Ballaghbeama Pass

Ballaghbeama is Kerry's best-kept cycling secret: a mountain pass cutting through the MacGillycuddy's Reeks that avoids all Ring of Kerry tourist traffic by virtue of being on a road that leads nowhere specific and attracts almost no cars. The ascent from Caragh Lake climbs through open moorland and glacial terrain that feels genuinely remote despite being only 20km from Killarney. The summit views into the heart of the Reeks — Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain, fills the skyline to the north — are exceptional. The descent on the south side toward Sneem is more technical: steep, tight bends, rough surface in sections, and livestock on the road a real possibility. For cyclists who find the Ring of Kerry too trafficked and too touristy, Ballaghbeama is the antidote.