scenic drives around blarney

This magnificent drive crosses a pass in the Caha Mountains is backbone of the Beara Peninsula, from Adrigole in Cork  to Lauragh in County Kerry.
Taken in either direction it is a spectacular route, with Glanmore Lake brooding deeply below and great coums and corries opening on each side.

The road is called after Tim Healy, a controversial man, much liked and much hated, who was appointed Governor-General of the new Irish Free State which came into being after...

The River Lee, is the subject of the song that is regarded as Cork's anthem. For the Lee drive, leave the city by the "straight Road" to Carrigrohnae and cross the river to its northern bank. Approaching Macroom you'll see on your left the striking ruin of Carrigadrohid Castle on its island site, which you can approach by a quaint old bridge.

Of the two roads westward out of Macroom, one goes to Killarney via a fine route over the Derrynasagart Mountains. The landscape gradually...

The Suggested starting point is Cork-a charming city on the River Lee, excellent for shopping and offering first class pubs and restauants with entertainment for every member of the family. Blarney Castle, with its famous Stone of Eloquence is a ten minute drive away.

Visit there to kiss the stone before continuing to the old world town of Kinsale. Drive on to Timoleague where you'll see the remains of the once largest friary in Ireland, then Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Glandore, Union Hall...

The Blackwater is Munster's major river, and the second largest in Ireland. It rises in remote mountainy country on the borders of Cork and Kerry, and flows for 136 km through a wooded limestone valley, turning sharply south towards the end to reach the sea at Youghal. The river banks are punctuated by historic castles and great estates.

Starting at the old fishing port of Youghal, follow the little roads on the West side of the estuary, stopping briefly to look at the ruined Molana...

The coast of West Cork is a much favoured but quite unspoilt region, a place of bays and sheltered harbours, headlands, beaches and quiet seaside villages. Head out of Cork by the road to Innishannon, from where you drive along the Bandon river into the town of Bandon, take the road to Timoleague. The fine abbey here, standing at the water's edge, was an important Franciscan house.

It was founded by the MacCarthys in 1240 and was associated with St. Mologa, hence the name. You may...

Except for that portion of it between Skibbereen and Mizen, this is the least travelled of all the south-western peninsulas, and for superb sea and mountainscapes, it is second to none.

Skibbereen is the "headquarters" of West Cork, and its main market town. Before setting out on the tour proper, you might like to spend a day around the port of Baltimore, which opens onto Roaringwater Bay, and perhaps take the ferry to Cape Clear Island and/or Sherkin Island.

Set off westw...

The Beara Peninsula pokes a long finger into the Atlantic between the wide estuary of the Kenmare River and Bantry Bay. The Caha Mountains form its backbone and the Cork/Kerry border follows the summit ridge. The scenery is magnificent.
Begin at Bantry, having visited Bantry House and wandered through the rooms full of treasures, many of them from the Palace of Versailles, and climbing the garden steps to see the house set in the panoramic sweep of the bay. You might take time too to vi...

Cork and Ring of Kerry Tour
One day tour - 354km
Travel west from Cork via Ovens to Macroom. Turn off for Tooms Bridge and Inchigeelagh through wild mountain scenery or the pass of Keimaneigh into Ballyfickey. Along the way you could visit Gougane Barra Forest Park which is just north of your route. 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. Head north to Kenmare through r...