Top things to see in South Kerry.
Staycation staycation… this is what we are advised this year by the powers that be, and to be honest with so much to see in our own county the advice is to stay close to home and check out what’s on offer, I spent some time down south Kerry recently and what a wonderful trip, stayed in the wonderful Moorings of Portmagee, it’s the ideal base for touring the area. Here are just some of our favourites for you to check out..
Skellig Michael
The Skellig Michael boat trips are one of the most mysterious and enchanting of local attractions around the Skellig Rocks. These floating pyramids of sandstone have been home to some of the earliest monastic settlements in Ireland as well as providing sanctuary to fantastic numbers of bird life in the area. At our time of going to print Skellig Michael is still closed to tours but the boat trip out around the area is highly recommended to view the amazing sights.
Kerry Cliffs
Kerry Cliffs are widely accepted as the most spectacular cliffs in Kerry.
The cliffs stand over 1000ft above the wild Atlantic and were formed in a desert environment 400 million years ago. Out to the west stand the amazing Skellig Rocks one of only three UNESCO world heritage sites in Ireland. Of course the Kerry Cliffs are the closest viewing point to the great rocks and also the famous Puffin Island. Allied with these facts as you stand at the summit of this mystical place and breath in the freshest of air, deep in to your lungs from the wild Atlantic and observe this natural wonder. You can relax and unwind and observe the majestic views from here which reach out for 30 miles of the surrounding areas. Many Twitchers come here to enjoy and observe the thriving colonies of cliff birds. Allow a minimum of 1 hour for a visit to the Kerry Cliffs, many visitors spend a few hours relaxing and bird watching for many hours and even return the next day or another day during their vacation.
Skellig Six18 distillery
The location in the heart of Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry means there are many beautiful scenic routes that take you directly to the doors of the Skellig Six18 Distillery. On arrival, take in the beautiful views of the Skellig Coastline. Then step inside the home of Skellig Six18, inspired by the Skellig landscape which is rich in history and character, and named after the six hundred & 18 stone steps that lead to the top of the Skellig Michael.
Take a guided tour around the Distillery Visitor Experience, where every drop of Skellig Six18 Gin has been distilled. Discover the natural botanical ingredients found in the woodlands, hedgerows and shoreline of the rich Skellig landscape. Learn about each of the botanical ingredients foraged locally and carefully chosen to create the artisan pot distilled gin. Relax and savour the taste of the Atlantic Coast with a unique gin tasting experience.
Skellig Six18 have ambitious plans to build a state-of-the-art whiskey distillery plant, learn more about their plans and the future of Skellig Six18 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.
The tours Skellig Six18 Distillery Visitor Experience have now re-opened, make sure to book online at skelligsix18distillery.ie, and all visitors on the tours receive a €5 voucher redeemable against a 70cl bottle of Skellig Six18 Gin, available in the on-site gift shop.
Kells Bay House & Gardens
Kells Bay House & Gardens is Ireland’s premier sub-tropical botanical gardens situated overlooking Dingle Bay on the Ring of Kerry. It is home of the SkyWalk, Ireland’s longest rope bridge (112 foot long). Ideal for everyone with over 3 kms of walks and lots of Dinosaurs for the children.
Commanding a wonderful vista overlooking Dingle Bay and peninsula, Kells Bay Gardens cover 20 hectares in a short v-shaped valley between the Ring of Kerry and the sea.
Kells Bay Gardens have been open to visitors since the autumn of 2008. They contain one of the finest collections of southern hemisphere plants in Europe. The spectacular topography is complemented and enhanced by the exotic plants. The centrepiece Tree-fern Forest has attracted horticultural enthusiasts for decades and is comparable to similar forests in Tasmania. With its unique micro-climate and fantastic canopy, it provides an ethereal experience that differs daily. There are plants here of every description from around the world. The Robinsonian gardening style combines with the variety and acclimatisation of the plants to give the visitor an experience that well repays the journey.
There are various walking routes designed to access the major features of the gardens. The Sky Walk Rope Bridge, Ireland’s longest, is an unforgettable experience. Inspired by owner Billy Alexander’s plant hunting trips in Asia, it stays long in the memory. After the adrenalin rush of the bridge, there is ample opportunity to relax in the nooks or recover in the healing chair sculptures along the River Ramble or Waterfall Way. The eight dinosaurs, beautifully sculpted from fallen trees, shorten the walk.
Derrynane House and Gardens
the Oakwood of St Fionán, stands at the very tip of the Iveragh Peninsula. Sheltered within the woodland stands Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman, and one of the great figures in modern Irish history.
Many relics of O’Connell’s life and career are preserved in Derrynane House, but the house is more than just a museum. Derrynane was one of the great influences on Daniel O’Connell’s life as he himself was always ready to admit. For several generations, it had been the ancestral home of the O’Connell’s. It had been his own childhood home and, throughout his career, it was his country residence. He and his family spent most summers at Derrynane. It was here that he was host to many guests in the surroundings that he loved and here he indulged his passion for beagling. Many books have been written about O’Connell but one can perhaps gain a greater insight into his character by visiting his home at Derrynane and experiencing the surroundings familiar to him during his life.
Today some 120 hectares (300 acres) of the lands of Derrynane, together with Derrynane House, make up Derrynane National Historic Park, under the management of National Historic Properties of the Office of Public Works.
Skellig Chocolate factory
Located on The Skelligs Ring, just off the main Ring of Kerry road and nestled along the Wild Atlantic Way. Skelligs Chocolate is Ireland’s only fully ‘open plan’ chocolate production kitchen where you can get up close and see your chocolatey treats being made in front of you. Take some time and talk to the friendly staff while you taste some ridiculously fresh (and free) chocolate samples as you take in the incredible scenery. The initial premises opened in 1996 were approximately 1,200 sq feet. Then the new one extended to 6,500 sq feet nd in 2019 an added an extension to bring the total size to 10,000 sq. feet. Definitely worth a visit.
Valentia Lighthouse
Built on the site of a 17th century fort, Valentia Island Lighthouse at Cromwell Point has stood against sea and invader for hundreds of years.Now, this gleaming white lighthouse on beautiful Valentia Island looks out across some of the most spectacular sights along the Wild Atlantic Way.
There’s so much to enjoy on a visit to this lighthouse:
• Delve into 17th-century history, explore Cromwell’s ‘Fleetwood’ Fort.
• Take a tour of the lighthouse tower and balcony.
• Be blown away by the dramatic scenery and big weather!
• Soak up the stories and the science as you learn about the people and technology that have guided ships safely home from sea over the years.
• Built in 1653 to guard the entrance to Valentia Harbour against invaders, 40 soldiers and eight cannons were stationed here.
• The lighthouse was designed by famed civil engineer, George Halpin Senior.
• A lighthouse keeper lived with his family on site until 1947, when the lighthouse was automated.
Valentia Slate
• Valentia Slate Quarry was first opened commercially in 1816 by the Knight of Kerry to supply slates and slabs, mainly for roofing and flooring. It also supplied gravestones to all the local cemeteries and because of the excellent quality of the slate (non-porous with no impurities), these memorials can still be seen today with inscriptions that are as perfect as the day they were erected as far back as the 1820’s. In 1825, a pier was constructed under the direction of Alexander Nimmo at The Foot in Valentia Harbour to allow the export of Valentia Slate. This pier and the nearby Slate Yard became the focus of the subsequent construction of Knightstown Village in the 1840’s, having been designed by Nimmo about 1830.
· When the great municipal buildings were being erected in London in the mid-19th century, Valentia Slate was used extensively. These included the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and many of the Underground Railway Stations such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, Liverpool St. and Black Friars. It was also used in the Paris Opera House.
That’s just a few things to do while touring around, of course there is the fabulous Derrynane beach for those looking to soak up a few waves, Clean, shallow and often warm, there are long stretches to explore, rock pools, a tidal island to walk out onto, and an amazing area of sand dunes. And Waterville has some fabulous waterside walks to enjoy too. An action packed trip is guaranteed but be sure to take time out to enjoy the local hospitality too which is in abundance in South Kerry.
