'Ring of Kerry' and
'Dingle Peninsula'

Thank you for your enquiry about Irish PRoFS. As requested, I enclose route details for two 200km circuits, viz ‘Ring of Kerry’ and ‘Dingle Peninsula’, which are based on Killarney and Tralee (both of which are accessible by train from Dublin, Cork or Rosslare), but may be started from any point en route. These PRoFS may be ridden in a single day as Randonnees (15-30kph), but may prove more enjoyable ridden over two days at Tourist Standard.

Ring of Kerry [200 km]:
1. Killarney - N71/T65 ($ Kenmare), pausing at ‘Ladies View’, to Moll’s Gap - R on R568 to Derrendarragh - L on minor road to Blackwater Bridge [40];
2. R@T on N70/T66 ($ ‘Ring of Kerry’) thro’ Sneem and Caherdaniel, over Coomakesta Pass and thro’ Waterville - L on R567 - L on R566 to Ballinskelligs [64];
3. R on minor roads to Killonecaha, Ballynahow and over to Portmagee [14];
4. cont’ on R565 - L@T on N70/T68 thro’ Cahersiveen - R on minor road to Lissatinnig Bridge - L over Ballaghasheen Pass to ‘Jack Walsh's Climber's Inn’ (accommodation), 1km past Bealalaw Bridge [46];
5. cont’ 10km past Lough Acoose (superb views of Ireland's highest mountains) - fork R to follow minor road for 10km along foot of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks (not shown on Michelin map) - SO@X (by Gap of Dunloe) - R@T on N72 (R562/T67 on Michelin map) to Killarney [36].

Dingle Peninsula [202km]:
1. Tralee - N70/T66 thro’ Castlemaine to Milltown (alternative start) [19];
2. retrace to Castlemaine - L on R561/L103 past Inch Strand to Anascaul - L@T on N86/T68 to Dingle - 1st ex rbt, R559 ‘Slea Head Drive’ to the ‘Enchanted Garden Cafe’ at Slea Head (views of Blasket Islands) [66];
3. cont. on R559 thro’ Ballyferriter (most westerly parish in Europe) to Murreagh - keep L on minor road thro’ Feohanagh to Brandon Creek (Tiduff) [28];
4. return to Dingle on minor road - climb Connor Pass (456m) and descend - L at foot to Cloghane and cont. to Brandon Point [39];
5. retrace to Cloghane - cont. along coast thro’ Kilcummin to Stradbally - L thro’ Castlegregory (magnificent beach) to Fahamore (overground graves) [27];
6. retrace to Castlegregory - cont. on R560 to Camp - L@T on N86/T68 to Tralee [23].

NB: Control stamps should be obtained at (or as near as possible) to places in bold type; bars may be your best bet and often double as the general store, but improvise if necessary by noting local information (a relaxed approach should be adopted in keeping with the pace of life in this part of the world!). Distances in kilometres between controls are noted [in square brackets]; road signs may show distances in miles or kilometres or both and road classification is in the (long and relaxed) process of being changed from T(runk) and L(ink) to N(ational) and R(egional) so both designations are indicated as per Michelin sheet 405; for more detail obtain the recently updated OS quarter-inch ‘South’ regional sheet, or the old half-inch sheets 20 (Kerry) & 24 (West Cork). The ‘Irish Cycling Guide’ by Brendan Walsh (published by Gill & Macmillan) describes routes and gives useful local information.

David Lewis
12 Ethel Street, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1EJ (tel: 029 20384806)