Trips from the house: You'll see some of the highlights in the photo gallery.
We'd recommend the following day trips:
1. Driving the Ring of Kerry, which passes right round the Iveragh Peninsula. Kenmare is a delightful town and a good stopping point for lunch.
2. Spending a day in the Killarney National park, maybe taking a jaunting car (horse drawn trap) or hiring cycles locally.
3. Driving round the Dingle Peninsula, in summer months including a boat trip to the Blasket Islands. Dingle is a pretty town where you can stop for lunch.
Ways to spend half a day include:
1. A visit by boat to Skellig Michael climbing 700 steps to the top to see the 6th Century monastery (perfectly preserved) and in early summer watching the puffins which nest there.
2. Taking the short car ferry crossing (about 5 minutes) to Valentia Island, which has many attractions including the oldest Tetrapod (amphibian) fossilised footprints in the world, and the site and memorial of the first transatlantic cable.
Walking: The Kerry way runs past the front gate. This is a waymarked walking way running for 215 km round the Iveragh Peninsular. It takes you through glorious scenery, without being too strenuous or difficult. For walkers looking for a greater challenge, the house looks out towards the western end of the Glenbeigh horseshoe, and walking up the incline behind the house you eventually get to the summit of Drung Hill. From there you take in a wonderful Atlantic view and then walk along a ridge at around 2000 feet for the 25 km hike to end up in the village of Glenbeigh. There are countless other local walks, one of the favourites being to the end of Rossbeigh Strand and back, the circuit taking roughly two hours. The owners' library contains books and other details of walks.
Fishing: Local waters abound with skate, shark (many species, from little frilled sharks to potentially man-eating blues), ling, cod, conger, pollock, monkfish, coalfish, dogfish, mackerel and many more. Even tuna is brought to Kerry waters by the Gulf Stream. Local fishing grounds hold many Irish Sea Fishing Records.
Local skippers take fishermen out for an hour or two, or day-long trips, maybe to the Skelligs or Blaskets.
For shore fishermen Rossbeigh strand, is famous for bass fishing, particularly in early spring. Many places along the coast are suitable for rock fishing. The owners' library contains details of local sea fishing.
For freshwater game fishermen the area abounds with lakes and rivers for salmon and brown trout. The salmon season runs from 9th February to 30th September, and trout from 15th March to 12th October. Caragh lake, set in unparalleled scenery is a 15 minute drive away. Salmon are caught here, as they are on the Upper Caragh River. The river has 9 beats.
Golf:
Dooks, at 10 km, a short, but beautiful, links course overlooking Dingle Bay, recently substantially remodelled.
Killarney, at 40km, two 18 hole championship courses, Killeen and Mahoney’s Point, and a further 18 hole course.
At 50 km, outside Tralee, a sensational links course overlooking some of the finest scenery in Ireland.
At 35km, west from the house along the Ring of Kerry, Waterville, a links course once assessed by Golf World as the 5th best course in the 'British' Isles.
Ballybunnion, at 85km, two championship links courses (the Old and the New courses).
Learn more about this holiday rental at the owner's website:
