The best MTB trails in Kerry

From the parking lot of Ceann Sratha (Clogher), you look directly at the monumental red sandstone cliffs of Ceann Sibéal. These 200-meter-high rock faces cut through the Atlantic surf like a knife and served as a spectacular backdrop for the Jedi temple in Star Wars. For cyclists, this spot offers an unparalleled 360-degree view: from the jagged 'teeth' of the Blasket Islands in the south to the distant contours of Mount Brandon in the north.

Marked by a cross, as many high or exposed locations, the point offers a grand panorama. The steep cliffs are impressive. To the south, on a clear day, you can clearly see the heights of Valentia Island. To the west the silhouette of the Blasket Islands and to the north the curve of the beautiful Coomeenole beach, where scenes from the film Ryan's Daughter were filmed. On the slopes you can distinguish other stone huts, some covered with earth and grass. As you approach the beach, you will see on the left some abandoned houses, now used for vegetable gardens whose land has been enriched over the years with a mixture of sand and seaweed: cultivation is still carried out by hand, with shovels and pickaxes. Due to the steepness of the fields, the plough only appeared in the region very late. Beyond Coomeenole the cliffs become lower and the landscape greener, up to Dunquin (5 km from Slea Head). Be careful when you get close to the edge, the cliffs gradually collapse.

This vast, crescent-shaped bay offers one of the safest and most beautiful sandy beaches on the peninsula. Only the view is somewhat spoiled by the caravans behind the beach. For the cyclist, the passage along this Blue Flag beach is a relief: a flat road with a sweeping view of the crystal-clear water and the green headlands protecting the bay. The rugged peaks of Mount Eagle lie in the background.

This vast, crescent-shaped bay offers one of the peninsula's safest and most beautiful sandy beaches. Only the view is somewhat spoiled by the caravans behind the beach. For the cyclist, the passage along this Blue Flag beach is a relief: a flat road with a wide view of the crystal-clear water and the green headlands protecting the bay. The rugged peaks of Mount Eagle lie in the background.

This sheltered natural harbour is the vibrant hub of the peninsula. As a cyclist, you roll along the quay between the colourful fishing boats and the salty sea air. With the white Dingle Lighthouse guarding the narrow entrance and the green hills as a backdrop, the harbour offers a constantly changing spectacle of ebb and flow. An ideal, flat passage to admire the bustle of the fleet before embarking on the climb to the mountains or the rugged coast.

This island on the Wild Atlantic Way is an absolute must-stop. From the 365 million-year-old Tetrapod footprints to the site of the first trans-atlantic telegraph cable: Valentia breathes history. Cycle to the iconic lighthouse or conquer Geokaun Mountain for a spectacular 360-degree view over the Dingle Peninsula and the Skellig Islands. Whether you take the bridge from Portmagee or the ferry at Reenard, the mix of rugged cliffs, subtropical gardens and the charm of Knightstown makes this an unforgettable route.

On this open hill on Valentia Island, the European endpoint of the first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid in 1858. From this field, the cable ran for more than 3,000 kilometers under the ocean to Newfoundland — a technological leap that changed the world forever. Today it is a quiet, windy spot overlooking the ocean and the Skellig coast, but its significance remains immense: the era of global communication began here.

Portmagee Harbour is the beating heart of the small fishing village of Portmagee. The colourful row of houses along the water, the bobbing boats, and the view of the bridge to Valentia Island give the harbour a charming, almost postcard-like atmosphere. In the early morning, boats depart from here towards the Skellig Islands; later in the day, calm returns and the light of the bay reflects in the still water.