Living The Irish Dream - Part 4

     The 179km circuit of the Ring of Kerry has been hailed as no. 6 of the 10 great European road trips to do in our lifetime. That is not surprising as it's a trail that takes you through 10,000 years of dramatic history, where you drive from deep forest to the crashing waters of the Atlantic. It's certainly wild, rugged and scenic. And I'm proud to announce that the Ring of Kerry marked my maiden drive in a foreign land. Derrick was too exhausted to continue driving so I was behind the wheel whilst Derrick took a much-needed snooze. To perk me up and to give me the confidence, he played Christina Perri's inspirational "A Thousand Years" on bluetooth.
     As advised, we travelled anti-clockwise to minimise traffic problems on the narrower roads. We spent a night at historic Cahersiveen (as mentioned in Part 1) and another night at bustling Killarney, which is the gateway to the Ring of Kerry. Some tourists can do the Ring of Kerry route in a day, but for us, even 2 nights were insufficient. There is really so much to see and do. And doing it hurriedly is definitely not the way to enjoy its essence.
     One extremely scenic spot is Ladies View at Killarney National Park, 16 km from Killarney. Apparently, Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting were so enraptured by the view during the royal visit in 1861 that this area was named after them. Tourists hopping down from the bus will be inclined to snap quick shots from several angles. But the astounding beauty of this area beckons you to sit quietly for a while to really savour the splendour.

Resting and marvelling at the incredible beauty of Ladies View

Two lovers at Ladies View

     Torc Waterfall, which is located 7km from Killarney, is easily accessible after a 5 minute walk through scenic woodland. It is about 70 feet high and offers some lovely views. It's definitely worth a stop.

Delighting in the sounds of the tumbling waters of Torc Waterfall

     Watching the sunset at Ross Castle, a 15th century castle in Killarney National Park, is most unforgettable. By then, the hordes of tourists would have left. But there would still be plenty of people around and safety is never an issue at this castle that sits majestically on the shores of the lakes of Killarney.

Such serene beauty at sunset - Ross Castle

I really enjoyed watching the sun dip down for her rest, here at Ross Castle

     These are just a few of the places that we visited around the Ring of Kerry. There really is so much more to explore and experience. I guess Derrick and I will just have to return.

Jaunting cars were everywhere at Killarney National Park and sitting in one makes you feel transported back in time

A lovely Irish gentleman and his jaunting car

We had hoped to be able to spot a leprechaun!