Cork Shore Excursion

This Cork shore trip visits the popular County Kerry, which is the center of tourism in Ireland. If your ideal tour includes seeing typical Irish landscapes combined with local villages, then this is the tour for you.

After meeting your guide you immediately begin your drive to County Kerry, which is situated in the extreme southwest of Ireland. Kerry is traditionally known as the Kingdom and has two contrasting types of terrain, the mountainous south with small peninsulas jutting into the sea, and the smaller plains that stretch as far north as the Shannon estuary.

Regardless which direction you approach the county, the great central spine of mountains draws you in. The relatively high mountains and narrow peninsulas create unique weather patterns, which change the face of the mountains, the surface of the water and the texture of the landscape by the minute. The fretted coastline and deep bays created by the mighty Atlantic plays tricks with the light and produces a magical quality, which intoxicates your senses.

Your first stop is Kenmare, whose location nestled between the high mountains and the sea explains its name in Irish, Neidin means "little nest". Kenmare is an important example of a planned town, designed and built by the first Marquees of Lansdowne in 1775. The town is laid out in an X-plan and has a fine, wide main street and square. Situated on the Ring of Kerry, it is better known today as an attractive tourist town with many fine restaurants and interesting craft shops. Kenmare retains its links to a more ancient past, with its Bronze Age Druid's Circle, consisting of 15 standing stones, once a burial place and a site used for worshiping the Sun god.

Next are photo stops at Ladies View and Molls Gap. Molls Gap is a spectacular photographic viewing point on the famous Ring of Kerry Tour. You are presented with a magnificent view of Death Valley and the 3 Lakes of Killarney all surrounded by the Kerry Mountains. The famous Ladies View look out point gives a different perspective of this magnificent countryside. Ladies View received its name from Queen Victoria, who was so impressed with the view that she insisted that her ladies-in-waiting also visit here.

Then you go into the town of Killarney where you have free time to enjoy lunch (meal not included) in a traditional Irish pub.

After lunch you relax with a jaunting car (horse drawn carriage) trip into Killarney National Park. Your Jarvey (driver) takes you through the magnificent scenery of Killarney National Park to places you might not otherwise see. The park became Ireland's first National Park in 1932 when the Muckross Estate was presented to the Nation by Senator Arthur Vincent. The park covers over 24,000 acres of mountain, moorland, woodland, waterways, parks and gardens. After your visit to the park, you return to the pier in Cobh.