Experience the ultimate Iveragh Peninsula adventure with our Kerry Cliffs via Skellig Ring & Ring of Kerry tour. This specially curated journey goes beyond the standard bus route, taking you off the beaten path to the rugged, salt-sprayed edges of Ireland’s most dramatic coastline.
Tour Highlights
While the classic Ring of Kerry is famous for its rolling hills and “Emerald Isle” charm, our tour adds the “Missing Link”—the Skellig Ring. This coastal detour is often inaccessible to larger coaches, making our small group tour (limited to 29 guests) the perfect way to see it all.
The Kerry Cliffs: Standing over 1,000 feet above the Atlantic, these cliffs offer the most spectacular views of the UNESCO World Heritage Skellig Islands.
The Skellig Ring: Drive through wild, unspoiled landscapes, visiting the charming fishing village of Portmagee and catching views of the “Star Wars” filming locations.
Ring of Kerry Classics: We still cover the iconic sights, including the peaks of Corrán Tuathail, the sub-tropical vegetation fed by the Gulf Stream, and the winding roads of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Personalized Experience: Traveling in a smaller 29-seater coach allows for a more intimate atmosphere, easier access to narrow coastal roads, and more time at each scenic stop.
Important Tour Details
Starts: March 1st (Daily)
Departure Time: 09:00 am
Return Time: 17:00 (5:00 pm) approx.
Departure Point: Deros Tours Office, 22 Main Street, Killarney (V93NP74)
Price: €70 per person
The first town on the route is Killorglin, home to the famous Puck Fair festival held on the 10th, 11th and 12th of August every year. Residents capture a wild goat in the mountains and enthrone him in the town centre. For three days of the festival, the goat acts as the King, and the locals “act the goat”.
The first stop will be at The Bog Village – also a comfort stop. This little cluster of thatched-roof cottages demonstrates what rural life was like in Kerry in the 1800s. The museum village (an optional feature with an additional small charge) has a replica blacksmith’s forge + house, turf cutter’s house, labourer’s cottage, thatcher’s dwelling, and tradesman’s house. See the stacks of turf piled high by the road. There is also an old Irish pub named The Red Fox Inn, where you can enjoy an early drink or tea/coffee and scones. NOTE: Primarily a comfort stop, time is very limited at this stop as we make our way around the ring.
After departing the Bog Village, we will continue through the village of Glenbeigh with a view of the beautiful Rossbeigh Beach and a fantastic view of the hills at the back of the Iveragh Peninsula.
The Kerry Cliffs at Portmagee are one of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring stops on the Skellig Ring. Often overlooked by those sticking only to the main road, these cliffs offer some of the most spectacular views in all of Ireland. Standing over 1,000 feet (300m) above the Atlantic, they were formed over 400 million years ago and provide a raw, powerful look at the edge of Europe.
Then, continuing into Waterville, an idyllic beach resort between Lough Currane and Ballinskelligs Bay. The Waterville area and its hinterland are steeped in history and dotted with archaeological monuments. For years Waterville was a favourite retreat of Charlie Chaplin, and there is a life-size statue of him on the promenade.
The tour continues through the area of Derrynane, a rocky cove notorious as a port of call for smugglers in the 18th century. It is the former seat of the O’Connell clan and home to “The Liberator”, Daniel O’Connell.
The next stop is the small village of Sneem – perhaps Ireland’s most colourful village. The stop in Sneem is to avail of a comfort stop. Its two squares straddle the estuary of the River Sneem, with a quaint Italianate church(1865) and chequered houses. An untypical village laid out in an English style around a village green beneath a semi-circle of low mountains. Sneem was gifted a panda sculpture by the People’s Republic of China and a goddess Isis sculpture by Egypt. Sneem marks the start of the most sheltered part of the Ring of Kerry’s coast. You will see lush, subtropical growth – wild rhododendrons and azaleas, evidence of the unique effect of the Gulf Stream.
Leaving Sneem, we travel through the very rugged landscape and arrive at Moll’s Gap, where the viewing point at the Gap offers sweeping views of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Ireland’s highest mountain, Corrán Tuathail – 3,414 feet high.
Continuing from Moll’s Gap to Killarney, we experience far-reaching views over the broad valley of the Killarney Lakes. On her visit in the 19th century, so enthralled by this view, Queen Victoria and her ladies-in-waiting promptly named in their honour: “Ladies View”.
Between Ladies View and Killarney, the coach will pass through the Muckross Estate and return to Killarney at approximately 4.30pm.
From time to time, the Itinerary may vary slightly and will be at the Driver’s discretion