The Ring of Kerry

Have I explained that the Ring of Kerry is a loop road that you drive around? It takes about 3 hours if you don’t stop...but there are ample reasons to. For a start, there are lambs and sheep on the road at frequent intervals, the road is extremely narrow and there are (for some reason which I gather is Irish) GIGANTIC tourist buses coming at you OFTEN.
But, there are also the views. This is a truly splendiferous part of Ireland and makes me wonder why I haven’t come here before now. It is gorgeous, rugged, mountainous, green, water-filled, ruined-castle-filled – all at once. It takes your breath away.
One of the reasons I neglected my blog for a bit (Mark – I got your note!) – was I took a day to drive the Ring of Kerry. The locals call this county the Kingdom of Kerry – and, of course, it was once. But also, because it was so far south and a bit tricky to get to, because of aforementioned mountains, not many people got down here. Cromwell was one who didn’t make it – although he did send his nasty generals and surveyors to divvy up the land and take it away from the locals and give it to English nobles who didn’t even live here. Makes the blood boil!
Killarney is the capital but it’s not much-liked by the locals who feel it is just geared to tourists and all a bit rubbish and cheap – I’ve heard that a couple of times.
I feel so guilty, because as I was reaching the end of my longish drive – its exhausting driving by yourself and talking to yourself and exclaiming at how beautiful it all is – TO YOURSELF! (Man is not an island). Anyway, I saw a little diversion to Beaufort and it rang a bell for some reason – so I went along past the village and saw a sign to the Gap of Dunloe. This also rang a bell, so I continued on.
As I reached, what I thought was the Gap of Dunloe, the road seemed to be blocked by horses and carts and as I tried to keep driving past them, I realised, you had to park here and get a horse and cart up to the Gap of Dunloe. So, I gestured to one of the cart drivers, “I’m just turning around.” And he’s saying “Do you want a horse and cart?” at the same time. So I’m nodding but just meaning that I’m turning around. At the same time I see the cost for the horse and cart is something like 40 euro per cart or something. So, I’ve turned around by now and thinking “I don’t want to go on a horse and cart BY MYSELF for who knows how long it takes to get up there and back.” And I can see the horse guy starting to make moves to get a horse and cart ready for me. So...I just....drove off. Hmmm. I still feel guilty – not sure why.
PS: The reason Beaufort and Gap of Dunloe rang a bell was that I when I was researching accomodation options way back I nearly settled on a B&B in Beaufort. Glad I didn't... as it was such a small place - although pretty.