Jewels of the Wild Atlantic Way: The Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara
2 Weeks | South Kerry & West Cork
Two of Ireland's most spectacular peninsulas sit side by side on the southwest coast: the famous Ring of Kerry and its wilder, lesser-known neighbour, the Ring of Beara.
Rather than race around them in a day, this journey gives you two weeks to get properly beneath the surface. Follow mountain roads, swim from empty beaches, cross to remote islands and meet some of the people who make this corner of Ireland so special.
As always, this is inspiration rather than prescription. Where you stay, what you do and how quickly you travel will be shaped entirely around you.
Day 1 - Welcome to Kerry
Arrive in Ireland and make your way southwest. The best airport will depend on where you're travelling from, and whether you're exploring by self-drive or with your own private driver.
Begin around Killarney, Kerry's best-known visitor hub but also the gateway to mountains, lakes and one of Ireland's most extraordinary national parks.
After checking into your hotel, stretch post-flight legs beneath the ancient trees of Killarney National Park, or ease into the journey with a lakeside sauna overlooking the mountains.
This evening, settle in for something altogether more Irish: a private evening of storytelling and traditional sean-nós singing with a local seanchaí.
Day 2 - Beyond Killarney
Leave Killarney's better-known sights behind today and explore its quieter corners with someone who knows them intimately.
Follow woodland trails to sacred wells and ancient sites while hearing the stories, folklore and history woven into this landscape.
Later, take a private boat across the lakes to Innisfallen Island, home to the atmospheric ruins of a monastery founded in the 7th century. Or make a real adventure of it: cross the lakes by boat to the wild Black Valley before returning by bike through the spectacular Gap of Dunloe.
Day 3 - Into Ivereagh
Today your Ring of Kerry adventure begins in earnest, although we're in no hurry to race around it.
Leave Killarney behind and head into the mountains and lakes of the Iveragh Peninsula, where you'll spend the next three nights.
Your base might be a beautifully restored cottage hidden away in the Glencar Valley, or a contemporary lakeside retreat overlooking Caragh Lake. We'll find somewhere that suits the way you like to travel.
This afternoon is for settling in. Swim or kayak on the lake, wander the surrounding trails or simply take in the view from an outdoor bath with nowhere else you need to be.
Day 4 & 5 - The Lakes & Mountains of Ivereagh
Three nights here means you can experience this part of Kerry without spending your days battling traffic around the Ring.
Take to the mountains on foot, perhaps even tackling Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest peak, or choose gentler trails through ancient woodland, mountain valleys and past cascading waterfalls. We can arrange a private guide or send you off self-guided with a detailed trail map.
Spend an afternoon on the water with a local fisherman, casting a line on one of Kerry's renowned lakes and certainly returning with a story or two. And at night star gaze with a dark sky expert who’ll help you hop across the galaxy.
Elsewhere, gallop along an Atlantic beach on horseback, kayak through a sheltered bay or find a quiet swimming spot for an afternoon dip.
There is plenty you could do here. The trick is knowing when it’s best to do nothing at all.
Day 6 - The Skellig Coast
Turn west today and follow the road towards the Atlantic.
The journey is part of the adventure, so take your time. We'll point you towards worthwhile detours and can even arrange a picnic to unpack somewhere particularly spectacular along the way.
For the next three nights, perhaps perch yourself in a beautifully designed cottage on Valentia Island with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Atlantic, or stay somewhere altogether more historic and characterful near Cahersiveen.
Either way, you'll be perfectly positioned to explore one of Ireland's wildest stretches of coastline.
Days 7&8 - Islands, Beaches and Ancient Ireland
Spend the next two days discovering the Skellig Coast.
Swim from the impossibly clear waters of Derrynane, walk barefoot across white Atlantic beaches and, after dark, look skywards. This corner of Kerry sits within one of the world's recognised Dark Sky Reserves, where on a clear night the lack of artificial light reveals an extraordinary night sky.
Weather permitting, take to the sea for one of Ireland's great adventures: a boat journey to Skellig Michael. Dolphins and minke whales sometimes accompany the crossing, while puffins arrive in season. Climb the ancient stone steps to the remarkable monastic settlement perched high above the Atlantic and look back towards a coastline that suddenly feels very far away.
Back on the mainland, walk above the ocean at the Kerry Cliffs or head out with a local guide to uncover ancient forts, stone circles and stories stretching back thousands of years.
And because adventure doesn't always need to involve climbing something, there might also be time for yoga on the beach followed by a sunset sauna overlooking the water.
Day 9 - to Kenmare
After several days immersed in mountains and coastline, turn south towards Kenmare for a change of pace.
Spend two nights within walking distance of this colourful little town, swapping remote landscapes for independent shops, excellent restaurants and lively pubs.
This afternoon, discover Kenmare through its food. Spend time with a local expert meeting producers and artisans, tasting your way around town and hearing the stories behind what they make.
Continue the theme over dinner at one of Kenmare's excellent restaurants, followed, if the mood takes you, by a traditional music session in the pub.
Day 10 - Kenmare Bay
There's no rush this morning.
Later, take to Kenmare Bay. Paddle quietly along the shoreline by kayak, or head further out on a private boat with someone who knows these waters.
Keep an eye out for seals and sea eagles, stop somewhere unexpected and enjoy seeing the mountains you've been travelling through from an entirely different perspective.
Day 11 - Into Beara
Today you leave Kerry behind and begin your second ring: the Ring of Beara.
Follow the road into Gleninchaquin, a hidden valley of waterfalls, lakes and mountains that feels almost otherworldly. Walk its trails and seek out one of Ireland's most beautiful stone circles, where a local guide can bring thousands of years of history, mythology and folklore to life.
Later, continue deeper onto the peninsula and settle in for your final few nights.
That might mean a warm, characterful guesthouse overlooking the water, or a private eco-cabin hidden in the landscape. Either way, give yourself time to arrive properly, perhaps with a sea swim and sauna before dinner.
Days 12 - 14 - The Ring of Beara
The final few days are deliberately unhurried. Beara rewards curiosity.
Follow the peninsula south towards clear lagoons and rocky swimming holes, hike into the Caha Mountains for views back across the water towards Iveragh, or cross to Garnish Island, where sheltered gardens filled with unexpectedly exotic plants sit just offshore.
Kayak alongside seals by day or, when conditions are right, paddle through bioluminescent waters after dark.
Food can become an adventure of its own. Browse local markets and tiny producers, or forage your way through the landscape before arriving at a wild kitchen in the mountains, where lunch is cooked over an open fire beneath a wooden canopy.
On another day, take to the Atlantic in search of Beara's wildlife. Journey towards the extraordinary Bull Rock, keeping watch for whales, dolphins and basking sharks in season, while thousands of seabirds circle the cliffs above. Or keep things simple and head out from Adrigole on a private boat as the sun drops behind the mountains.
And when you've had enough adventuring, slow things right down with a forest-bathing experience among the trees, or simply curl up somewhere outside, look towards the stars and enjoy having absolutely nowhere else to be.
Day 15 - Home
Sadly, it's time to leave the southwest behind.
We'll plan your final journey around whichever airport works best for your onward travel. And if two weeks hasn't quite been enough, there's always more of Ireland waiting.
Feeling inspired?
This isn't an off-the-shelf tour. Think of it as a glimpse of what two weeks in the southwest could look like.
Your route, hotels, experiences and pace will be shaped entirely around you.
