Walking

The Kerry way runs past the front gate. This is a waymarked walking way running for 215 km round the Iveragh Peninsular. It takes you through glorious scenery, without being too strenuous or difficult. For walkers looking for a greater challenge, the house looks out towards the western end of the Glenbeigh horseshoe, and walking up the incline behind the house you eventually get to the summit of Drung Hill. From there you take in a wonderful Atlantic view and then walk along a ridge at around 2000 feet for the 25 km hike to end up in the village of Glenbeigh. There are countless other walks, one of the favourites being to the end of Rossbeigh Strand and back, the circuit taking roughly two hours.

Above Lake Coomasaharn on the Glenbeigh Horseshoe

The Skelligs seen from a walk up to the cliffs on Valentia Island.

 Fishing

Local waters abound with skate, shark (many species, from little frilled sharks up to and including potentially man-eating blues), ling, cod, conger, pollock, monkfish, coalfish, dogfish, mackerel and many more. Even tuna is brought to Kerry waters by the Gulf Stream. Local fishing grounds hold several Irish Sea Fishing Records. Local skippers take fishermen out for an hour or two to catch mackerel and pollock, or day-long trips, maybe to the Skelligs or Blaskets. For shore fishermen Rossbeigh strand, is famous for bass fishing, particularly in early spring. Many places along the coast are suitable for rock fishing. For freshwater game fishermen the area abounds with lakes and rivers for salmon (rarer now than some years ago) and brown trout. The salmon season runs from 9th February to 30th September, and trout from 15th March to 12th October. Caragh lake, set in unparalleled scenery is a 15 minute drive away. It's worth a trip on the lake even if you are not a fisher. Salmon are sometimes caught here, as they are on the Upper Caragh River. The river has 9 beats.

Caragh Lake

Golf:

Kerry is a golfer's paradise.  Dooks, is closest to the house at 10 km, a links course overlooking Dingle Bay, recently substantially remodelled. Killarney, at 40km, has two 18 hole championship courses, Killeen and Mahoney’s Point, and a further 18 hole course. At 50 km, outside Tralee, is a sensational links course overlooking some of the finest scenery in Ireland - voted Irish Golf course of the year in 2007. At 35km, west from the house along the Ring of Kerry, you'll find Waterville, a links course once assessed by Golf World as the 5th best course in the British Isles. In Ballybunnion, at 85km, there are two championship links courses (the Old and the New).  The Old Course is ranked 12th in the World on www.top100golfcourses.co.uk

 Dooks Golf Links

 

Waterville Golf Links                                                                        Tralee Golf links

Riding

Whether you want to go for a gallop on Rossbeigh, have a half day trek in the hills, or take a child on a gentle trot down a quiet lane the local stables will be able to help. 

Beach gallop on Rossbeigh

There are races on Rossbeigh Strand every Summer

Clapper races on Rossbeigh, August

Swimming and watersports

Excellent safe swimming is to be had at Rossbeigh and Kells Bay.  Ross is also popular with body boarders, windsurfers, and, increasingly, sea canoeists.  There are dive centres at Caherdaniel, Ballinskelligs and Valentia Island, with excellent dives around the coast and by the Blasket Islands.  Children have great fun in any weather at the Aquadome in Tralee.

Activity Ireland Dive Centre Caherdaniel

Aquadome Tralee

But the sun doesn't always shine at the beach!

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