Destination Guide
Cycling in Ring of Kerry
Cycling in Ring of Kerry: Ireland's iconic 180km circuit through mountain passes, Atlantic coastline, and the wild beauty of Killarney National Park.
Last updated: 16 Mar 2026
- Terrain
- Road, Touring, Climbing
- Difficulty
- Moderate — Challenging
- Road Quality
- Mixed
- Cycling Culture
- Growing
- Traffic
- Moderate
Pro Cycling Connection
No WorldTour training presence, but the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle — held annually in July — is one of Ireland's largest mass-participation cycling events, drawing up to 10,000 riders and raising the...
Best Time to Cycle in Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry operates on an extended Irish seasonal calendar. May, June, and September are the sweet spot: manageable temperatures of 13–18°C, adequate daylight for the full 180km circuit, and traffic that has not yet reached the July and August...
Temperature: 4°C (winter) to 20°C (summer)
Best Cycling Climbs in Ring of Kerry
Ballaghisheen Pass
8.3km · 295m · 3.6% · CAT3
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.
Coomakista Pass
4.5km · 240m · 5.3% · CAT3
The Ring of Kerry's most celebrated viewpoint climb, rising above Derrynane Bay on the southern coastal section of the N70 between Caherdaniel and Waterville. The ascent from Caherdaniel is short and punchy — 4.5km of climbing that begins gently before hitting the 10–12% ramps in the final kilometre. The summit reveals one of Ireland's finest coastal panoramas: Derrynane Bay curves below in an arc of white sand and blue-green water, the Skellig Islands materialise on the horizon 12km offshore, and the Beara Peninsula stretches east along the Kenmare River estuary. Skellig Michael — the UNESCO World Heritage Island monastery visible from the summit on clear days — was used as a filming location for Star Wars and has become an internationally recognised landmark. The descent to Waterville is exposed to Atlantic westerlies that can provide a tailwind in one direction and a brutal headwind in the other.
Gap of Dunloe
10.8km · 305m · 2.8% · CAT3
The Gap of Dunloe is simultaneously one of Ireland's most dramatic cycling experiences and its most logistically complicated. The 11km gap cuts between Purple Mountain and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks through a glacially carved valley of exceptional wildness: tarns, bare rock, waterfalls, and mountain silhouettes that shift with every bend of the narrow pass road. The road is technically private and motorised traffic is restricted (pony and trap tourist convoys have right of way), which delivers a car-free environment unlike anything else on the Ring of Kerry circuit. The climb to the top of the gap is gradual for the first 7km then steepens with short ramps approaching 12% near Kate Kearney's Cottage. The descent on the south side into the Black Valley is twisty and technical on a rougher surface. Absolutely unmissable.
Ladies View
4.1km · 155m · 3.8% · CAT4
Ladies View is less a stand-alone climb than the defining midpoint of the Moll's Gap experience — a viewpoint at 160m on the N71 Kenmare road that frames the Upper Lake of Killarney in a composition so perfectly proportioned it appears staged. The climb from the Upper Lake level on the Killarney side is moderate and consistent, building gradually to the viewpoint where the panorama opens. The MacGillycuddy's Reeks form the western backdrop; the lake occupies the foreground; woodland fills the middle ground with autumn gold or spring green depending on the season. For cyclists who find the full Moll's Gap route (13km to the gap) too demanding for a given day, the Ladies View out-and-back provides a shorter, fully satisfying alternative on the same quality road. The café and visitor facility at Ladies View is open from 09:00 through to early evening in summer.
Moll's Gap
13.4km · 380m · 2.8% · CAT3
Moll's Gap is the gateway between Killarney and Kenmare on the N71 and one of the most reliably spectacular cycling roads in Ireland. The ascent from Killarney climbs gradually through the Black Valley — a remote glacial valley with no through traffic — before pitching up on the approach to the gap at 250m. The gradient is measured rather than aggressive, but the views develop continuously as height is gained: Lough Leane spreads below Killarney to the north, the MacGillycuddy's Reeks fill the western skyline, and the Upper Lake of Killarney National Park glitters below to the east. The Ladies View viewpoint — 3km below the gap on the Kenmare side — is one of the most photographed spots in Ireland, made famous when Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting expressed admiration for the panorama in 1861. The road is well-surfaced throughout and carries moderate traffic in summer, though the volume is manageable and the road is wide enough for safe cycling.
Insider Tips
Ride the Ring of Kerry anticlockwise. The official touring direction (and the direction all coach tours follow) is clockwise. Anticlockwise puts you ascending Coomakista from the b...
Start the full 180km circuit from Killarney by 07:00 if attempting it in a single day. The gap between hotel breakfast opening (typically 07:30 or 08:00 in most Killarney propertie...
The N70 between Cahirciveen and Glenbeigh on the northern coastal section can be exposed to strong Atlantic westerlies that create brutal headwinds for clockwise riders. Anticlockw...
The Gap of Dunloe road is technically private and pony-and-trap tourist operators have right of way. Be courteous, yield to horses, and do not attempt to pass a trap in a narrow se...
Killarney National Park is freely accessible by bike on the estate roads through the Muckross demesne. These traffic-free sealed paths connect Killarney town to Muckross House (9km...
How to Get to Ring of Kerry for Cycling
Getting around: Car Recommended
Killarney is the natural hub for Ring of Kerry cycling. The full 180km circuit starts and finishes in Killarney town, making a base here entirely practical for the full loop and for exploring individu...