at Waterville Golf Links or fish the famous Lough Currane. After dark, you’re inside the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the best places in Europe to see the Milky Way on a clear night.