Ring of Kerry’s coastal loop from Killarney
Published on 09/09/2026 at 17:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Ring of Kerry is a circular road route in County Kerry, with Killarney at one end of the loop. Its shape is the point: a long circuit around the Iveragh Peninsula that joins inland towns with the Atlantic coast.
A loop through County Kerry
The route is commonly given as about 179 km (111 miles) long, and it runs through a named chain of places rather than a single viewpoint. Killarney, Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, Glenbeigh and Killorglin are among the places on the circuit.179-kilometre-long
The road follows the N71, N70 and N72, so the route reads as a connected passage through the county rather than a detached scenic spur. The road network gives the loop its form, and the name reflects that broad arc.route around the Iveragh Peninsula
Killarney as the starting point
Killarney sits at the edge of the circuit and gives the route its best-known access point. From there, the road turns towards Kenmare before running along the peninsula and back through the eastern side of Kerry.starting and ending in Killarney
The sequence of towns matters because it gives the loop a readable geography. Inland stretches give way to coastal bends, then the road returns to the town where the circuit began.runs the coast on the N70
Landscape on the Iveragh Peninsula
The peninsula combines low mountains, sea-facing roads and a coastline broken by bays and headlands. MacGillycuddy’s Reeks rises inland, while the route also looks towards the Skellig Islands.MacGillycuddy’s Reeks
That mix of mountain, water and road gives the loop its character. The circuit is a road landscape first, but it moves between different types of Kerry country in one continuous line.long loop that links
Visiting Ring of Kerry: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The route lies in County Kerry in south-western Ireland. It is reached from Killarney by road, and the circuit uses the N71, N70 and N72.starts and finishes in Killarney
- The terrain is a road network across a peninsula, with coastal stretches, inland bends and long sections between named towns. The route is exposed to open country rather than enclosed streets.
- The official language is English and Irish, and the currency is the euro.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Ring of Kerry
Where is Ring of Kerry?
It is a road route in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. The loop centres on the Iveragh Peninsula and uses Killarney as a major access point.
What does a visit involve?
The route is a drive through towns, coastal bends and inland stretches. It is a road landscape with named places along the way rather than a single enclosed attraction.
What makes it distinctive?
Its circular form is the defining feature. The road links mountain country, coastal scenery and a series of Kerry towns in one circuit.
