Skellig Ring Scenic Drive
Skellig Ring Scenic Drive
Skellig Ring Scenic Drive
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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5.0
186 reviews
Excellent
167
Very good
16
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2
Poor
1
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0
CJA
Malta9 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
One of the most amazing experiences in Ireland. No one should miss it. Truly one of Ireland’s jewels. Once af the cliffs don’t forget to look back. One can see as far as Carrantouhill. Amazing views of Kerry mountains and lakes.
Written 2 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skatzsinger
Cahersiveen, Ireland23 contributions
Jun 2014
Seriously, I now live in this amazing place. Fell in love with it on honeymoon. I could say so much about the sense of otherworldliness of the changing landscape that draws artists and musicians from around the world, the welcome of the people that's second to none, the Blue Flag beach at Ballinskelligs (and the other beach at Reenroe which I like even more), the Country Markets at the beachside café, the music at Rosie's and Cable O'Leary's, the walks up to Bolus Head.
I read the first review and noticed that the reviewer, like some tourists to the area, had missed out on what Ballinskelligs has to offer. An unspoiled paradise.
Yeah, the scenic drive is a must, but don't drive past too quick. Take a stroll. This place will enchant you, draw you in and keep you.
I read the first review and noticed that the reviewer, like some tourists to the area, had missed out on what Ballinskelligs has to offer. An unspoiled paradise.
Yeah, the scenic drive is a must, but don't drive past too quick. Take a stroll. This place will enchant you, draw you in and keep you.
Written 30 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerry391
Cahersiveen, Ireland15 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Completed the Skelig Ring by bicycle from Cahirciveen yesterday. It was a spectacular trip. Headed to Ballinskelligs first, would recommend a visit to Cill Rialag Gallery, Barbaras Beach Cafe and the Beach and castle. Then a long slow climb with lovely views of the Islands and Beara Peninsula constantly improving as you climb to the gap to the Glen. Lovely and all as the views are to this point nothing will prepare you for your first sight of the Skeligs. The air was spetacularly clear and the rocks ten miles off shore were amazing. I stood admiring the view, marvelling at the life lived by the monks there 1500 years ago, when a tourist came through the gap and joined me. I asked was it his first time seeing that view, he found it hard to answer as he was awestruck. There is a fast 3km descent from here to the chocolate factory and the beach at St Finians Bay. After a stop here there is a climb of about 3km to the hairpins that are the final 1km climb to Coomanaspic. It is worth the effort as the views here on a fine day can only be described as breathtaking (if you have any breath to take after the climb) A stop here for a while to take in the views on both sides then if you have the nerve and the ability a steep and very fast descent to Portmagee, a lovely fishing village and the departure point for the Skelig boats. (Include time in your schedule for the trip of a lifetime). Good coffee and cakes in the Skelig Mist or a nice lunch in the Bridge Bar. Next leg takes you over the bridge to Valentia, at the top of the hill take a left and follow the road as it climbs along the spine of the Island. Great views of the highest sea cliffs in Kerry, the Skeligs again and the Blasket Islands across the way will take your mind off the climb. As you reach the eastern end of the climb another dramatic view awaits you over the lighthouse, Beginis Island and a wonderful ring of mountains circling Cahirciveen. Take a left here up to the Slate Quarry. If you have the legs for it, the lighthouse and tetrapod tracks are worth a detour. The climb back up would be tough, The descent from the Slate Quarry to Knightstown is a delight through an old deciduous woodland. Knightstown (the foot) is worth exploring, find out about the transatlantic cable, the altazamuth and try and choose between Knightstown Coffee, the Coffee Dock and the beer garden of the Royal Hotel before catching the ferry to Reenard and the final 4 km to Cahirciveen after some crab claws and a glass of wine in the Point. Around 50km of a round trip and increadibly beautiful all the way round.
Written 30 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mimi0908
Madison, MS108 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
Leave the crowded Ring of Kerry and make this drive. It is well worth it! We followed the route Rick Steves suggests in his book, and he was right about the best way to avoid the buses!
It is unbelievably beautiful. Stop and pay the money to go see the "Best View in County Kerry"--it is well worth the money. After our walk to the top, we came back down and had soup and sandwiches in the cafe. It was excellent!
It is unbelievably beautiful. Stop and pay the money to go see the "Best View in County Kerry"--it is well worth the money. After our walk to the top, we came back down and had soup and sandwiches in the cafe. It was excellent!
Written 1 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
april5
Dubai, United Arab Emirates42 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Do not miss the opportunity to do the Skellig Ring drive when you are visiting Ireland. The route takes in some of the most picturesque villages and stunning scenery in Kerry. The Skellig Ring is located just off the main Ring of Kerry road. It is a circular route and is best experienced starting in Waterville, then taking a left turn at Kinnagh Cross to Ballinskelligs. Stop and visit the gallery at Cill Rialaig and then continue to St. Finian's Bay. Make sure to stop at Skelligs Chocolates, where you can sample the wonderful range of truffles on offer. This is one of the most scenic locations to admire the Skelligs UNESCO World Heritage site from the land. Continue on to the picturesque fishing port of Portmagee, which is linked to Valentia Island by bridge. After a stop at the Skelligs Experience visitor centre, continue on to the picturesque village Knightstown and enjoy a drink in one of the pubs overlooking the harbour. In summer, you can catch the ferry to Cahersiveen from here or return to Cahersiveen from Portmagee by road. Other highlights to see in the area include the Barracks, Ballycarbery Castle, the stone forts in Cahersiveen, the Slate Quarry Valentia and the Tetrapod footprints in Valentia. To finish a great day, enjoy fresh seafood in O'Neills at the point in Renard, where the ferry from Valentia lands.
Written 20 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
malinda h
Maryville, TN64 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
This is a small stretch of road that leaves the Ring of Kerry just north of Waterville and returns to the main stretch in Cahersiveen. It is, like many Irish roads, very narrow and not fit for large vehicles. As such the tour buses do not come down this path which is very welcome to those of us in rental cars. It is a must do! Many great views along the way (especially of the Skelligs) and some good stops. There was a beautiful little abbey on the shore at Ballinskelligs that's worth a short visit. A very delicious chocolate factory (Skellig Chocolates) with free tastings and a cafe is highly recommended. A beach just beyond that is beautiful with wonderful space for picnic if at the right time. A long twisting road takes you over the mountains and leads to wonderful view of the valley below from the very top. Just down the mountain on the other side there is a B and B that offers views of the Kerry Cliffs. I highly recommend this. It is set up as the Cliffs of Moher are (minus the tour buses, visitor center and crowds) and costs about 4 euros each. It is a short but potentially strenuous hike to the top of each cliff but the views are amazing. We had wonderful weather that day (and did not when we went to the Cliffs of Moher) so the view and the waves were spectacular. It took us about 30-45 minutes to do. We stopped at a nice cafe in Portmagee following this for sandwiches and then continued on to Valentia Island. On Valentia Island you can go to the Skellig Experience (we skipped this), the lighthouse (also skipped) and the tetrapod tracks. The latter was entirely worth it. They are on the far side of the mountain- follow the signs for the lighthouse and then at the last fork stay to the left). There is a small parking lot and a path leading down to the shore where the marker and tracks are. These were amazing to science nerds like us and well worth the stop. We then got back on the road and continued back to the Ring of Kerry.
Written 22 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VonLLee
California21 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
OH MY GOD! Beautiful, wild, isolated - Gaelic country. I think we saw about a dozen other calls the whole time. The roads were actually tinier than the Ring of Kerry -- down to one lane in places. But, there were hardly any other cars so it was fine. It takes about an hour to go less than 10 miles. But it was the highlight of our 2 weeks in Ireland.
We spent a few hours there. We stopped at an amazing beach cove, then on top of the mountain, then Port Magee, and the Skellig Experience (a tiny museum). I wish we had arrived earlier so we could have taken the 2 1/2 sea tour out to Skellig Rock where the monks used to live.
We only discovered Skellig Ring by accident. We wanted to miss the tour buses on the Ring of Kerry. So the Kenmare Tourist Office suggested we leave early and then take a detour OFF the Ring of Kerry to the Skellig Ring and Valentia Island and then catch the ferry back to the Ring of Kerry.
We felt like the Ring of Kerry was a bust. Too much driving for what you get to see. (We are also from California so we have lots of beautiful coastline - so that may have contributed to our disappointment.) But, the Skellig Ring made it all worth it. Except it was a LOOOONG day of driving. if I had to do it over again I would check out the shortcut to Waterville. And go straight to the Skellig Ring. Then I guess you could take the Ring of Kerry on the way back. But, at least it wouldn't be both ways.
We spent a few hours there. We stopped at an amazing beach cove, then on top of the mountain, then Port Magee, and the Skellig Experience (a tiny museum). I wish we had arrived earlier so we could have taken the 2 1/2 sea tour out to Skellig Rock where the monks used to live.
We only discovered Skellig Ring by accident. We wanted to miss the tour buses on the Ring of Kerry. So the Kenmare Tourist Office suggested we leave early and then take a detour OFF the Ring of Kerry to the Skellig Ring and Valentia Island and then catch the ferry back to the Ring of Kerry.
We felt like the Ring of Kerry was a bust. Too much driving for what you get to see. (We are also from California so we have lots of beautiful coastline - so that may have contributed to our disappointment.) But, the Skellig Ring made it all worth it. Except it was a LOOOONG day of driving. if I had to do it over again I would check out the shortcut to Waterville. And go straight to the Skellig Ring. Then I guess you could take the Ring of Kerry on the way back. But, at least it wouldn't be both ways.
Written 25 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RoseLux
Cork, Ireland19 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
The Skellig drive is a fantastic experience with spectacular views! Not to be missed if visiting Kerry.
Written 21 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
virtual-inspector
Cork, Ireland226 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
I've done the ring of Kerry before ; this is superior. The roads are too narrow and the hairpin bends too hairy for tour buses so it's just you and the cyclists. We were staying in Waterville and started from there. Ballinskelligs is pretty but the real scenery starts as you climb up from Ballinskelligs Bay to cross the pass in the hills to St Finian's Bay. There's an observation point with a telescope you can operate for €1. The views of the Skelligs are outstanding. After a debate lasting all of 0.0001 seconds, we stopped off at the Chocolate Factory purely to have some coffee. And hot chocolate. And sample the factory products. See separate review. We continued climbing up out of the Bay northwards to Portmagee. Never has satellite views on Google Maps failed to give an idea of the vertical nature of the drive up; and down the other side! The summit is called Coomanaspig and again the views are gobsmacking. We had spent longer than expected on the trip and had to skip Valentia Island. If you're down here, you can't say you've been until you do this ring!
Written 12 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YomYomYom
Witham, UK110 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
We hired a car and drove the Ring of Kerry followed by the Skellig Ring. It's really well sign posted, so my opinion is that sat nav isn't necessary, though if you have a propensity for getting lost, you may wish to use one! There are places to pull over to take photos of the incredible scenery through most of the route and it's so worth doing - it just beat the Ring of Kerry for me! I recommend doing the Kerry Cliffs Experience - the views are incredible, and Skellig Chocolate Factory is a must- it's expensive to buy but so worth it! They do give free tasters - and we couldn't resist a purchase- we even liked the dark (which usually is too bitter for me).
Written 18 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
you should be able to rent bikes in Knights town- Caseys Cycles
Written 14 October 2018
Is there a recommended direction to drive around the Skellig Ring? Clockwise or counter clockwise?
Written 3 May 2017
It seems people take it from whatever direction they're travelling from: from Waterville it would be clockwise, from Cahersiveen it would be counter clockwise. Personally, i'd recommend clockwise. As soon as you turn off the N72 on to the Skellig Ring, Ballinskelligs Bay opens up in front of you, a beautiful view..
Then you have Madeleine Maria Weber Photography Gallery, Reenroe beach, Skellig Pottery, Tig Rosie's Dungeagan, Fermoyle Pottery, Café Cois Trá (Barbara's Café), Ballinskelligs Beach, Bolus Head Loop walk, St. Finian's Bay, Skellig Chocolate Factory, Kerry Cliffs, Portmagee (Cois Cuain Gifts, The Moorings, Fisherman's Bar, Skellig Mist Café), Skellig Boat Trips, cross the bridge to Valentia Island, Skellig Experience Centre, turn left clockwise around the island, Brayed Walk Loop, Geokaun Mountain & Fogher Cliffs, Valentia Ice Cream, Valentia Lighthouse, Glanleam House & Gardens, Knightstown (Valentia Island Caravan & Camping, The Pod Gifts & Café, Boston Bar, Knightstown Café, The Royal Valentia, Valentia Island Sea Sports, The Coffee Dock), Chapelstown (The Ring Lyne), then hop on the ferry across to Renard (The Point Bar/Restaurant)..
Anything else i think off i'll add again here..
Written 4 May 2017
I would like to leave the ring of Kerry and take the ferry to Valencia Island and then take the bridge at Portmagee and head south around the Skellig Ring and then connect back with N70 to head to Waterville. Any ideas how long of a drive this is? I know it all depends on how many stops but just trying to figure out drive time and if it's a doable excursion from the ring of Kerry. Thanks for any help!
Written 29 March 2017
Depends how fast you drive. Could do it in 1hr. But take it easy stop in Knightstown for a Guinness. Then stop in portmagee allow 2-3 hrs.
Written 21 April 2017
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