The Ring of Beara: Things to Do & Places to Visit • Go-to-Ireland.com

Explore The Ring of Beara

Tourist attractions

Hiking tours in Ireland 3 Beaches 2 Irish forest parks 2 Irish mines 2 Irish tourist routes 2 Irish Islands 1 Irish lakes 1 Irish mountains 1 Irish parks and gardens 1 Museums in Ireland 1 Traditional Irish farms 1

Irish pubs

Irish pubs in The Ring of Beara 1

Tourist attractions

Irish Restaurants and Pubs

Partner Accommodations

Campgrounds and Lodging

Glengarriff

Irish Islands

Garinish Island

Nestled in the picturesque waters of Bantry Bay in County Cork, Ireland, lies a hidden gem and a paradise for nature lovers:…

Allihies

Beaches

Allihies Beach

Allihies Beach is located on the Beara peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. It’s known for its wild and picturesque landscapes, with sheer…

Glengarriff

Irish forest parks

Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve

For forest lovers, don’t miss the Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve, a protected forest park just a few kilometers from the village of…

Irish forest parks

Gleninchaquin Park

Gleninchaquin Park is a magnificent wilderness park near Kenmare in County Kerry. You'll find sumptuous wild landscapes where you can hike, fish,…

The Ring of Beara

Irish mountains

The Healy Pass

Healy Pass is a pass on the Beara Peninsula. The latter offers a breathtaking view of the peninsula and its coastline. It's…

Traditional Irish farms

Molly Gallivan’s Visitor Centre

Molly Gallivan's Cottage & Traditional Farm is a 200-year-old Irish farmhouse. Still in working order, it is managed in the old-fashioned way,…

Allihies

Irish tourist routes

The coast of the Beara Peninsula

The coastline of the Beara Peninsula is part of the Wild Atlantic Way, the famous tourist route along Ireland's west coast. Magnificent,…

Allihies

Hiking tours in Ireland

The Allihies Copper Mine Trail

For many years, the village of Allihies was one of the country's leading mining operations. That's why one of the village's star…

Glengarriff

Hiking tours in Ireland

The Beara Way

Walk 152km along the Beara Way, a hiking trail on Ireland's Beara Peninsula. You'll come across sublime landscapes, between land and sea.…

Allihies

Irish mines

Allihies Copper Mine Museum

The Allihies Copper Mine Museum is located in the village of Allihies in County Cork. It is entirely devoted to the history…

Irish Actors and ActressesIrish Actors and Actresses

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O'Hara (1920–2015) was an Irish actress who established herself throughout her career in the highly exclusive world of Hollywood.

Magazine

The Ring of Beara : All the latest news

Unclassified 10 May 2022

Glengarriff: Maureen O’Hara statue installed, then immediately removed after criticism

The small Irish village of Glengarriff is currently at the heart of a puzzling controversy. After installing a tribute statue of actress…

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The Ring of Beara

The Ring of Beara (Beara Ring in English) is a tourist circuit that will let you discover the best of the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. It is a 195km route that winds between lakes, forests, and mountains, while following the coastline with its beaches and bays. A circuit to do by bus or car!

Discover the Ring of Beara

From Kenmare to Ardgroom (Co. Kerry)

Kenmare opens the route on the N71, immediately offering a succession of bays and coves bathed in exceptional colors. Rolling plains and rocky cliffs plunge into the deep blue ocean.

A marvel.

Also note the possibility to see throughout these landscapes the very beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, located not far from Kenmare. There are many designated areas along the road to make stops, stretch your legs, and admire the view (maybe take some photos?).

Follow the road to Lauragh, leave the town, then take the Healy Pass, a narrow road winding for 11km that allows you to reach a summit at no less than 334 meters high.

At the top, the view is simply magnificent, offering a splendid panorama over Glanmore Lake, the valley dotted with abandoned stone walls, and the surrounding mountains. To say it right away: this is one of the most beautiful views of the entire Beara Peninsula! Not to be missed under any circumstances!

Once descended, follow the direction of Ardgroom. This road will take you along many forests sheltering fabulous coves and bays, barely visible. The colors are once again splendid, and we recommend stepping onto their clear sandy beaches: the beauty of the landscape is truly worth the detour! It is at this precise moment that you leave County Kerry and enter County Cork…
From Coulagh Bay to Glengarriff (Co. Cork) Caha Pass Road – © Luis

Destination: County Cork! We are now on an ascending road that will take you through the Slieve Mishkish Mountains towards Allihies. Once descended, you will find yourself in Allihies and can follow the magnificent Garinish Bay. The view is breathtaking and worthy of the most beautiful postcards sold all over Ireland.

Now take the R572 towards Dursey Island, a small island accessible by a paid cable car (average cost €4). If you wish to set foot there, know that there is a superb 11km loop circuit allowing you to tour the island.

Once your visit is over, get back in your car and follow the direction of Castletownbere, a picturesque village mainly living from fishing. The pubs are pleasant for a drink, and the small fishing port is absolutely charming: some fishermen are untangling their nets while other large boats leave the port heading offshore to enjoy the prolific waters of the Atlantic.

If you go a little further than Castletownbere, you will reach Bantry Bay, the peninsula’s stopping point. Again, the view is splendid and will let you discover breathtaking landscapes and colors.

The peninsula circuit forms a loop, so you can then head back in the other direction towards the destination of your choice.

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