Ballaghisheen Pass
Category 38.3 km
Distance
295 m
Elevation Gain
3.6%
Average Gradient
10%
Max Gradient
Ballaghisheen cuts inland from Waterville across the spine of the Kerry mountains, offering a shortcut between the southern Ring of Kerry coast and Killorglin that also functions as an escape from the N70's summer traffic. The ascent from the Waterville side climbs through open moorland on a quiet R-road that carries almost no traffic — a stark contrast to the coastal circuit it connects. The pass at 292m overlooks the Caragh Lake valley to the north and the Kenmare River valley to the south, giving a sense of Kerry's true scale. The surface is adequate but not excellent; the experience is rewarding precisely because it feels like a road discovered rather than signposted. Ballaghisheen is a pass that experienced Ring of Kerry cyclists find after the fourth or fifth visit when the main circuit has become familiar.
Pro Tip
Combine Ballaghisheen with the Windy Gap (Cúm an Chliste) between Glenbeigh and Caragh Lake for a figure-of-eight inland loop from Killorglin that accumulates 900m of climbing on almost entirely traffic-free roads. This loop is one of Kerry's best-kept cycling secrets and takes 3–4 hours at a steady pace.
Part of
Cycling in Ring of Kerry