The drive can be done in one day but to get the most from this experience, take it over two days. As a note of caution, the weather can change dramatically at anytime of the day...so be prepared!
Suggested Route - Ring of Kerry
Begin your drive in Killarney and stop off to visit Muckross House and Gardens and take in the Victorian mansion built in 1843, a featured attraction of Killarney National Park.
Then continue the drive west along N72 for Killorglin for 12 miles and take in the beautiful views on your left.
After Killorglin, pack a picnic lunch and take the main N70 route to Caragh, veer off the main N70 Ring of Kerry route to enter the village across a bridge, driving up the hill and taking the second street on the right, a bumpy road across forested boglands. Continue to Loch Cárthaí, Caragh Lake to the viewpoint and picnic area that has an awesome view over Lough Caragh to the mountains.
Backtrack to Caragh and turn left to reach the N70, continue through Glenbeigh village. Make right turn before the end of the village, takes you to Rossbehy for a beautiful vista of huge shaggy dunes north across Dingle Bay.
Continue on this narrow road and loop back to N70, down the northern coast of the Iveragh Peninsula and take in the beautiful hilly scenery on the way to Cahersiveen.
Turn right in the village of Cahersiveen, passing the Barracks Heritage Centre, to the Cahergeal and Leacanabuaile stone forts. The history associated with these stone forts is impressive as they date back to the Bronze Age, over 4,000 years years ago.
Continue 3 miles past Cahersiveen, leaving N70 and onto a side road (R565) towards Portmagee and onto Valentia Island. Valentia Island is a charming island of tiny patchwork fields, high cliffs, and a great view of the tower like rocks of Great Skellig and Little Skellig. These towering rocks are sea bird sanctuaries, where until the 12th century were occupied by monks. Ask about fishermen who will take you in a boat across to Great Skellig where you can hike 1,000-year-old steps to the sixth-century small huts and chapels of the monks, 700 feet (215 meters) above the waves.
Leaving Valentia Island heading back to N70, turn right to continue your Ring of Kerry circuit towards Waterville on Ballinskelligs Bay. The road leads to a scenic viewpoint from Coomakesta Pass with views of the Skelligs, Scariff and Deenish Islands.
Continue on to Caherdaniel making a right turn to Derrynane House. Stop off at the Blind Piper or Freddie's Bar, for a quick beer or bite to eat.
Continue on N70 and in 4 miles (6 kilometers) turn left in Castlecove to find the magnificent Staigue Fort, situated in a beautiful lonely valley. This well-preserved fort, circa 1500 B.C. is approximately 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter, with great thick walls and steps that lead to some excellent sea and mountain views.
Head back to N70, turn left and continue as far as Sneem village, where you fork left on the R568 for a 30-mile (50-kilometer) stretch of remote mountain runs, going past the lakes of Killarney National Park and back to Killarney.
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