Ireland 2013: Back Roads on the Beara Peninsula

Friday, September 13, 2013

We set off today to drive around the Beara Peninsula. Kenmare sits on an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean which they call the Kenmare River. The Beara peninsula juts out just south and west of Kenmare. Beara is not one of the “big two” peninsulas (Kerry and Dingle) but it is known for being the most beautiful. The narrow roads ascend and descend the Caha mountains, clinging to the sides with a few rocks piled up to serve as rails. The weather was overcast, but we could see the Atlantic in the distance, beyond the hills, lakes and farms. A couple times we got off the “main” road and wound through areas that few tourists visit – mainly because we were lost. The town names are nearly as picturesque as the scenery: Castletownbere; Cod’s Head; Bollydonegan; Curryglass; Glengariff; and Killabunane, to name a few. There are more than 20 stone circles on this peninsula, but most are so far off the beaten path that we found only one. The sun came out when we were in Allihies, giving us a perfect record of sunshine every day.