The best road cycling routes in Kerry

The Blennerville Windmill, built in 1800, is the largest working corn mill in Ireland and Great Britain. Located on the edge of Tralee Bay, this white smock mill marks the starting point of the Dingle Peninsula for cyclists departing from Tralee (N86).

From the parking lot of Ceann Sratha (Clogher), you look directly at the monumental red sandstone cliffs of Ceann Sibéal. These 200-meter-high rock faces cut through the Atlantic surf like a knife and served as a spectacular backdrop for the Jedi temple in Star Wars. For cyclists, this spot offers an unparalleled 360-degree view: from the jagged 'teeth' of the Blasket Islands in the south to the distant contours of Mount Brandon in the north.

Marked by a cross, as many high or exposed locations, the point offers a grand panorama. The steep cliffs are impressive. To the south, on a clear day, you can clearly see the heights of Valentia Island. To the west the silhouette of the Blasket Islands and to the north the curve of the beautiful Coomeenole beach, where scenes from the film Ryan's Daughter were filmed. On the slopes you can distinguish other stone huts, some covered with earth and grass. As you approach the beach, you will see on the left some abandoned houses, now used for vegetable gardens whose land has been enriched over the years with a mixture of sand and seaweed: cultivation is still carried out by hand, with shovels and pickaxes. Due to the steepness of the fields, the plough only appeared in the region very late. Beyond Coomeenole the cliffs become lower and the landscape greener, up to Dunquin (5 km from Slea Head). Be careful when you get close to the edge, the cliffs gradually collapse.

This vast, crescent-shaped bay offers one of the peninsula's safest and most beautiful sandy beaches. Only the view is somewhat spoiled by the caravans behind the beach. For the cyclist, the passage along this Blue Flag beach is a relief: a flat road with a wide view of the crystal-clear water and the green headlands protecting the bay. The rugged peaks of Mount Eagle lie in the background.

This impressive 5-kilometer beach juts far into the bay as a natural barrier. Enjoy the sweeping panorama of the Slieve Mish Mountains and the MacGillycuddy Reeks on the horizon. The vast sandy expanse is perfect for a walk along the surf, while the protected dunes are a paradise for nature lovers. At low tide, the beach transforms into a giant mirror, creating a magical atmosphere and unique photos. Right at the entrance, you'll find eateries for a well-deserved break with views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Killorglin, beautifully situated on a hill on the banks of the salmon-rich River Laune, is often called the "gateway" to the Ring of Kerry. The town is known worldwide for the ancient Puck Fair (August), Ireland's oldest festival, where a wild mountain goat from the nearby MacGillycuddy’s Reeks is crowned "King Puck". For cyclists, the imposing Laune Bridge is an iconic resting point with a direct view of the bronze statue of the goat king. With its steep, colourful streets full of characterful pubs and restaurants, Killorglin is the ideal place to soak up the atmosphere of the "Reeks District" before the route continues towards the coast.

Shortly after crossing the Gleensk river, you reach this impressive viewpoint on the N70. From this height, you have an unobstructed panorama over the deep blue Dingle Bay towards the rugged mountain ranges of the Dingle Peninsula on the other side. It is a place where the scale of the Irish landscape truly becomes palpable: the depth of the cliffs below you, the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, and the iconic contours of the Blasket Islands in the distance.

During a visit to this small town, deeply marked by the struggle for independence, visit the Heritage Centre (Old Barracks, Bridge St.). Here, among other things, the story of its most famous inhabitant, Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), who fought for the emancipation of Catholics, is told. On the other side of the estuary, in Kimego West, you should not miss two of Kerry's most beautiful round forts.