Kerry, Ireland's Hidden Gems: Discover Uncrowded Beaches, Scenic Drives, and Breathtaking Hikes

Illarney is a great place to base yourself for a few days in Kerry. There are plenty of shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants as well as sites such as Torc waterfall and the Ring of Kerry Drive which can be done from here. Carrauntoohil is irelands highest peak but still only 1,038m so it’s accessible to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. You can do this walk with a guide or independently. One of my favourite experiences of this hike was an overnight camp trip for a sunrise. It’s probably best to do this during the summer or autumn when night temperatures aren’t that low and the days aren’t very short. We packed our bags and started from Lisleibane car park (Cronin’s yard car park is another option). And hiked up to the top of the Devil’s ladder where we set up camp. We got up 1-2 hrs (depending on how fast you walk) to reach the summit before sunrise. There was an amazing sunrise that was made even special by a cloud inversion! Good apps for trails are AllTrails or Outdoor Active and a good website to check the forecast is https://www.mountain-forecast.com. The easiest self guided route is up via The Devil’s ladder and down via the Zig Zags but I recommend you to do your own research of course!

The Slea Head drive beyond Dingle is one of my favourite places to go in Kerry. Start off your trip from Killarney by getting a breakfast roll from the deli in one of the shops, a very Irish food that has cured many hangovers over the years! Stop off in Inch beach to stretch your legs or go for a quick swim in the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also the chance to get a surf lesson or rent equipment if the waves are looking good. Continue on to Dingle town and spend the night here. You can enjoy some seafood and live Irish music in the pubs, Dick Mack’s is a very popular one. The next morning you can choose to go on a Dingle Sea safari to see some dolphins and whales if you’re looking or you can rent kayaks and explore the bay yourself. Continue on to slea head and take in the breathtaking views of the Atlantic. Coumeenole beach is a nice place to stop and walk out to the headland to get a great view of the Blasket islands. The Sleeping Giant (an Fear Marbh) as the name suggests, looks like a sleeping man! Wild camping is frowned upon in some places by locals but if the tides are low, you can try camping on Coumeenole beach or some of the grassy patches on the headland. If camping isn’t your thing, continue along the drive which will bring you back into Dingle town!