Ring of Beara and the Healy Pass

Route description

From Kenmare, the N71 climbs over the Caha Pass through a series of short rock tunnels and drops to Glengarriff on Bantry Bay. Boats leave from here for Garinish Island and its gardens, a pleasant half-day extra.

The R572 follows the south shore of the peninsula below Hungry Hill to Castletownbere, one of Ireland’s biggest fishing ports. The road narrows as it continues west to the tip at Dursey Sound, where the cable car to Dursey Island runs when it is in service.

Turn north to Allihies, a village of brightly painted houses below old copper mines, with a small museum about the mining community. The coast road to Eyeries is one of the most beautiful on Beara, but narrow and twisting: large motorhomes should take the inland road.

Follow the R571 along the Kenmare River to Lauragh and take the Healy Pass, whose hairpins climb over the mountains with views of both bays; drive to the summit and return, or cross to Adrigole and loop back. The R571 then leads back to Kenmare. The whole ring is about 140 km but deserves at least two days.