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Ring of Beara Review

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• Gougane Barra Forest Park
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Ring of Beara

Fodor's Review:

Glengarriff is the gateway to the Ring of Beara, a 137-km (85-mi) scenic drive that circles the Beara Peninsula on R572. The least famous of the southwest's three peninsulas is also the least frequented -- and, some would say, the most ruggedly beautiful. One of the main attractions is the Beara Way, a 196-km (120-mi) marked walking route that takes one to many prehistoric archaeological sites. Dursey Island, at the peninsula's tip, is a bird-watcher's paradise that you reach by cable car. From Dursey Island, head for tiny Allihies, the former site of a huge copper mine, now the home of several leading Irish artists, some of whom invite studio visits -- watch for signs. This is also great hiking country -- known for some of the most scenic stretches of the Beara Way. Continue along a breathtaking coastal road to Eyeries -- a village overlooking Coulagh Bay -- and then up the south side of the Kenmare River to Kenmare.

Get Advice From Other Travelers

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