Nearby Attractions

Cahersiveen

Caherciveen is the Capital town of the Iveragh Peninsula and is located just 10 miles from Waterville village.  Caherciveen is the main shopping centre for the western end of the Ring of Kerry and the town is also a popular spot for nightlife including traditional musical sessions and pubs.  Caherciveen also has a suberb harbour and marina with 93 fully serviced berths.

Caherdaniel

This pretty village stands on the shore of Derrynane Bay and is one of the most alluring spots in Ireland.  It is located just 7 miles from the house.  The area offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches, scenery and walks imaginable.  The area caters for all ages and tastes, activities include kayaking, horse riding, diving or simply stroll along quiet roads covered in wild flowers to begin to understand the charm of the place.

Valentia Island

Valentia is an island of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, breathtaking cliffs and magnificent seascapes.  The island is about 11 km long by 3km wide and has a population of approximately 600, largely concentrated around the island’s two villages of Knightstown on the northern side and Chapeltown in the centre of the island’s farmland. The island is an excellent centre for sea angling and diving in unpolluted waters.  The island is linked to the mainland since 1970 by a bridge at Portmagee and you can also travel by ferry to Renard Point, Caherciveen.

The Skelligs– UNESCO World Heritage Site

Skellig Michael and Little Skellig can be seen at numerous viewing points along the coast.  They suddenly appear as you turn a corner and appear like rough diamonds lost in the Atlantic Ocean.  A visit to the area would not be complete without a visit to the Skelligs World Heritage Site on Valentia Island.  Skellig Michael, the larger of the two islands is the site of the world’s finest example of an early Christian monastic settlement. 

The monastic complex lies 12 km off the south west of Ireland on a rocky pinnacle and dates to the 6^th or 7^th century.  The monastery survived for about six centuries before being abandoned in the 13^th century.  The monastic enclosure consists of six beehive shaped huts of mortarless stone construction, two oratories and a church.  The Little Skellig is one of the most important sites for nesting birds in Ireland and Britain.  It is home to thousands of gannets, puffins, guillemots and cormorants, with more than 20,000 pairs of gannets during the summer nesting season.  The story of the Skelligs is told at the Skellig Experience Centre, which is located on Valentia Island.  A number of operators in the area offer boat trips to see the impressive rocks first hand.  A trip to the rocks will take a full day (boats depart around 9am) and is the highlight of any visit to the region.

Portmagee

Portmagee is a small picturesque fishing village of brightly coloured painted houses at the south west tip of Valentia Harbour.  Renowned as the fishing centre of South West Kerry with over 80% of the area’s fleet based in the harbour.  The village is well known for its traditional pubs and quality restaurants where fresh fish is served daily straight from the boats.

Ballinskelligs

Ballinskelligs is situated in the Gaeltacht, an Irish speaking area on an attractive bay facing the larger resort of Waterville across the water.  The area is renowned for its miles of golden beaches and turquoise water.  For sports lovers, Ballingskelligs is an ideal location, offering world class water sports from windsurfing to sea angling.  The village of Dunegan is typical of most villages in rural Ireland.  Village life is centred on the local pubs in the evenings, where you can enjoy traditional Irish music and dancing.

Kells

Kells is an old fishing village and still continues in the fishing tradition to this day.  The tranquil atmosphere and crystal clear water of the sheltered blue flag beach at Kells Bay has made it a family favourite for years during the summer months.  While you are there you can take in the “Golden Mile” a scenic walk which takes in the magnificent views over the Dingle Peninsula and Kells Bay and offers superb photographic opportunities.  You can also visit Kells Bay Gardens where you will find the most extensive collection of subtropical plants in Ireland. For more information see www.kellsgardens.ie