Ring Of Kerry

Started nice and early as we had a long way to go.

The Blarney Castle and Stone were just a few kms down the road from Cork, so we were waiting when it opened. Climbed all the way up to the top, kissed the stone which is thought to be the other half of the Stone of Scone, looked through the castle on the way down, and went for a walk through the Rock Close (garden) before we headed off.

An hour or so saw us at Killarney having driven through a lovely back route down the valley, free of buses and tourists, though an occasional tractor mixes things up nicely, and we started on the 'Ring Of Kerry', supposedly the most heavily touristed road in the country. Lovely views, very narrow roads. Paused for a drink at the top, and admired the Gap Of Dunloe. Took the goat track across the middle of the Iveragh Peninsula. Now that was a truly tricky and sometimes scary route. Strictly one lane all the way, stone hedges on each side so there's nowhere to go, and sheep grazing on the edges. Bit hairy when another car appeared around the bend. Crested the pass, and slowly made our way down to Killorglin, where we stopped for lunch on the banks of the river.

Round onto the next peninsula and on to Dingle where we did the Slea Head Drive around the coast. Spectacular cliffs and hills, but the real highlights are the Beehive Huts found dotted around the route. They are built on the same principle as igloos, but out of stones, with no mortar or foundations. The rocks slope down and out to ensure that the rain never gets in, using a building technique known as corbelling. All of them are at least 1000 years old.

Further round is a church/monk's structure known as Gallarus Oratory, built on the same principles about 1300 years ago (and we spent millions at Syndal when we could have found some rocks). Tea of fish and chips on the waterfront at the Dingle port, then a fairly stiff drive of about 200km to Limerick for our first B&B of the trip.