Travel Ireland! Part 2

 Kerry

In this blog I will be walking you through the best of what Kerry has to offer, from the spectacular views from the Ring of Kerry to Torc Waterfall. I you are going to travel Ireland then Kerry has to be on your list, you won't regret it! 

Dingle

Dingle is a small town located at the Southwest of Ireland. It is well know for its rugged scenery, trails and fabulous sandy beaches. And once you go, it'll be very hard to leave. Dingles mighty mountain is one of its main attraction points. The peninsulas spine is formed by a range of mountains, running from the Slieve Miss range to Conor Pass and Mount Mount Brandon. The glorious coastline is made of up several dramatic headlands broken by sandy beaches. 

 One of Dingles main attraction is one of its long time residents, Fungie the Dolphin. In this picturesque holiday town feel free to book a harbour cruise with Dingle Dolphin Tours and spot the local landmarks, sea brands, and incredible views of Valentia island and Carrauntoohill, Ireland highest mountain. This amazing 3 hour boat experience will no disappoint. It will cost 30 euro for children ages 2-12, and 50 euro for adults ages 13+. These tours are available every Saturday so make sure you go online to dingleboattours.com to get your tickets. 

It is also home to Dingle Oceanworld aquarium that has penguins, otters and sharks. A great place to bring the kids for some family fun. Here you can come face to face with these underwater creatures and get unclose and personal. At the touch tank, visitors can stroke friendly rays and even hold a starfish. Kids and adults will both enjoy this experience as you learn about the wanders of the sea. Pre booking is recommended although you can just walk in. Children under the age will go free, 4-16 year olds ticket will be 11.50 euro and an adult ticket is 16.50 euro. There is also a family ticket including 2 adults and 2 children for 52.00 euro. You can  go to dinglewolrdocean.ie to get your tickets and any other information you need. 

Ring of Kerry 

This adventure needs little introduction, the infamous Ring of Kerry is why so many people love to come to here. For those of you that don't know, the Ring of Kerry is a 180 kilometre long scenic drive that takes you along the rugged coastal landscapes and rural seaside villages. One of the top attractions around the Ring of Kerry is Killarney National Park. It covers 26,000 acres of County Kerry. The vast natural wonderland boasts some of the most spectacular scenery on the Emerald Isle. We're talking a mixture of sparkling lakes, towering mountains, thundering waterfalls, and dense forests. Along the way, why not visit Torc waterfall which tumbles about 20 meters to its base. There is also Muckross House and Gardens which boast a Victorian mansion dating back to the 19th century. With idyllic shores of Muckross Lake, it is one of the best places to visit on the Ring of Kerry.

Gap of Dunloe 

This is another one of Kerrys must sees (there's a lot of them) This is a 2 million year old marvel has been thrilling tourists and locals alike with its winding trails. The stunning glacial lakes, which are all connected by the River Loe, these were all created when a huge glacier broke off. You'll find the most popular start-point for the Gap of Dunloe at Kate Kearney's cottage which is a 15 minute drive from Killarney. At Kates cottage there is also free parking. I would although aim to do the Gap of Dunloe in the morning time, due to the small winding roads it would be wise to go at a quieter time of day to get around it easier. If you would rather do it with some guidance, there are many different Gap of Dunloe tours on offer where you can get a 7 mile jaunt on a pony and trap through the gap.