The final blog from our stay at White Villa Farm in Killarney, Co. Kerry and the breath-taking scenery just keeps on coming. Like the rain….
On Monday we returned, at least partially to the Ring Of Kerry and a drive through the Gap of Dunloe, a scenic route through Killarney National Park and carved, originally by the movement of giant glaciers.
Taking you car is not encouraged, it is a single track all the way with a few passing spaces and is popular with walkers and cyclists. The jaunting carts, seen all around Killarney are also available for hire but I don’t know what they charge. I’ve tried to find out prices on the net and couldn’t. Make of that what you will. Anyway, the road is still a public highway, so you can take your car, which we did.
It was raining, at least some of the time - obviously but the scenery was still spectacular. The road IS very narrow and steep in places and I would imagine it would get quite congested on a summers day. I’m no conspiracy theorist but everywhere else around Killarney, the jaunting cart horses’, er deposits are collected via a leather chute, strategically place at the horses’ rear. Along the Gap, it’s just allowed to fall on the road making it - on a wet day at least, very slippery. Again, make of that what you will.
Anyway, to the pictures:
It took us nearly two hours to get through - and it was really quiet - just a couple of carts and a car or two to negotiate. My suggestion would be that if you are going to drive it - do it out of season or early or late -it will be much more enjoyable. Or when it’s peeing down - like we did!
We lunched in Kenmare, having finally gotten around to stopping there, then had a relaxing late afternoon around the van when the sun put in a welcome appearance.
There is little of note to report from Tuesday, unless taking down awnings and generally clearing up floats your boat. We returned for the final time in the evening for a meal at one of Killarney's many pubs. For once avoiding anything with chips we both had beef & Guinness stew and it was delicious. Washed down with some ‘research’ of course.
I promised a bit about the site and finally got around to grabbing some photos. There are 30 electric hook ups, hard standings for caravans and plenty of grassed areas for tents. On some of the hard standings you can hook up your water and waste pipes too - and this we did - I’m getting lazy, or old, or probably both. Showers are €1 but Wi-Fi is free - as it has been on all the sites we’ve been on so far. The 7 nights for six deal brought the cost down to the equivalent of around £15.70 / night at the current exchange rate, so again good value. There IS some road noise during the day but you want to be out and about anyway to see some of this lovely corner of Ireland. Another pretty site that’s well cared for with very friendly and helpful owners and a good base for this area.
So, that’s our time in Co. Kerry at an end. By the time you get this we shall be up in County Mayo, in the village of Cong. It’s the first place where the tourism ‘machine’ has been in full swing, but deservedly so as there IS so much to see and do. We’ve had a great time - despite the weather!
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