Ring of Kerry Coach Tour from Killarney
The full Ring of Kerry from Killarney, about 180 km of road and 8 to 9 hours with stops. Coaches run the Ring anti-clockwise, so the day heads west to Killorglin first and comes home over Moll's Gap and past Ladies View.
What the day covers
- Killorglin and Glenbeigh
- Cahersiveen and Valentia views
- Sneem and Moll's Gap
- Ladies View over the lakes
When it runs
- Year-round, snow permitting
Why anti-clockwise, and what it means
The roads are narrow in places, and tour coaches all run anti-clockwise so they are not meeting each other head-on. Drivers of cars are usually advised the opposite way. Timings for a coach therefore differ from a car guide written for the clockwise direction. Stops come in a fixed sequence, and the light over the lakes at Ladies View comes late in the day.
The road and the stops
From Killarney the N72 runs to Killorglin, then the N70 follows the coast through Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen, with views across to Valentia Island. It continues through Waterville and Caherdaniel to Sneem and Kenmare. From Kenmare the N71 climbs to Moll's Gap, drops past Ladies View into Killarney National Park and returns by Torc. A typical day has a coffee stop in Killorglin or Glenbeigh, lunch around Waterville or Sneem, and short photo stops at the viewpoints.
Vehicles and driving time
Full-size coaches, including a 53-seat executive coach, do the Ring every day, and a 16-seater or midi coach suits a smaller party. Driving time is well inside one driver's daily limit. Lunch falls before the four-and-a-half-hour mark, after which the rules require a 45-minute break. In summer the road is busy with coaches and the viewpoints can be crowded, so an early start helps.
Weather and what to bring
The tour runs all year, snow permitting. Winter weather can close Moll's Gap; if it does, the driver takes a lower road back to Killarney and the group misses Ladies View. Bring a waterproof and a warm layer for the exposed viewpoints. The day suits first-time visitors to Kerry, golf groups with a rest day and coach tours staying in Killarney.
Can our group go clockwise to avoid the coaches?
Not in a coach. Coaches run the Ring anti-clockwise, and a coach going the other way would meet them on the narrow sections.
Can we add Muckross House?
Yes, it is on the N71 near the end of the day. Groups must reserve in advance, and Muckross has separate coach parking. It adds time, so start earlier.
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Send the date, the passenger count and any timed entries you already hold. We come back with a fixed price for Ring of Kerry.