What is the Ring of Kerry?
The Ring of Kerry is a circular driving route in the west of Ireland that covers 111 miles of scenic beauty. The town of Killarney is the usual starting point. It covers a whole number of impressive sights: Skellig Islands, with its 7th century monastery and claim to fame of having been in Star Wars; Killarney National Park; Torc Waterfall; and the Gap of Dunloe, a dramatic mountain pass.
What is the Ring of Kerry like?
It takes around 3-4 hours of driving without stops but you'll need to stop, so plan for longer. We cut through the Gap of Dunloe, which has tricky, winding, one-car roads but it was well worth it - make sure you attempt that early in the morning, as meeting the horse-powered jaunting cars would be a nightmare later on. Also: the jaunting car owners will try and turn you back but just ignore them as driving through the pass is allowed.
Where is the Ring of Kerry?
In southwest Ireland.
When did we go?
October 2025
How did we get there?
We drove around the Ring of Kerry when we did the final part of our road trip down the Wild Atlantic Way (21). We flew into Shannon, hired a car and made our way to Killarney, which we used as a hub for the Ring of Kerry portion of the trip. We completed the Ring over two days.
Worth noting
For about two-thirds of the Ring of Kerry route you're also on the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1600-mile coastal road that runs all the way up the west coast of Ireland. The Wild Atlantic Way allows you to cover four of the 500 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List places: the Wild Atlantic Way itself at number 21, the Connemara Peninsula (163) and Sliabh Liag (369) as well as the Ring of Kerry (114).
What was the Ring of Kerry's position on the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?
The Ring of Kerry was a new addition to the list in 2020.
Does the Ring of Kerry deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?
Yes.
