On day 5 we drive “The Ring of Kerry”, this was one of the highlights of Ireland.
It is a popular tourist route along the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula, so expect heavy traffic.

The Ring of Kerry is a beautiful route with many bends, hills, beautiful views and many historical sights. So there are also many points to stop. So prepare well and make a list of the points you want to visit and adjust the route with extra route points if necessary. The links in this review provide information to fill your tour with stops and interesting sights.

From the hotel in Killarney we drive to Cahersiveen, where you can visit “The Old Barracks”, an unusual building on a raised site near the bridge over the River Fertha. It is home to a permanent exhibition that tells the remarkable history of the building and the local area.
The building was built between 1870 and 1875 as a police station for the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Why such an imposing building?

Following the Fenian Rebellion of 1867, the authorities wanted to protect the transatlantic telegraph cable, a valuable piece of infrastructure that terminated on Valentia Island. This resulted in the design of a large military-style building and its construction on a site overlooking the bay and Valentia Island. Following extensive restoration initiated by the community in the 1990s, the building now houses an interactive exhibition over three floors and an escape room experience.

The next stop is at Renard Point where we took the ferry to Valentia Island. The ferry from April to October costs €5 for a single journey and takes about 5-10 minutes. On Valentia Island we visit the Skellig Visitor Center. It has been a famous landmark in Valentia for over 25 years and the surroundings are spectacular.
The Visitor Centre is dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Skellig Michael and brings the magic and mystery of these famous rocks to you through images, film presentation, models, exhibits, reconstructions and the sounds of seabirds and ship-to-shore communication by the lighthouse keeper.

We leave the island via the bridge to Portmagnee, where we enjoy a delicious lunch in one of the pubs or restaurants. Little Skellig and Skellig Michael, the islands where the last Star Wars film was filmed, can be visited by ferry from Portmagnee, a must for the die-hard Star Wars fans, but then plan an extra day and overnight stay in one of the hotels in Portmagnee.

After lunch we drove the “Skellig Ring”, this is without a doubt the most beautiful part of the Ring of Kerry. Along the route you have several points where you have a beautiful view of Little Skellig and Skellig Michael.
We continue our route to Ballingskellig Beach, worth stopping to take photos of the bay, the beach and Ballingskellig Castle (McCarthy Mór Castle), built in the 16th century by MacCarthy Mors to protect the town from pirates.

The route to Sneem runs along the rugged Irish coast with beautiful views over the mountains and the sea. Take your time to stop regularly to enjoy and take photos. After about 2 to 2½ hours of driving we arrive at Moll's Gap.

The mighty Moll's Gap in Killarney is a narrow mountain pass situated along the Ring of Kerry. The breathtaking views during the drive over the mountains make this a must. You have views of the MacGillycuddy's mountain range and is a popular tourist location.

The rocks at Moll's Gap are formed from Old Red Sandstone, small quartz grains that were deposited over 350 million years ago. Unlike most of the Old Red Sandstone around Killarney which is coloured red by iron oxide, the rocks at Moll's Gap are coloured green by chlorite.

Moll's Gap is named after Moll Kissane, who ran a shebeen (an unlicensed public house) in the 1820s while the road was being built. Breathtaking mountain views make this a must-see. Be sure to stop at Ladies View for photos. This is one of the most beautiful panoramas in Ireland. In Killarney, Ross Castle on Ross Island is the last attraction we visit on this beautiful trip.

We stay overnight in the same hotel in Killarny.