Bantry to The Ring of Kerry - WAW continued ........

A change from the coast road to start and my favourite drive, well a close call with the drive on the The Ring of Beara - the N71 to Kenmare stunning mountain road - known as the Caha Pass, going through tunnels cut through Turners rock, we checked first to see that we were not too wide, wonderful experience loved it.

We stopped off at Molly Callivans, which is a preserved farm and cottage of Molly who over 200 years ago raised 7 children in poverty conditions and to make ends meet started to sell home brewed liquor made out of potatoes - Poitin. Great place in a stunning location. We bought a dvd of Ryans Daughter as we will be heading to Inch Beach once we get to the Dingle Peninsula, this is where the film was shot. Also bought a milk jug from a local potter - its beautiful in blues and greens.

The Ring of Kerry -
First stop at Sneem, a nice place, river running through, surrounded by mountains, there is a campsite here but we are booked in at Wave Crest campsite at Rath Strand (Strand means beach). We ate at a lovely bar called D O'Shea.

We stopped overnight and had a great pitch looking out across the sea, with stunning sunset followed by an equally stunning sunrise. Got out washing done.

We drove the Coomakesta Pass, which was a wee bit scary but fab, overlooking the Ballinskelligs Bay and the Skellig Rocks - Skellig Micheal being the most famous one with the lighthouse build into the rock.

We stopped off at Ballinskellig bay, where we walked out to McCarthy Mor castle on a spit of land and then onto an Abbey which was the home of the Skellig Monks, that came in from the Skellig Islands to take up residence in the deserted Abbey, as the weather on the Islands was too severe.

We did a litter pick on the beach.

The Kerry Cliffs were spectacular, we had lunch in Portmagee a small fishing village, we had great chowder and the best Guinness so far at Fishermans, worth seeking out if you ever get there. The Portmagee Ferry boat is on display here, that ran until the mighty bridge was build over to Valentia Island. To attract the Ferry Boat operator customers stood on the harbour and whistled for attention (see photo of the ferry boat and bridge in the background).