The county County Kerry located in South West Ireland in the republic Ireland and is popular with travelers because of the rugged coastline and deep bays.
Regions and places
There are three towns in Kerry with their own Town Council:
- Listowel in the North
- Tralee, Seat of the Conty Council. On the eastern foothills of the Dingle Peninsula.
- Killarney in the south, actually the most important city. It is more interesting for tourism than the first two.
The County of Kerry is diverse, in the west it juts out into the Atlantic Ocean with peninsulas that are more than 50 km long. It is divided into:
- Tralee with other villages east of Tralee
- Listowel with County Kerry's share of Mouth of Shannon
- peninsula Dingle with the port city Dingle in the north-west.
- peninsula Iveragh with the islands Valentia Island and the pilgrimage destination, cultural and natural monument Skellig Rocks. The 180 km long panorama route Ring of Kerry, with the localities Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and Kenmare passes on or near the coast and the bays.
- Killarney with the Killarney National Park and other localities south and east of Killarney.
- The northern part of the peninsula Beara with the Gleninchaquin Park. The other 2/3 belong to the County Cork.
Other goals
- Derrynasaggart Mountains with the Gougane Barra Forest Park, southeast of Killarney
- Mallow
- Curraghchase Forest Park - 20 miles from town limerick
- Cliffs of Moher with the up to 214 m high and 8 km long cliffs. About 50 km from Listowel away.
- Bantry in the County Cork
- Bear Island in Bantry Bay south of the Beara Peninsula
- Sheep's Head
- Mizen Head
- Carrauntoohil, the highest mountain in Ireland at 1040 m. The mountain is mostly climbed from the north along Hag’s Glen. Mountain boots are required for the 200 vertical meters over the "Devil's Ladder", which is made of scree.
background
The county of Kerry is particularly popular because of the rugged coastal landscapes, secluded beaches and beautiful small islands off the coast. On the other hand, there are many rivers, streams, moors, rolling hills and the Macgillycuddy's Reeks on the peninsula Iveragh. They are the highest mountains in Ireland with their highest point Carantouhill 1,039 m.
Because of the Gulf Stream, the county has a maritime character with a mild climate in the winter half-year and balanced temperatures, but also a lot of rain and wind. There are subtropical plants growing, and one of the most magnificent landscapes in Ireland can be found here. Rhododendrons bloom everywhere in May. Locals already consider the lush bushes to be weeds.
Originally the mountains and hills were forested. The English deforested everything in order to equip their ships for the conquest of the world. Since they did not replant trees, the soil lost its humus layer and so the mountains are bare. Sheep breeding also prevents any new growth. Only a blanket of grass envelops the mountains, which gives hikers wide views of the interesting landscape. There are many moors and peat areas in the plains.
language
- Especially in the peninsulas Iveragh and Dingle Many residents prefer Irish, otherwise English. Place signs are always bilingual.
Arrival / mobility
Ferry ports
- The next ferry port is in Cork.
- There is a ferry connection from the County Clare on the Mouth of Shannon.
Pleasure craft
- It is possible to travel by sea with seaworthy pleasure boats.
- It is also conceivable to travel ashore by sport boats via the Shannon.
Airports
- At Farraonfore, between Killarney and Tralee is the Kerry County Airport.
- Shannon International Airport
- Cork Airport
By train
It consists of a rail link Mallow to Tralee, with stops at Rathmore, Killarney, Farrnfore (at the airport).
Streets
The main highways are the N 22 Cork-Tralee and the N 71 / N 23 / N 21 from Bantry to limerick. The roads south and west of Killarney tend to be below average, the N 71 in particular is narrow and winding, and livestock can be expected on the roads.
Cyclists / pedestrians
- The 214 km long coastal hiking trail Kerry Way starts in the city Killarney and circles the peninsula Iveragh .
- Other hiking trails lead across the low mountain range.
- Cycle routes are often led on roads with heavy to moderately frequented traffic.
Tourist Attractions
The Green Land is characterized by contrasts with several more than 50 km deep bays and mountains that plunge steeply into the Atlantic and still leave lovely sandy bays. Ireland's highest mountains with up to 1041 m height can be found here, as well as lonely rock islands, the sticking out of the sea. Except for the less interesting north, the county is mountainous with little forest.
Parks
- Killarney National Park. A landscape with 3 large lakes, a waterfall, unwooded and oak forests with the particularly worth seeing Muckross Garden, the Muckross House and other cultural and natural monuments. The national park is located east of the peninsula Iveragh on the edge of town Killarney.
- Derrynane National History Park. With the Derrynanne House at Caherdaniel.
- Gleninchaquin Park. A mountain park southwest of Kenmare on the peninsula Beara.
Peninsulas
- Dingle Peninsula. With the port city Dingle.
Islands
- Skellig Island. Two islands jutting out of the ocean like the Egyptian pyramids.
- Valentia Island. 11 x 3 km island, connected to the mainland by a bridge.
- Blasket Islands. Archipelago at the entrance to Dingle Bay, uninhabited since 1953.
beaches
- Beach and dunes at Inch - headland on the north side of Dingle Bay.
- Beach and dunes 2 km west of Glenbeigh - Headland on the south side of Dingle Bay.
Lakes
- The three lakes Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake des Killarney National Park.
- Glenmore Lake. The lake is nestled in the Slieve Miskish Mountains and Caha Mountains. It is located west of the R 574 cross-link on the peninsula Beara.
mountains
- The Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range with Ireland’s highest mountain Carrantouhill (1039 m).(Irish: Corrán Tuathail) on the peninsula Iveragh.
- The road R 586 between Sneem and the Moll's Gap pass leads through the mountains.
- From the R 585 at Moll 'Gap a narrow road leads through the Black Valley and then the pass road Gap of Dunloe down past 3 mountain lakes via the excursion restaurant Kate Kearney's Cottage in the direction Killorglin and Killarney.
- On the peninsula Beara with the Slieve Miskish Mountains and Caha Mountains:
- Healy Pass on the cross connection R 574.
- Caha Pass with short tunnels on the N 71 between Glengarriff and Kenmare.
Panoramic routes
- Coastal road R 561 / N 86 / R 559 on the south side of the Dingle Peninsula, mostly very narrow and close to the steep coast.
- The panorama route Ring of Kerry around the peninsula Iveragh is the most famous tourist route, but not the most beautiful, as the view of the sea is partially blocked.
It comprises the following sections:- The coastal road N 70 between Killorglin and Kenmare over Waterville.
- the N 71 from Kenmare through the Killarney National Park with the Ladies View lookout point on the 3 lakes of the park and the Moll's Gap pass.
- the N 72 between Killarney and killorglin.
- The route is supplemented by the Ring of Skelligs.
- Because coaches are only allowed to drive counter-clockwise on the coastal road N 70, it is advisable to take them clockwise on the lake side. However, it can get tight, especially on bridges.
- Panorama route Ring of Beara around the peninsula Beara - Impressive car route on mostly narrow roads with many wonderful views of the sea. It is closed to buses and large caravans. It is south of the route Ring of Kerry. The starting points are Kenmare and Glengarriff on the N 71. The southern half of the peninsula Beara is lying in County Cork.
activities
- Carriage rides - You can also go in a horse-drawn carriage in the Killarney National Park area. Sometimes the carriage drivers annoy with intrusive offers and neglect that Central European travelers like to travel on foot.
- As a bike route are the Cycle Ring of Kerry - Killarney to Waterville (90 km, 1040 m difference in altitude) and Ring of Kerry - Waterville to Killarney Cycle (62 km, 528 m difference in altitude). Most of them run through mountains on paths, but also partly on the auto-tourist route N72 / N70.
Due to the narrow national roads with very high traffic, cycling on the N 70 is not advisable, if it is clockwise, because the many coaches are only allowed to drive counterclockwise. Sidewalks and shoulder strips outside the town center are unknown.
- For walker there is the 214 km long one Kerry Way. Good shoes and rucksack provisions are required.
kitchen
nightlife
security
Especially on the Iveragh Peninsula, livestock are to be expected on the roads, including on the N70, especially sheep. This fact should be taken into account when choosing the driving speed. There is also a warning against coaches. Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to be pushed by local drivers; possibly you can be overtaken at suitable places. The number of fatal accidents is repeatedly pointed out; it is now also worrying from a German point of view.
climate
Religious motivation
The Skellig Rocks are pilgrimage destinations.
