A One day tour of approx. 220 miles (350km)

Or a two day tour of 250 miles (398km), overnighting in Ballyroe House Hotel, Tralee.

After overnighting in Dunmore House Hotel travel west west from Cork City via Ovens to Macroom. The routes from Cork City to Killarney, Glengarriff and Macroom are all very beautiful. In fact, the road from Cork to Glengarriff via Macroom is one of the scenic highlights of the country. Points of interest along the way include the Gearagh National Nature Reserve, with its ancient forest system, rare plants and large numbers of wildfowl.

Turn off for Tooms Bridge and Inchigeelagh through the wild mountain scenery or the Pass of Keimaneigh into Ballylickey. Along the way you could visit Gougane Barra Forest Park which is just north of your route. This Forest Park and lake is set among magnificent mountain scenery. From Ballylickey enjoy the superb views of Bantry Bay en route to Glengarriff, from where you can visit the beautiful Italian Gardens of Garinish Island. There are many beautiful walk and trails to experience in this lovely village.

Head North to Kenmare through rugged mountains. Here your trip around the 'Ring of Kerry' begins - encircling the Inveragh Peninsula, which features Ireland's highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy Reeks. Leaving Kenmare the 'Ring of Kerry' road travels west along the shore of the estuary of the Kenmare river. Excellent views are provided over Dingle Bay to the north and the river estuary to the south.

Travel south-west through Parknasilla and Sneem, into Caherdaniel, where you'll find excellent swimming and diving along the fine beach. As the road rises and crosses the Pass of Coomakista, 700 feet above the sea, there are fine views of Ballinskelligs Bay, the Skelligs Rocks and other features of the coast.

Go north to the well-known resort of Waterville, continuing your tour by Cahirciveen. Near Cahirciveen, joined to the mainland by a bridge, is Valentia Island, a resort particularly popular with deep-sea anglers and one of the most westerly points of Europe. About 9 miles off Valentia Island are the Skelligs Rocks. The Skellig experience is a major visitor attraction which includes a visitor centre where audio-visual techniques are used to tell the story of the life and work of the monks who lived on the islands, the history of the lighthouses and their keepers who served on the Skelligs, the seabirds of coastal Kerry and the underwater life in the area.

The road from Cahirciveen north-east to Glenbeigh is one of the highlights of the 'Ring of Kerry' and affords fine views across Dingle Bay to the peaks of the Dingle Peninsula. Completing the 'Ring of Kerry' circuit drive on to Killorglin and into Killarney. Along the road there are magnificent vistas of the Reeks and the other hills of the Killarney district. Your return journey takes you through the Derrynasaggart Mountains to Macroom, turning off the main road for Dripsey and Blarney Castle, where you can stop to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and spend the night in Springfort Hall Country House in Mallow.