Dingle peninsular

Sun 30/8/26

Today would be a long drive from Killarney to Lisdoonvarna in County Clare via the Dingle peninsular for a scenic drive. The drive would cover 330 km with stops at Dingle peninsular along the Wild Atlantic Way. We set out for our drive at 9.30am after having our self made breakfast at the apartment. It was sunny this morning.

Our first stop was Minard castle, a castle ruin by the beach. The road to the beach was narrow and there is a small, free car park. It rained briefly here.

Minard castle ruins

Minard beach

We then drove onwards to Coumeenoole beach. There is a free car park here. We made our way down to the beach. There was a signage prohibiting visitors to swim but I did see someone swimming. It did also rain briefly here. We had our packed sandwich for lunch at the bench with views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. Better to arrive here early as when we were about to leave at 1pm, we were blocked briefly by a tour bus which was just arriving. 

Coumeenoole beach

Coumeenoole beach

Coumeenoole beach

Our next stop not far away was Dun Chaoin or Dunquin, with beautiful views of the cliffs. Be careful not to go to near the edge. The car park was also free here.

Dunquin

Dunquin view point

Moving on to the next stop at An Chonair or Connor Pass with scenic view at 151m (1496 ft). There is a free car park to stop for photographs. We skipped the nearby waterfall as it was raining at the time and the rocks might be slippery. 

Connor pass

We then made our way to County Clare via Caherconree scenic route, a single lane paved road with beautiful views. We stopped by the road at a pullover when there was no other cars to take some pictures then quickly continued driving as there was no proper car park. 

Caherconree scenic route

We finally arrived at our Apartments Balinsheen House and Gardens (EUR 386 or RM 1864 for 3 nights) at almost 6pm. Our host, Mary welcomed us with scones, how lovely of her. Finally Partner In Crime managed to get the scones he had been craving for.

scones with jam, butter and milk

lovely kitchen

For dinner tonight, we prepared fried rice at our self catering apartment.

Killarney

Sat 29/8/26

While taking the stairs to our apartment on the second floor yesterday, I passed by beautiful pictures of Gap of Dunloe on the apartment's walls, so I decided to go there today (I've never heard of the place before). Last night I did some research, and it was decided we would walk halfway from the parking at Kate Kearney's cottage (free of charge) until the Head of Dunloe (highest point) with a distance of 6km then return back (12km total). It was too far to complete the whole way by walking and return back (23 km in total), and since we were driving, we would not take the boat from Lord Brandon's lodge to Muckross and return to Killarney, although that would be a nice adventure. 

We set out after breakfast and arrived at the parking lot at 8.45am and it was raining with no one else there. Only after the first Wishing Bridge we saw another couple walking. So we had the place almost entirely to ourselves that morning. It was absolutely beautiful and magical, I loved the views of the lakes (Black lake, Augher lake, Cushvally lake) river, waterfall, mountain, the bridges, the mountain pass, horses etc. There were accommodations located along the Gap of Dunloe, which would be so nice to stay there and wake up to the lovely views.

at the start of the Gap of Dunloe walk, near to Strickeen mountain access gate

walking by the river

by the Wishing bridge

Wishing bridge

Black lake

Auger lake with the winding Gap of Dunloe road 

Gap of Dunloe road by the Auger lake

in between Auger lake and Black lough lake

second bridge at Black lough lake

It finally stopped raining around 11am, when we were almost reaching the Head of Dunloe, but it was followed by heavy gusts of wind. I didn't dare to set up my tripod there due to the strong winds. As it has stopped raining, we started to see more pedestrians, cyclists and horse carts on our way back to the parking. 

Gap of Dunloe road

reached Head of Dunloe

Head of Dunloe

We had our packed sandwich for lunch at the bench near the Wishing bridge while enjoying the views of the Black lake and sipping tea. 

From the parking lot, we drove back to Killarney towards Ross Castle (parking free of charge). We took pictures outside of the castle with the Lough Leane lake in the background, then enjoyed coffee by the lake. 

Ross castle

Since it was still early at 2.30pm, I decided to continue today's adventures for a scenic drive to Molls Gap and stopped for pictures at various viewpoints at Ladies View (view of Killarney Upper Lake) and near Dini's Cottage (view of Muckross lake). We wanted to have scones there, but Googlemaps mentioned it would already close by the time we arrive there, so we only took pictures at the lake.

Ladies View

Moll's Gap

Ladies view

Muckross lake

We then drove back to our apartment, refreshed then walked to a nearby halal Killarney Grill restaurant to have dinner. We had lamb qabuli and grilled chicken qabuli for EUR 13 each. 

lamb and chicken qabuli

After dinner, we walked around Killarney town and went to some souvenir shops for surveying. We would only be buying souvenirs at Dublin later. After about an hour walking around, we went back to our apartment and called it a day

Skellig Michael

Fri 28/8/26

Skellig Michael island

Early morning rise today. At 6.30am, I checked my email and also received an SMS that our landing tour to Skellig Michael island would proceed today. The tour costs EUR 270 or RM 1298 for 2 adults. After a self prepared breakfast in our self catering studio apartment, we checked out at 8.30am to drive about 20 mins to the Glen Pier or Skellig Falcon boat tour agency in Googlemaps.

the view to Glen pier

Glen pier

off to Skellig Michael

The boat trip to Skellig Michael island took about an hour with a stop near Little Skellig Michael island which had thousands of northen gannets flying and nesting, but unfortunately no puffins as it was already out of season. 

Little Skellig with the gannets

another view of Little Skellig

Little Skellig

goodbye Little Skellig

We landed on Greater Skellig Michael island at 10.30am and were given 2.5 hours on the island, i.e. we should be ready back at the pier at 1pm to make our way back to the mainland.

approaching Greater Skellig

there is a trail on Greater Skellig but not open to public

Greater Skellig

unique rock formation

landed at Greater Skellig

We were greeted by the Office of Public Works (OPW) officers for a short briefing before making our way up the 618 stone steps of stairs, carved directly out of the rock by early Christian monks centuries ago to the top of the island where the beehive huts, built using drystone or circular stone cells (called clocháns) without mortar, is located. 

let's go up

stone stairs

The views from and on the island, a massive vertical rock formation, Devonian Old Red Sandstone formed 360 to 380 million years ago, rising 218 meters above the Atlantic Ocean is beautiful. 

Skellig rock formation

the other side is not accesible

Greater Skellig rock formation

stairs by the edge of the cliff. Little Skellig in the background

After arriving at the top at the beehive huts, there was another briefing by the OPW officer on the history of the Christian monks who live in isolation there and some background on how the island was formed. We were also told if we wanted to eat our packed food, we should do it a bit further from the beehive hut to avoid the seagulls.

Skellig Michael island was also a filming location for the Star Wars : The Force Awakens movie. 

beehive huts on Skellig Michael

beehive hut

drystones or circular stone cells

Little Skellig visible from the top of Greater Skellig

About 30 minutes to 1pm, we made our way back down to the pier to wait for our boat for the return trip. There is no access to other parts of the island, and there were quite a few tour companies running today, so 2.5 hours is more than enough to cover the accessible areas for photography and self packed lunch. There are no shops on the island, only toilets near the pier.

more views of Skellig Michael

We then made our way back at 1pm. After reaching back Glen pier, we drove to the Kerry cliffs that we missed yesterday due to closing time. The entrance cost EUR 5 per person. There is an entrance fee due to it location is situated in a private owned land. I am curios why cliffs are privately owned. 

goodbye Greater Skellig Michael

Kerry Cliffs

The Kerry cliffs rise over 305 meters above the Atlantic Ocean and is higher than the famous Cliffs of Moher. It was formed about 400 million years ago in an ancient desert environment, featuring striking layers of Old Red Sandstone.

Kerry cliffs

Kerry cliffs

Kerry cliffs

After about an hour at Kerry cliffs, we drove to Killarney where we will based for the next 2 nights. On the way to Killarney, we stopped at 2 spots to take pictures, at Mountain Stage viewpoint of Dingle bay and River Caragh viewpoint.

view of Dingle bay

view of Dingle bay

River Caragh viewpoint

We arrived at our spacious accommodation Killarney Haven apartment (EUR 300 or RM 1453 for 2 nights) at 5.30pm, and were welcomed by an elderly man, Donal who insisted to bring up our luggage over the flight of stairs to the second floor, but of course we only allowed him to bring the lighter groceries bag. 

Killarney Haven apartment

We did our laundry tonight at the apartment's laundry room with washer and dryer (no additional charge). On hindsight, we should not have brought so many clothes as I already knew the apartment had laundry facilities. We also cooked our own dinner at the self catering apartment.