Ring of Kerry

bobnick

bobnick

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Lots but slow learner.
When we go to Ireland on the 23rd i intend to do what is known as "The Ring of Kerry". (190Ks ish)
Our skip is 8mts long, anyone done the ring in a larger MH.
I will have done part of the route years ago in a car, of course i just cannot remember what the roads were like.
 
You will be fine. HGVs and coaches manage all the time.
 
The roads are OK but a bit narrow best to go round the same way as the coaches or you will be forever stopping for them.

I thought I'd be clever managed to pull in to let the coach up my arse past & then I could follow him. No way could I keep up with him.
 
bobnick said:
When we go to Ireland on the 23rd i intend to do what is known as "The Ring of Kerry". (190Ks ish)
Our skip is 8mts long, anyone done the ring in a larger MH.
I will have done part of the route years ago in a car, of course i just cannot remember what the roads were like.
Click to expand...
We parked RV on a site at Glenbeigh and took toad around.
We saw coaches on the route which travel counter clockwise as quite narrow in places. The risk could be getting behind a queue of coaches.

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Lenny HB said:
The roads are OK but a bit narrow best to go round the same way as the coaches or you will be forever stopping for them.

I thought I'd be clever managed to pull in to let the coach up my arse past & then I could follow him. No way could I keep up with him.
Click to expand...
HaHa

I had the same experience on the Amalfi Coast Road. The difference is I was driving a car and I still couldn't keep up with the coaches. Those guys have some skill and bravery.
 
I've done that route a number of times - my wife comes from Kerry and still has family there, right out at westward end. We have done the route many times, including several trips in our 7.4 metre motorhome. A few pointers:
- The coaches generally travel anticlockwise and it is best to do the same to avoid a succession of head on confrontations.
- As they are generally doing a day trip they set out in the morning heading westwards along the northern side and then return eastwards along the southern side in the afternoon. If you do the route the same way but can delay starting your journey until a bit later you will avoid most of the queues and tailgating.
- The roads are now generally pretty good and straightforward (you should have seen them 40 years ago!) but there are a few sections that are bendy and involve single file crossings of bridges. None are a problem if you keep your speed down and take note of the warnng signs so that you can give way in good time or proceed if the way is clear.
 
The Dngle is indeed very nice, but if you do it, I'd avoid the Connor Pass. It can be scary in a car and I wouldn't attempt it in a motorhome, especially a large one!
 
All good pointers,thanks.
We are there for 10 days so no rush.
Anti clockwise it is.

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I remember being around there in the early 90’s, touring and camping with the motorbike. We got told about a music night by a local - well the pub this was at was properly in the middle of nowhere, miles and miles of single track unlit lanes, locals warned us about the black cows that like to wander across the road!

Anyway we finally got to this pub and it was heaving - local bands on, every local for miles around must have been there, it was a *very* lively night.

Come midnight and 8 Gardai cars come steaming into the car park at speed, lights on, and umpteen coppers pile out. “What’s going to happen here?” we think. Straight to the bar and knocking them back with the other locals was all they were interested in! There must have half the Kerry police on duty that night in there!
 
Lenny HB said:
No way could I keep up with him.
Click to expand...
Hi.
The driver could have been on " Trip Money ". Do 9 and get paid 10. Worked on tippers. :ROFLMAO: ...... So i was told.......;)
Tea Bag.................(y)
 
Tea Bag said:
Hi.
The driver could have been on " Trip Money ". Do 9 and get paid 10. Worked on tippers. :ROFLMAO: ...... So i was told.......;)
Tea Bag.................(y)
Click to expand...
Might be an issue tipping tourists out of your coach:LOL:
 
bobnick said:
Might be an issue tipping tourists out of your coach:LOL:
Click to expand...
Hi bobnick.
" There is ALWAYS one.".............................. Who has NEVER seen it happen... ( But well spotted you. :ROFLMAO: ) Coach/Bus drivers are LAZY !! the buses/coaches.... LOAD THEMSELVES !!.:ROFLMAO: EASY LIFE !!;)
Tea Bag
 
When we did it years ago a couple of things stood out, firstly a then oldish Motorhome having had its guts ripped out by a truck, leaving copious amounts of insulation, personal belongs and various other components/bits strewn around. At a particular point on the Ring, there was a nice collection of wing mirrors, could be worth picking up a spare from the pile whilst you’re there. ;)

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When you've done the ring - by whatever direction and whatever speed - I really recommend going slighly west of Dingle and head beyond Ventry to the people only boat that takes you to the Blasket Islands.

Obviously you can't take the MH, so maybe think about parking up and getting the bus, but the Blaskets are great and equally westerly points in Europe to Skellig Mhichill - there is an interesting interpretative centre in Dunquin as well - close to the house where the late great Dolores O'Riordan lived during Cranberries success.
 
Im local and you'll be fine 🙂 my yoke is 9 metres with a metre of bike rack on the back, so you'll be grand with 8 metres 👍Leave Killarney and head for Killorglin you'll see the sea on your right, just keep the sea on your right and you'll not go wrong, right back over Ladies View and the lakes back to Killarney, loads of places to stop & stay over you could lose 10 days down there no problem
 
CaptainPaul said:
Im local and you'll be fine 🙂 my yoke is 9 metres with a metre of bike rack on the back, so you'll be grand with 8 metres 👍Leave Killarney and head for Killorglin you'll see the sea on your right, just keep the sea on your right and you'll not go wrong, right back over Ladies View and the lakes back to Killarney, loads of places to stop & stay over you could lose 10 days down there no problem
Click to expand...
What i want to hear. Ta, looking forward to boring ya'll with photos. :LOL: ;)

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Hi there
Did the Kerry 3 weeks ago in our Carthago compactline 7m few narrow spots but no real problem anti clockwise . It’s a lovely drive but an an all day drive in one day a
If u plan to stop a few times .
If I did again I would stop and stay halfway round and take in more sites 😎
 
If your after things to see muckross house is beautiful near top of Kerry and has lovely gardens and a good walk , cracking ice cream 🍦 also 😎 we then headed north to cliffs of moher which are stunning then a night wilding in the quay in ballyVaughan which I put put on search 4 sites as a new stop off with its own tap . 5mins from a brilliant Irish pub - great stop
 
bobnick said:
When we go to Ireland on the 23rd i intend to do what is known as "The Ring of Kerry". (190Ks ish)
Our skip is 8mts long, anyone done the ring in a larger MH.
I will have done part of the route years ago in a car, of course i just cannot remember what the roads were like.
Click to expand...

BusyBuilder said:
You also need to go around the correct way. Meet a bus or coach and you're in big trouble
Click to expand...

Just done it in a 7.5 metre MH (last week - we ar still here) and personally I did not find it a problem at all. A few tight spots but far better than the Peak District. Most road edges are soft (as in grass\ trees/bushes) so a lot more forgiving than stone walls. There are lots of passing spaces but for the majority of the time it's wide enough for a motorhome and a coach/HGV. Also, even in peak August season it is relatively quiet. (Certainly in terms of English traffic )

We went the 'wrong' way round but again, not a problem. Yes, we slowed down for a few coaches coming the other way but I'd rather that than be stick behind one or have one up my arse. Going the wrong way means you ar free to go at your own pace and for the most of the time there was no one in front of behind.
 
howsitgoingdud said:
If your after things to see muckross house is beautiful near top of Kerry and has lovely gardens and a good walk , cracking ice cream 🍦 also 😎 we then headed north to cliffs of moher which are stunning then a night wilding in the quay in ballyVaughan which I put put on search 4 sites as a new stop off with its own tap . 5mins from a brilliant Irish pub - great stop
Click to expand...
We are coming around that way. Cliffs of Mohar are 3rd stop on the Itin. !st overnight is The Snailbox.

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When I first started my Coach company back in the 80's, I did a full summer touring Southern Ireland every fortnight, including the Ring of Kerry, in a 40ft Coach.
There was only a couple of tight spots but easily negotiated if your careful. In those days, we left Killarney and did the 'Ring' clockwise in the morning so am somewhat surprised by the mention of anti-clockwise? ( Perhaps it is like Lands End used to be, one way in the morning and reversed in the afternoon?)
Remember one the beaches around the 'Ring' is where the film 'Ryans Daughter ' was filmed and there used to be a VERY good Lobster restaurant in Dingle not forgetting the Dolphin Furgus?(if it's still alive) in the bay.

PS. The local Coach drivers MIGHT not work very hard but I can assure others that the Tour Drivers ( and the TD's or whatever the courier's call themselves these day) DO!
How else would you be able to get onto a clean, fueled and reliable coach every morning?
 
L' Hobo said:
How else would you be able to get onto a clean, fueled and reliable coach every morning?
Click to expand...
Hi L'Hobo.
" Joke ". About loading and unloading themselves in another post. Don't forget all the luggage stowed under the passenger bit... That has to be loaded on/off. Never got into a dirty coach yet,fair play to you and the lads/lassies.
Tea Bag. (y)
 
Hi.
" Inch Beach "......" Dear Inch for i must leave you. I have promises to keep,perhaps miles to go. To my last sleep." I have a Magical photo of Jennifer and Sassy dog,sat at the side of the motor on this beach looking out to sea.
Get yourselves there,its special.
Tea Bag
 
bobnick said:
When we go to Ireland on the 23rd i intend to do what is known as "The Ring of Kerry". (190Ks ish)
Our skip is 8mts long, anyone done the ring in a larger MH.
I will have done part of the route years ago in a car, of course i just cannot remember what the roads were like.
Click to expand...
your in ireland
go with what ever way takes your fancy
sure arent hgv and coaches the same size no mater which whey are coming/going
 
Back in my young days we cycled around the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle peninsular plus the Connor Pass. There were very few busses and no motorhomes or caravans. The highlights were the bars with the singing, especially one Saturday market day the streets were paved in GOLD! So the pub had newspapers on the floor to keep them clean from animal poo. One of the pubs had some instruments so one could join in with the music. This was a fantastic holiday so we repeated the trip a few years later still great. The weather was another thing not cold but many showers and always a breeze so we did not bother to put wet weather cloths on just waited for the sun to come out and dry us, fantastic trip and the Guiness of course, currently trying to persuade other half to do the trip in the van.

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