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Wild Atlantic Highlights in Kerry

Peninsula peaks, coastal cliffs, waterfalls, and monastic islands

County Kerry anchors the southern stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, pairing Ireland's highest mountain range with dramatic headlands and island heritage. Whether touring the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, or Killarney National Park, iconic landmarks appear around every bend. These ten top sights capture the best of Kerry.
Carrauntoohil — photo by Enter #1
Peak County Kerry

Carrauntoohil

Carrauntoohil, Carrauntoohill or Carrantuohill (, KARR-ən-TOO-əl; Irish: Corrán Tuathail [ˌkɔɾˠaːn̪ˠ ˈt̪ˠuəhəlʲ], meaning "Tuathal's sickle") is the highest mountain in Ireland at 1,038.6 metres (3,407 feet 6 inches). It is on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, close to the centre of Ireland's highest mountain range, MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Carrauntoohil is composed mainly of sandstone, whose glaciation produced distinctive features on the mountain such as the Eagle's Nest corrie and some deep gullies and sharp arêtes in its east and northeastern faces that are popular with rock and winter climbers. As Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohil is popular with mountain walkers, who most commonly ascend via the Devil's Ladder route; however, Carrauntoohil is also climbed as part of longer mountain walking routes in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range, including the 15-kilometre (9+1⁄2 mi) Coomloughra Horseshoe or the 26-kilometre (16 mi) MacGillycuddy's Reeks Ridge Walk of the entire mountain range. Carrauntoohil, and most of the range is held in private ownership and is not part of any Irish national park; however, reasonable access is granted to the public for recreational use.

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Cnoc Bréanainn — photo by Colin Park #2
Peak County Kerry

Cnoc Bréanainn

Mount Brandon or Brandon (Irish: Cnoc Bréanainn, meaning 'Brendan's hill'), at 952 metres (3,123 ft), is one of the ten highest peaks in Ireland, being the 8th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list, and the 9th–highest on the Vandeleur-Lynam list. Brandon is the highest Irish mountain outside the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range and has the greatest prominence of any Irish peak except Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain. Mount Brandon is at the centre of a long high ridge called the Brandon Group range of mountains in the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. The ridge contains seven other major peaks (i.e. above 2,000 ft in height); one is the similarly named Brandon Peak (840 metres). The positioning and dimensions of the Brandon Group ridge have made it the scene of several air accidents over the years. The mountain, and range, is named after Saint Brendan, and is the end of a Christian pilgrimage trail known as Cosán na Naomh. It is also well regarded for hill walking with routes such as the 4–5-hour Faha Route (also called The Pilgrim's Path), and the 6–7-hour traverse of the entire range known as "one of the finest ridgewalks in Ireland".

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Torc Mountain — photo by TJBrosnan at English Wikipedia #3
Viewpoint County Kerry

Torc Mountain

Torc Mountain (Irish: Sliabh Torc, meaning 'mountain of wild boar'), at 535 metres (1,755 ft), is the 329th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list. It is a popular mountain for hill walkers as it has a stone or boarded path (using railway sleepers) from its base at Torc Waterfall to its summit, which has views of the Lakes of Killarney. Torc Mountain is part of the Mangerton Mountain Group range in County Kerry, Ireland.

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Purple Mountain — photo by mozzercork from Republic of Ireland #4
Peak County Kerry

Purple Mountain

Purple Mountain (Irish: an Sliabh Corcra) at 832 metres (2,730 ft) high, is the 21st–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 28th–highest according to the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. It is located in County Kerry, and is the highest point of the Purple Mountain Group.

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Rossbeigh Beach — photo by Goatoo #6
Beach County Kerry

Rossbeigh Beach

Rossbeigh, or Rossbehy (Irish: Ros Beithe, meaning 'headland of the birch trees'), is a sandspit with beaches on either side, located approximately 1.6 km from the village of Glenbeigh, in County Kerry, Ireland. It is on the Ring of Kerry, on the Dingle Bay side of the Iveragh Peninsula. Rossbeigh contains a large volume of sand dunes and herbaceous vegetation. It is considered an important habitat for flora and fauna, including wildfowl (salmon and clam are locally farmed). The beach is on the Wild Atlantic Way tourist route.

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Inch Beach — photo by Draceane #8
Beach County Kerry

Inch Beach

Inch (Irish: Inse, meaning 'river meadow') is a small coastal settlement and townland on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. Inch Strand, in Inch townland, is on a long sand spit and dune system which reaches into Dingle Bay. The R561 regional road passes through the area. Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of midden, ringfort and ecclesiastical enclosure sites in Inch and Inch East townlands. The graveyard enclosure, in Inch East, contains a ruined single-cell church which dates to at least the 13th century. Inch Strand, also known as Inch Beach, is a spit which is 5 km in length and, together with its dune system, forms part of the Special Area of Conservation at Castlemaine Harbour.

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Derrynane Abbey — photo by Mike Searle #9
Abbey County Kerry

Derrynane Abbey

Derrynane Abbey also known as Ahamore Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Achaidh Mhóir) is a ruined abbey in Derrynane in County Kerry, Ireland. It is located near the town of Caherdaniel and is very close to Derrynane House, the house of Daniel O'Connell. The abbey is on an island appropriately named Abbey Island. It is accessible from the mainland through a beach. It is believed to have been built in the 6th century.

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