Unforgetabble Ireland : Kerry (Part 1)

Kerry

County Kerry occupies the south western corner of Ireland and is home to the scenic Dingle Peninsula, Iveragh Peninsula, Beara Peninsula, Macgillycuddy Reeks (highest mountain in Ireland) and Killarney national park.

Iveragh Peninsular, the largest peninsular in Kerry, was chosen for it is home to Killarney and Ring of Kerry. Consequently I picked Kenmare as our base in Kerry. We arrived at Kenmare late in the evening on Monday, Jun 15 and spent the following two and half days between Kenmare, Ring of Kerry and Killarney.

Iveragh Peninsular is magnificent and magical. On its Atlantic coast, nature bestows it breathtaking seascape and on its inland, enchanting landscape. Its rolling mountains, gushing waterfalls, bubbling rivers, serene lakes, secret valleys and hidden defiles can hold one spellbound.

Ladies’ View

Leaving Adare, Limerick at about 6:30pm (Monday 15th), we continued southward to Kenmare. From Adare to Kenmare, it is about 78miles (125km) through N21, N23 and then N71, but it took us a quarter to 3 hours.

On the first 3/4 of the way, the view outside the window alternated between towns, open fields under bright sunny sky and giant wind turbines atop distant hills.

The last 20 miles of the road turned out to be an extraordinary scenic route winding through Killarney town and Killarney National Park. The narrow, bending road over the mountains of Killarney and stopping for photo slowed us down and we covered those 20 miles in one hour’s time.

And it was on this stretch of the road, we found Lady’s View, an attraction I had in my itinerary. It was about 8:15pm and quiet but the sun was still high. The view of Killarney’s mountains and lakes was stunning.

Ladies View

Queen Victoria visited the area in 1861. Her ladies-in-waiting were so enchanted by the view that the site was named after them.