Ring of Kerry’s Best Outdoor Adventures: Top 5 Activities

Okay, so you’re thinking of hitting up the Ring of Kerry? Smart move, I have to say. Very popular, it’s almost a rite of passage for anyone wanting a taste of Ireland’s majestic landscape. But just driving around? That would be like, you know, only reading the first chapter of a seriously amazing book. You would be missing a whole lot! The good stuff, to me, involves strapping on those hiking boots, hopping on a bike, maybe even dipping a paddle in the water. Let’s have a look at, like, my top picks for, you know, really experiencing the Ring.

1. Hiking the Kerry Way

Very popular, the Kerry Way is this extensive, 214-kilometer walking route that kind of loops around the Iveragh Peninsula. You see, that’s the area, at its heart, the Ring of Kerry road embraces. Now, doing the entire thing? It’s like, yeah, it’s a serious commitment, often taking around nine days. However, lots of people pick off sections for shorter, you know, just a bit more manageable day hikes. Like your legs could get quite the workout if you do the whole thing. You know, a really popular option is the stretch from Killarney to Kenmare, it often showcasing some, you know, some gorgeous views. Very stunning vistas of the Killarney National Park and, by the way, the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Very great name. So even that, it’s almost got a magical sound to it. It can get, like, boggy in spots, alright? You definitely should bring proper hiking boots.

2. Cycling the Ring

Cycling is, like, such a really awesome way to see the Ring, that you are almost smelling the salty air. I mean that literally. You could rent a bike in, for instance, almost any of the towns along the route. The Ring of Kerry Cycle Route follows much of the same path as the road, it could be just a bit, very challenging with the hills. Very important, you want to have at least a decent level of fitness. A lot of people go for e-bikes nowadays, because they make the hills, you see, rather more manageable, actually. That being said, you could plan your route with consideration. Perhaps, it might be taking on shorter segments, and you could be using local transport to hop over the steeper parts, actually. Just, so you are aware, the views you are getting are more than worth it.

3. Kayaking in Kenmare Bay

Kenmare Bay is such, like, an opening to the Atlantic, you see? With rather tranquil waters and lots of cute little inlets, that it might be a perfect place for kayaking. A couple of different operators offer tours, very awesome ways to go. What I mean, they would go out from Kenmare town and that, I believe, gives a rather unique perspective. Like, you are paddling past seals, just imagine that for a little bit, watching birds. That kind of thing, actually. So anyway, tours range from a couple of hours to full-day trips, or, depending, of course, what you, you know, are into and a little of your experience. In the summertime, for what it is worth, a sunset kayak tour might be a great way, very magical indeed, so, almost adding something more, it would be a real wow kind of event.

4. Horseback Riding Through the Countryside

What about very traditionally experiencing Ireland? I ask this a lot. In that case, consider something different like horseback riding. Actually. Pretty much, a number of stables around the Ring offer guided treks. And very good choices, to trot gently through the countryside lanes and so you’re looking over the hills, the coastlines, actually. Even better than that, is that this could be, such an appropriate activity for any experience level, yet. You are a complete beginner? So what, anyway! You should get going, because most places, in the same way, would offer ponies and very gentle horses and treks to match.

5. Exploring Skellig Michael

This is arguably a little off the Ring itself, I confess, being said this would deserve a special mention anyway. You see, this island that is a rocky one, called Skellig Michael, looms out of the Atlantic just to a bit away from the coast. The thing is that an early Christian monastery sits here on top of the isle, for example, dating back to the 6th century. And anyway, what you could do is that this became very famous after appearances in the *Star Wars* films. I do not know, maybe you are a fan too. Boat tours run daily, very dependent upon weather conditions, you want to book well in advance though because there are only a very limited number of, as it were, spaces on the boat to allow. Almost unforgettable, what with climbing those ancient steps.