A stop at the shore of the beautiful Lough Leane in the outskirts of Killarney.
Cahergall Stone Fort was built around 600AD. With walls approx 6 m high and some 3 m thick this dry stone wall fort is one of the best examples of an early medieval stone fort to be found on the Ring of Kerry.
Valentia Island lies just off the south west coast of County Kerry and is one of Ireland's westernmost points. It combines fascinating history, beautiful scenery and an interesting cultural scene, making it a great place to visit on the Ring of Kerry.
The Slate Quarry first opened in 1816 under the direction of the Knight of Kerry and has been a working quarry on and off since that date. Famous for the quality of the slate quarried, this recently reopened quarry is famous for providing the slate for the Paris Opera House, London’s Houses of Parliament and many billiard tables, including one made for the Duke of Wellington & Queen Victoria.
The site of the Cromwell Point Lighthouse was originally home to a 17th century Cromwellian Fort, which was one of two built on Valentia Island around this time. The outline of the Cromwell Point fort with its bastions and barrack inside its wall can still be easily traced from the air, lying just inside the lighthouse enclosure wall. The fort was maintained after the Restoration and there are various State Paper entries about its repair over the period 1663-1665. It was disestablished in 1669. The first light for Cromwell Point was originally applied for on 30 March 1828 by the Right Honorary Maurice Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry. Work commenced on the lighthouse ten years later in 1838, the light was first exhibited on 1 February 1841. Since November 1947 the light has been automated.
Portmagee is a lovely fishing village in southwest county Kerry on Valentia Harbour, from where you can cross the bridge over to Valentia Island.
Kerry Cliffs are widely accepted as the most spectacular cliffs in Kerry. The cliffs stand over 1000ft above the wild Atlantic and were formed in a desert environment 400 million years ago. Out to the west stand the amazing Skellig Rocks one of only three UNESCO world heritage sites in Ireland. Of course the Kerry Cliffs are the closest viewing point to the great rocks and also the famous Puffin Island. Allied with these facts as you stand at the summit of this mystical place and breath in the freshest of air, deep in to your lungs from the wild Atlantic and observe this natural wonder. You can relax and unwind and observe the majestic views from here which reach out for 30 miles of the surrounding areas.
Ballinskelligs beach is 1.0 Km of immaculate sandy beach lying in Ballinskelligs Bay by Mc Carthys Castle. Separated from Ballinskelligs pier by Ballinskelligs Abbey, the beach is one of the best kept secrets in South Kerry and has been a favourite with local families for many years. It is an Internationally Environmental Recognition Blue Flag beach.
Waterville (An Coireán) is a small coastal village located between the Atlantic Ocean and Lough Currane on the scenic and famous Ring of Kerry along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Sneem is a colourful village in South west Kerry, blessed with exquisite scenery, wild landscapes and imposing Kerry mountains. The name Sneem, means ‘the knot’ that ties together the Ring of Kerry. Here, the Killarney Mountain Road and the Ring of Kerry’s Kenmare and Waterville Roads all lead to Sneem.
Ladies View is about 12 miles from Killarney. The view here is probably the best known of Killarney and is a major attraction for visitors. Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting visited here during the royal visit in 1861. They were so taken with the view that it was named after them.
Torc Waterfall is approximately 7 kilometres from Killarney Town. A short walk of approx 200 metres brings you to the waterfall.
Our day with Paudie was amazing. His knowledge, enthusiasm and friendliness was the perfect way to learn about the Ring Of Kerry. He grew up there and knows all the little details and history that make the place come alive. He was responsive to our needs, and very aware to keep us comfortable and happy! A great day with a great man who is happy, positive and connected to his community! We very much recommend him!
What an amazing day with Pady, we were able to experience many places and things that we wouldn’t be able to do on other tours. Picked us up at the hotel, great comfortable ride, and many great stories. Would highly recommend to all!!!
We had a fantastic private tour with Brian to the Kerry Cliffs! He was an excellent guide—knowledgeable, friendly, flexible, and genuinely interested in making the day special for our family. He shared interesting history, his family history of the area, stories, and local knowledge. When Brian heard that our 12-year-old son loves golf, he added a couple visits to golf courses we were considering. It helped us to decide where to golf the following day! He added the Ross Castle, since we wouldn't have made it otherwise. Those unexpected additions made the day feel personalized and gave us experiences we wouldn’t have had on a typical tour. When we arrived at the Kerry Cliffs, it started pouring rain, but Brian was flexible and adjusted the itinerary rather than letting the weather put a damper on the day. He made sure we still had a wonderful experience and helped us make the most of our time. We highly recommend Brian for a private tour of Kerry!
Great tour! Paudie was such a good tour guide. He is originally from the area so knows everyone and takes you too great locations. The cliffs of Kerry are beautiful and he makes the experience feel like a VIP tour. Made the long day feel fun and the van was very comfortable
A big gratitude to Paudie our driver was super friendly and knowledgable. He took our family on the ROC tour with several extra stops along the way. His van was very comfortable and fit all 6 of us. Paudie also helped us get the most out of this trip. He gave us tips on the best things to see and do in the area. He really made the trip easy for us. We have a memorable trip. Thank you, Kim
Great way to see the Kerry Cliffs and Valentia Island that you can’t get from a regular tour bus. Our guide Paudie was great and goes places others don’t. A fantastic way to experience the real Ireland.
Upon recommendation from my cousin, my husband and I booked a private tour of the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Ring with Paudie. We are so glad that we took her advice, as we had the best day! We saw so much of the area that we never would have been able to find or see if we had driven ourselves. Paudie was a wealth of historical and local knowledge, and he knew right where to go for the best access to all of the major sites and hidden local gems too. We lucked out and had beautiful weather during our tour and time in Ireland, which made this tour all the more spectacular!
We had an amazing day! Paudie Murphy was friendly and funny. We saw all the sites on the tour and even a couple spontaneous things too! Paudie is born and raised in the area. He knows all the history; his family is still local; and he recommended great restaurants for dinner.
We had an incredible tour with Paudie. He provided a VIP experience, getting into some of the prettiest sights in Ireland. Paudie was very personable and shared so many fun facts. Not only does he know about the area, he clearly absolutely loves creating excellent memories.
We had the most amazing private tour with Paudie Murphy, it’s truly the best way to see the Ring of Kerry! He took us to places we would never have been able to see, the most beautiful sights you can imagine. So many wonderful surprises throughout the day including the most incredible lunch. Paudie knows all the best places to see, stopping frequently for photos, he is wealth of knowledge, so friendly and humorous, it was an absolute delight to spend the day with him! This tour was one of the best parts of our trip to Ireland, thank you Paudie for such a memorable experience!!
Our private tour of the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Ring with Paudie was an unforgettable journey through some of Ireland’s most stunning landscapes. Paudie’s extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling brought the region’s history to life. We especially appreciated his personal touch, as he shared heartfelt stories from his childhood growing up in a town along the Ring of Kerry. One of the highlights was our visit to Valentia Island, where the serene beauty and historical significance left a lasting impression. Paudie also recommended a fantastic local restaurant for lunch, and the meal was absolutely delicious. The vehicle was spotless, spacious, and incredibly comfortable, making the winding roads a pleasure to travel. We loved having the flexibility to stop for photos and take in the breathtaking views at our own pace.
Paudie was an amazing tour guide. We did Ring of Kerri and Skellig tour and we went for close to 12 hours - ate at a local pub , saw many sites that were special to his tour. We didn’t once run in to any tour buses where we went ! Views were spectacular Ps - only discovered that my original review didn’t go through while we were recommending him to others so posting it now !!!
What a fabulous day! This tour was the highlight of our trip. If you’re looking to experience Ireland through a local’s eyes, this is it! Paudie is so knowledgeable and friendly. He shared a lot of history, personal stories and laughs along the way. The itinerary was perfect and kept us all engaged. We highly recommend Wild Atlantic Tours! Thank you, Paudie 🍀🇮🇪
Our guide was very personable and we enjoyed his company and the great insights he provided. He showed us all the great places, took us to some extra spots to take great pictures and drove us to the top of the cliffs so we didnt have to walk up them! The ring of Kerry was beautiful and we were happy with everything and very glad we were not the ones driving!
Paudie gave us an excellent tour! He was professional, funny, kind and one hell of a great driver. He took is to many off beat places and had a great rapport with people that we met along the way. It was obvious to us that he loves what he does. He was so knowledgeable and passionate about everything he showed us. He did not rush us. He let us take our time for pictures, recommended when and where to take pictures and brought us to the most fabulous sheepherding demonstration, that we absolutely loved. Although the weather was not what we would've liked it to be, he helped us make the best of it and did not short change us on our tour. It was the best tour I've ever been on. I would highly recommend taking this tour with , this guide, Paudie!!!!
It was a most excellent day of sightseeing, learning about the region's history, and having some hearty laughs as Paudie treated us like family as we drove the Ring of Kerry. I would highly recommend this trip.
Our tour with Paudie could not have been any better. It is a long day but he has created a perfect itinerary with stories and information to match. He has a personal connection to the area so that makes it even better. Enjoyed every minute including lunch along the way.
We had an amazing day with Paudie, our tour guide, traveling around the two rings of Kerry and Skellig. Paudie made all the difference with his quick wit and extensive knowledge of every corner of the beautiful land. And he kept asking questions to tailor our experience perfectly for us. We take tours all over the world and would consider Paudie in the top class of guides we would recommend confidently to friends and family.
On a recent visit to Killarney, we were two couples and took the private day tour of the Ring of Kerry and the Skellig Ring with Paudie Murphy and it could not have been a better day and experience. Paudie picked us up at our hotel in a very comfortable mercedes van equipped with water if we wanted it. Paudie knew that two of us were golfers so on our way out of Killarney to the Ring of Kerry we took a drive through the beautiful Killarney golf course to see the lake and mountain backdrop and the many on course deer. Two of us did a self guided Ring of Kerry tour 15 years ago but it was so much better to have a knowledgable guide who actually grew up in a Ring of Kerry town and knew its backgrounds and stories better than any guide book could offer. Along the way, we actually drove by his home and his elderly mom and sister came out to say hello. Paudie is a wealth of knowledge about Ireland and especially the Ring of Kerry. We stopped to see the ancestral home of famous Irish leader Red O’Donnell and drove many of the incredibly scenic roads and byways of the Ring with Paudie adding wonderful personal stories and information to bring what we were seeing alive. We enjoyed hearing about the Irish Civil War and the famous song from his hometown called “The Boys of Barr na Sraide”. We visited many small towns and beachfront settings that only he would know about having grown up in the Ring. The Skellig Ring tour was an added bonus and a not to be missed part of any Ring of Kerry tour. Paudie took us to the Kerry Cliffs and to one of his favorite restaurants for lunch where we had a Pint of Guiness and Fish and Chips. Along the way, he heard us talk about Irish famine villages and made an side stop to a famine village which was beautiful and a real treat. Paudie knew back roads that took us to a great viewing point for Skellig Michel, away from the tourist crowds. After lunch we made a fun stop at the Skellig Chocolate shop for chocolate and a bathroom break. We would highly recommend Paudie and his personalized Ring of Kerry tour. It is truly a highlight and Paudie is a fun person to spend the day with.
Paudie is a treasure and the Ring of Kerry Tour with him a week ago was even better than we thought. He knows so much of history and local stories and relays them in a friendly manner. We had two generations of folks and he made it super for all. He would ask if we wanted to stop somewhere on the itinerary, for example, we did not want to stop at Skellig Chocolate, so that gave us longer where we wanted to stop (Torc Waterfall) . He chose an amazing place for lunch (shoutout to Fisherman's Bar in Portmagee). The Van was immaculate and comfortable.
We spent two weeks in Ireland and visited several areas. Our favorite day was with Paudie Murphy exploring his homeplace and listening to his stories. It was a beautiful day. The views of the Skelligs and Kerry cliffs made up for the foggy rain and poor visibility at the Moher cliffs. We saw many sights we would not have seen on a larger tour. Paudie is delightful and appears to truly love sharing his Irish home. Highly recommend a tour with Paudie!
What an awesome tour. I couldn’t say enough great things about our tour guide, Paudie! Definitely one of our favorite and most memorable tours we’ve ever been on. Thank you!
Our group of four adults had the pleasure of touring the Ring of Skellig and the Ring of Kerry with Paudie (Patrick) Murphy as our driver-guide for a day in July 2024. It was an absolutely fantastic experience! Paudie’s deep knowledge of the history and current details about the sights and Ireland in general was impressive, and his personal anecdotes about growing up in the area added a unique and engaging touch. The tour included a drive around the Ring of Skellig, a trip to Valentia Island, and parts of the Ring of Kerry. The dramatic cliffs of Skellig were as breathtaking as the Cliffs of Moher, and our stop at the working slate quarry and grotto on Valentia Island was equally memorable. We enjoyed a lunch (not included) at the Fisherman’s Restaurant in Portmagee Harbor, where we had the freshest fish and chips meal. Though we had a rental car, we chose to experience the beauty and history of this part of Ireland with a knowledgeable, professional, and safe driver and tour guide—Paudie. His love and passion for the area were evident throughout the day, and we were truly grateful for the opportunity to share in his enthusiasm. We would certainly contact Paudie for any return visits and give him a high recommendation.
Paudie was an amazing guide with a wealth of knowledge and great sense of humour! The day flew by and we experienced many different highlights of the area, including a few pleasant surprises. Two of our group had done a similar tour before, but this exceeded all expectations with new sights and different activities. We would definitely book with Paudie again, and we highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in exploring the Ring of Kerry.
Paudie Murphy, thank you for a most excellent tour of the Ring of Kerry and Skellig. There was no way we would have been able to do this tour by ourselves. Your intimate knowledge of the area, things to see (love our pieces of slate!), knowledge of the history of the area, and seeing your dear mum's house made the trip truly special. Eight hours is a long space to fill, but you did it with patience, humor and excellent driving skills. And you were correct...The Cliffs of Kerry are indeed taller than the Cliffs of Moher! When we return to Ireland, expect a call from us!
Paudie is an amazing storyteller! Is grew up in the region and has such deep knowledge and relationships within the area. Two of our team shared that "it was the best tour I have ever been a part of - from a local lunch, chocolate tasting and exploring so many wonderful natural areas"
This tour was one of the highlights of our two weeks traveling throughout Ireland. Paudie was absolutely the best! He made the tour special, with his vast knowledge and engaging personality. Years ago my husband and I took a tour bus tour of Ring of Kerry and it did not come close to this tour. Our favorite was the Kerry Cliffs and Skellig ring. Thank you Paudie, it was worth every penny and more!
You need a gem of a man to show you the gems of the Skellig Ring and Ring of Kerry. As with all private tours, it’s all about your guide, and Paudie made our tour wonderful in every respect. He knows all of the best spots and allows you to spend as much or as little time at each as you wish. He is everything you could ask for in a guide: kind, courteous, knowledgeable, and flexible. I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed by this tour.
Paudie is as good as they get. I have been a tour guide for over 20 years and have taken tours all over the world, and they don't come any better than Paudie's tour of the Ring of Kerry and Sceilig Ring. His family goes back many generations in the area, so Paudie doesn't just talk about the civil war, he shows you a spot where his friend's grandfather was killed during the civil war. He doesn't just teach you about Ireland's seafood, he points out a spot on the river where he used to catch salmon when he was a teenager. The tour was chalked full of humor, yet he had the power to bring tears to my eyes when he sang a verse to the song "The Boys of Barr na Sraide." I give this tour my highest recommendation.
Paudie was the absolute BEST!!!! He is so knowledgeable and fun to spend the day with seeing the most beautiful and surreal sights in Ireland!! This was by far the best $$ spent on our trip! He navigated the very narrow roads and took us to places we would never find on our own! I can't thank you enough Paudie! You have become a new friend! See you next time! 10 star trip!! - the mcallisters
Paudie was incredibly knowledgeable about the area annd its history . It was truly an unforgettable experience. The scenery along the Ring of Kerry was stunning. Paudie took us to some hidden gems that we would have not found on our own or experienced on a bus tour. He also found the best spots for pictures , food and shopping . I would highly recommend booking a tour with Paudie.
We had an outstanding tour from Paudie Murphy! He made the trip great for the whole family. Highly recommend!
Every other review says it all. Doesn’t get any better: Paudie is a wealth of interesting information, deeply knowledgeable about everything tour and history related and a real class act. Highly recommended!!! His stops were wow after wow.
Paudie provided an amazing tour for our whole family, entertaining and informative. This is the BEST way to see the area and discover all kinds of off the beaten path gems. You won’t find a better guide and navigator of the tiny Irish roads ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stunningly beautiful country views...this tour driven by a local familiar with all the history and tales, is well worth it. Many of the roads particularly at skellig ring and valencia are extremely narrow ... having a local safely maneuver them allows all members of your party to enjoy the scenery confident that they will survive! Paudie provided great commentary, stopped at all the major sites allowing passengers to visit at their pace or modify itinery. Lunch was at a restaurant that served the best fish and chips have ever had, and he also ensured a stop at the Skellig chocolate factory which gives free tastings and sells some to take should you wish. This tour does it all...Valencia Island, skellig and ring of kerry. Strongly recommend it...it will be a highlight of your trip!
Driving the Ring of Kerry was the only private tour we scheduled on our 2 week trip to Ireland. I chose it based on the amazing reviews and I am so glad I did. Paudie is a knowledgeable, friendly man who grew up in this area. He was right on time when picking us up from our guesthouse in the morning. Besides the stops listed on the itinerary, he offered to stop for a sheepdog demo. We loved it. It was something we had hoped to do but couldn't fit into our itinerary. We were also able to hold a baby lamb at another location. He shared a story his grandmother told him about a lifeboat that came ashore. He's also a good photographer. We drove by his mom's house and she came to the window and waved. The Kerry cliffs were another highlight. Actually, there were so many highlights. Although we did a self driving tour of Ireland, I'm so glad we gave our friend a break from driving that day. Thank you so much Paudie!
Thank you Paudie for a wonderful day touring the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Ring. Although the weather was not cooperative, we enjoyed every minute of this tour and every minute spent chatting with Paudie. My husband and I were able to see sites that the larger tour buses would not have been able to visit. We had a delicious lunch (the best of the entire trip) and took some incredible photos despite the weather. Paudie went above and beyond to make this day memorable.
Tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Weather held up for a good part of the day. Beautiful scenery everywhere, couldn't stop taking pictures 😍
I have been on many Ring of Kerry tours, but when planning a visit with friends who had not, I worried about what would be best. I got it right when I chose Paudie! We were all thrilled by his first-hand knowledge of the area and his colorful explanations of what we were seeing. In fact, his was probably the best tour of anything I have ever been on. He arranged special things to fit our interests and supplied anything we asked for. A year after our trip, we are all still raving about Paudie!
Our driver Paudie Murphy was excellent. So knowledgeable and told great stories and history of the area. We really enjoyed all the stops and will definitely recommend this trip and this driver to our friends!
Paudie was an excellent guide, and took us to many locations. We requested an extra stop and he was able to fit it in for us. His car was ver comfortable for us a party of 4.
Patrick Murphy is the kind of Irishman that makes the trip extra special. My daughter and I spent several days touring the Wild Atlantic Way and we saw such amazing things and had the best experiences in the most remote parts of Ireland. We cannot thank Paudie enough for the tour and the extras with the pubs, secret beaches and baby lambs of course! We saw the most amazing sand storm and too many glorious rainbows to count.
Thank you Paudie for one of the most memorable experiences we had during our Ireland trip. The attention to detail - the care you extended and your patience with our multiple bathroom breaks, 5,000 questions and wandering spirits, was remarkable and greatly appreciated. Thank you for making the tour so very special for us! Catherine Brodehl
Taking the private tour with Paudie was one of the best moves when planning this trip to Ireland! It gave my husband a break from driving and the ability to go to places where bigger tour buses can not. Paudie was knowledgeable of the area and of history especially since he grew up there. We even saw his mom drive past us while on one part of the day trip! It offers a lot of flexibility having a driver for your group to meet your groups needs. Paudie was kind, personable, and a safe driver! I would definitely suggest this tour if making a trip to Ireland! Thanks Paudie!!
Fabulous experience all around! Paudie Murphy knew & shared the history of beautiful County Kerry, as well as the entire country of Ireland. He went far above & beyond that of tour buses. He had local connections which enhanced our private tour, took us to places others don’t get to go, and answered all of our many questions (first timers to Ireland). We spent the entire day together and Paudie was worth every minute & euro!
Our full day Ring of Kerry & Skellig Ring Tour from Killarney was an unforgettable experience. A very good selection of attractions, pointing out special locations, culminating with the Cliffs of Kerry. Paudie was an amazing tour guide and provided lots of details and history! He was so knowledgeable and so patient with all our questions. He made a well-planned tour into a really memorable trip. We had a fabulous time.
I had planned to drive but am thrilled I didn’t! Paudie showed us an incredible day of experiences we would not have had on our own. He was very knowledgeable and an absolute delight to spend the day with. It was the highlight of our trip to Ireland and can’t recommend Wild Atlantic enough. I’ll remember the day for the rest of my life. Thank you Paudie!
My husband and I had a wonderful day and I highly recommend this private tour. We started out early in the morning from our hotel and we were dropped off around 5 pm. It was a pleasure to spend the day with Paudie who is good-natured, very knowledgeable and entertaining! He is also a great driver who grew up in the area so knows it very well. We enjoyed the Ring of Kerry and all the usual sights but also saw many local places that you would not see if you did this tour by yourself or on a big tour bus. We felt like VIP’s all day but especially when we drove right up to the Kerry Cliffs past the regular parking lot. This tour was well worth the cost. The whole day was fantastic!
Paudie was great! He really took.care of us, showing us the big highlights and adding in some special surprises that made the trip super special! Definitely recommend!
We initially booked just this private tour, and subsequently also hired Paudy for transport and touring for three additional days (in advance of our travel to Ireland). Our trip included myself, my husband and two of our adult children. Paudy was an excellent guide, taking us to beautiful locations that we would never have discovered on our own. A true local, Paudy knows a lot about the area, is personable, and helped make our trip memorable. With Paudy as our guide, we toured the Ring of Kerry and Skillig Ring, the Dingle peninsula area, and a tour from Tralee to Galway all along the Wild Atlantic Way. We were able to see and enjoy so much of the area. The entire family agreed that our touring with Paudy was a highlight of our trip to Ireland! We would highly recommend his tour/transport services!
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