Kerry the Second Time Around
A few of our favourite ideas when you’ve already seen the famous sights
If you have stayed with us before, chances are you have already driven the Ring of Kerry, visited Dingle, spent time in Killarney National Park and perhaps travelled through the Gap of Dunloe.
So what do you do when you come back?
We think a second stay at Coolclogher can be even better. There is no longer a list of famous sights you feel you have to see. Choose somewhere for the day, stop for a good lunch and take the scenic road back to Killarney.
And with Coolclogher House as your private base, everyone doesn’t have to do the same thing. Some might head off for golf while others visit a garden, take a boat trip or simply enjoy a quiet morning at the house.
Often the best part comes later, when everyone is back at Coolclogher with plenty to talk about over a drink in the sitting rooms.
Here are a few places we know and like ourselves, and often suggest to returning guests.
Take the Quieter Road to Beara
Many of our guests have driven the Ring of Kerry and toured Dingle, but fewer have spent a day on the Beara Peninsula.
From Coolclogher, head through Kenmare and continue west onto Beara. You don’t need to drive the whole peninsula. Take your time and enjoy a part of the southwest that is noticeably quieter.
One of our favourite stops is Helen’s Bar at Kilmakilloge, a wonderfully situated little pub beside the pier. Stop for fresh fish, take in the view and don’t worry about rushing on.
You could also visit Derreen Garden near Lauragh or explore some of the small villages and coastal roads before making your way back through Kenmare to Killarney.
By evening, you’re back at Coolclogher, perhaps with a new contender for the best seafood chowder of the week.
Rediscover the Ring of Kerry
You don’t have to drive the entire Ring again to find something new.
Kells Bay House & Gardens is one of our favourite suggestions. Overlooking Kell’s Bay, the gardens are quite unlike anywhere else nearby, with subtropical planting, waterfalls, woodland walks and an extraordinary collection of mature tree ferns, not forgetting their intricately sculpted dinosaurs
Instead of making it a quick stop on a long day’s drive, give yourself time to see it properly.
If you continue into South Kerry, Skellig Six18 Distillery in Cahersiveen offers guided visits combining local stories with the making and tasting of its gin and whiskey.
For seafood, O’Neill’s at the Point at Reenard is another place we know and recommend. Or carry on towards Portmagee and The Moorings, a long-established favourite for local fish and seafood.
Choose what appeals to you and leave something for another time.
You’ve Been to Dingle. Now Try Dingle Differently.
Many of our guests have already driven Slea Head and spent time in Dingle, but there is plenty more to do on the peninsula.
Take a boat from Dingle Harbour and see the coastline from the water. Trips head towards the Blasket Islands and around Dingle Bay, with the chance of seeing seals, dolphins, seabirds and, with a little luck, whales.
Or head towards Mount Brandon. Those who enjoy walking can tackle part of the mountain, while others can enjoy the drive and surrounding countryside. Afterwards, call into Murphy’s Bar at Brandon Pier for something to eat overlooking the bay.
Back in Dingle, the Dingle Distillery is worth a visit, and John Benny’s remains one of our favourite stops for a good pub atmosphere.
There is also a great story behind Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry. Dolly Parton visited in 1990 and ended up singing Coat of Many Colours with local musicians. Páidí later gave her the Kerry jersey he wore when captaining the county to the 1985 All-Ireland title, which Dolly kept framed at home. The photographs are still on the pub walls today.
And if you find yourself around Slea Head again, stop at Caifé na Trá. Sometimes a cup of coffee with a great view is all you need.
Meet Some of Our Local Makers
For something different, visit some of the craftspeople working around the county.
The Kerry Craft Trail connects studios and workshops, from potters and jewellers to leatherworkers and textile artists. Some welcome visitors to see the makers at work, while demonstrations or workshops can sometimes be arranged in advance.
It’s a nice change from sightseeing and you might come home with something made locally and the story of the person who made it.
Ask us before you arrive and we can suggest a few places that fit easily with your plans.
The Great Seafood Chowder Debate
There are certain questions that are probably best left unanswered.
Who makes the best seafood chowder is one of them.
We’ve eaten plenty of bowls around the county over the years, and everyone seems to have a favourite. Helen’s on Beara, O’Neill’s at the Point, The Moorings in Portmagee, O’Carroll’s Cove and plenty of others can all make a convincing case.
Our suggestion is to do your own research.
Try a few during your stay, compare notes and tell us your winner when you get back to Coolclogher.
It may not be very scientific, but it’s certainly an enjoyable way to spend a week.
And Some Days, Don’t Go Anywhere
One of the pleasures of having Coolclogher House entirely to yourselves is that not every day needs a plan.
We can arrange a private falconry experience here on the estate, so you don’t even have to leave the grounds. Afterwards, spend the afternoon in the gardens, go for a walk, read, chat or simply do very little.
In the evening, we can arrange for our recommended private chef to come to Coolclogher and prepare dinner for everyone.
No driving. No restaurant to get to. Just dinner together in the dining room and the rest of the evening at home.
Come Back to Killarney and Do Things Differently
Your next stay at Coolclogher doesn’t have to look anything like your last.
Come with old friends. Bring your adult children or another generation of the family. Spend less time ticking places off a list and more time deciding what you actually feel like doing that day.
Coolclogher House sleeps up to 14 guests and is exclusively yours for the week, so everyone has the freedom to do their own thing during the day and come back together in the evening.
Someone has found a new favourite pub. Someone else has discovered a lovely garden or little shop. The golfers have stories from the course. And inevitably, somebody will insist that today’s seafood chowder was better than yesterday’s.
Those conversations, over a drink in the sitting rooms or dinner around the table, are a big part of what a week at Coolclogher is all about.
If you’re thinking about coming back to Killarney in 2027, we’d love to welcome you again. Tell us what you enjoyed most on your last stay and we’ll happily suggest a few different ideas for next time.
