Driving Ireland’s Gorgeous Beara Peninsula

April 24, 2017
beara peninsula

If you ask my parents what their favorite thing in our Ireland roadtrip was, both will say hands-down the day we spent driving the Beara Peninsula.  That might be surprising if you haven’t heard of it.  Which was kind of the point.

Since we were going in mid-August, which is still within peak tourist season, my goal in putting our Ireland roadtrip together was avoiding the most tourist-packed spots so that we didn’t spend the entire trip stuck behind tour buses and fighting for parking spots.  In my research, the Beara Peninsula got rave reviews but almost never appeared on the must-do checklist and it didn’t look like any tour groups went there.  So basically right up my alley.

beara peninsula

Why Ireland's Beara Peninsula Is a Must | The Beara Peninsula isn't as well known as the Ring of Kerry, but is gorgeous & less crowded...tips for driving the ring & Healy Pass #ireland #roadtrip #beara

I highly recommend the Beara Peninsula (also called Ring of Beara) to anyone visiting the west coast of Ireland.  This post is kind of half advice and half self-indulgent photo essay because I really had trouble narrowing down my pictures—each one has something a little unique in it and I’m hoping you fall in love with this lesser-known peninsula like we did.

My tips for a smooth drive around Beara are at the bottom of the post, & you can read my detailed guide to driving in Ireland here!  For renting a car, I always search in a few different places and compare both the prices and specific offerings/benefits.  My go-to’s are DiscoverCarsRentalCars.com, and AutoEurope as well.

beara peninsula

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Driving the Stunning Beara Peninsula

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I somehow accidentally had a high-saturation setting on my camera for most of my Ireland trip, but honestly this is what it looked like in real life, so it’s actually kind of perfect.  You would not BELIEVE the colors unless you see them in person.

After landing in Dublin, driving to Kilkenny and staying the night, and then driving through Cashel and around the Sheeps Head Peninsula the previous day, we based ourselves in Kenmare for two nights.  This allowed us to stay put for a bit, and it was easy to spend a day each driving both the Beara Peninsula and the Dingle Peninsula from there.

Avoid the tour buses and crowds on the Ring of Kerry, visit the Beara Peninsula instead! Advice on route, where to stop, and how to make the drive amazing.

We had a later breakfast and headed out, though it was pouring on the drive over to the peninsula.  It stopped raining when we started the drive around, though it was still a bit overcast.  Lent a bit of moodiness to the scene.  These pictures are from a stop later in the day in Eeyries, an adorable colorful village.  We stopped at Auntie May’s for coffee and some biscotti, which I highly recommend.

beara peninsula

beara peninsula

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Not long into the drive the rain cleared up and we were blessed with intense blue skies.

Avoid the tour buses and crowds on the Ring of Kerry, visit the Beara Peninsula instead! Advice on route, where to stop, and how to make the drive amazing.

beara peninsula

Avoid the tour buses and crowds on the Ring of Kerry, visit the Beara Peninsula instead! Advice on route, where to stop, and how to make the drive amazing.

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I loved the patches of purple flowers (heather?) that carpeted all the greenery, the color really popped.

beara peninsula

beara peninsula

If you want to avoid the crazy tour crowds on the Ring of Kerry, the Ireland's Beara Peninsula is a gorgeous off-the-beaten-path alternative.

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Every bend we drove around had a view that just smacked you in the face.  We seriously were stopping like every five minutes (which is one of many reasons  that the driving times on map programs aren’t accurate).

One of the things that’s fascinating to me is how much history is just lying about in Ireland.  There are so many old buildings and ruins that are simply a part of the landscape, part of daily life.

The Beara Peninsula is a must-do on any Irish west coast roadtrip. Tips & tricks for making this stunning drive.

The Beara Peninsula is a must-do on any Irish west coast roadtrip. Tips & tricks for making this stunning drive.

The Beara Peninsula is a must-do on any Irish west coast roadtrip

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We drove out to the Dursey Cable Car but didn’t cross over.  I loved the clean patchwork land parcels, split up by stone fences (largely constructed the old way, with dry stonework).

beara peninsula

beara peninsula

beara peninsula

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The rain earlier in the day had created tons of waterfalls, which we kept stopping to capture.  At that super powerful one, we also came upon an elderly local man with the strongest brogue, and stopped to talk with him for a while.  My parents were making friends with old people the entire trip 🙂

beara peninsula

beara peninsula

beara peninsula

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In addition to the crashing waves, waterfalls, and greenery, we wound our way up switchbacks to Healy Pass, one of Ireland’s great drives.  The pass is in the Caha Mountains and actually cuts through the middle of the peninsula.  Because we had the whole day to spend on the peninsula, we drove the ring first, then cut through the peninsula over the pass.

23 photos to make you want to drive Ireland's Beara Peninsula. Forget the crowds on the Ring of Kerry, take this drive instead.

The Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula...this is a great, less touristy alternative to the Ring of Kerry. Advice on route and where to stop.

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Full disclosure:  I can’t for the life of me remember which direction we did this in.  I’m almost sure we did it clockwise, which is what I’ve shown here.  Since you’re driving on the left, it’s easier to pull over on the road if the sea is on your left.  But either way works.  Also, ignore that 3-hour time, it’s not remotely true—this is a full-day drive.

A map of our drive through Ireland's Beara Peninsula

This was one of our favorite days of the entire trip, and I’d love a chance to go back with a better camera and get a ton more pics!

Tips for driving the Beara Peninsula

Check out my detailed guide to driving in Ireland (including renting a car, navigation, narrow roads, etiquette, and more) as well!

  • We based ourselves in Kenmare at Rockcrest House for two nights, allowing us to do a day on the Beara Peninsula and a day on the Dingle Peninsula
  • Don’t use Google Maps to estimate driving times!  I recommend using the AA Route Planner, and still add 25-50% onto whatever it tells you.  Distances appear short, but the driving takes way longer due to narrow and rough roads, getting stuck behind tractors or road blocked by sheep, and stopping to take in the views.
  • Take your time (in general), but particularly if you’re doing the Healy Pass drive
  • Dress for a bit of light hiking, as well as rain.  Often when you pull over, you’ll see a cool picture vantage point or will want to wander off the road, and you’ll regret underestimating the amount of mud and marshy ground!
  • Make sure to stop for coffee and a snack, lunch, whatever.  It’s part of the fun of the drive.
  • I’d definitely recommend knowing when sunset is and getting back before dark, it’s just a more relaxing drive

Have you done the Ring of Beara?  What other tips would you add to help make it memorable?

Other epic roadtrips you’ll love:

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Why Ireland's Beara Peninsula Is a Must | The Beara Peninsula isn't as well known as the Ring of Kerry, but is gorgeous & less crowded...tips for driving the ring & Healy Pass #ireland #roadtrip #beara

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