Ring of Beara from Killarney: Private tour through Healy Pass

Drive the Beara Peninsula loop and stop whenever the view demands it

A private Ring of Beara tour from Killarney covers the loop drive around Beara Peninsula, including Healy Pass, Derreen Gardens, and Uragh Stone Circle, with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup. The private format means you set the pace, choose which villages to linger in, and stop for lunch where locals eat. Garnish Island is optional depending on boat availability.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ring of Beara private tour highlights

• View Kenmare Bay and Bantry Bay
• Walk in Derreen Garden
• Drive Ring of Beara villages
• Lunch in Castletownbere
• Visit Healy Pass viewpoint
• Explore Kenmare town
• Visit Molly Gallivan's cottage
• See copper mines in Allihies
• Visit Uragh Stone Circle

The experience

The tour starts from your Killarney hotel and heads toward Healy Pass, the viewing point in the middle of Beara Peninsula that most coach tours skip. From the top you see Kenmare Bay on one side and Bantry Bay on the other, with Glanmore Lake and its rocky islands below. The drive down takes you through the villages the route is named for (Ardgroom, Eyeries, and Allihies) each one built into the hillside above the Atlantic. Castletownbere, a working fishing town, is where most people stop for lunch. The seafood comes straight off the boats.

Derreen Gardens sits on the peninsula's quieter side, a subtropical pocket of rhododendrons and exotic plants that feels like a rain forest walk. The Uragh Stone Circle stands between two lakes on high ground, with a view down to Gleninchaquin Waterfall. The tallest stone rises 10 feet above the ground. You'll also visit the cable car station to Dursey Island and pass through Kenmare, the 17th-century town laid out as a grid by Sir Oliver William Petty. Molly Gallivan's cottage, a preserved traditional Irish home, serves tea from a real fireplace. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours depending on where you stop and how long you stay at each place.

Because it's private, you don't follow a fixed itinerary. Your guide can take you to places off the main route, stop whenever you want for photos or a meal, and adjust the day around your interests. The vehicle is air-conditioned and holds either one person, two people, or three to four in an SUV, depending on which option you book. Bottled water is included.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup in Killarney.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

3 options

Ring of Beara for three to four people (SUV)Up to 3 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30Ring of Beara for three to four people (SUV): drive through Killarney National Park, then continue through Healy Pass on the Ring of Beara, with an optional visit to Garnish Island. Premium, 8 hours, with flexible timing; if more time is needed, that's no problem. The Beara Peninsula is the most scenic spot in the southwest of Ireland, so a private tour is strongly recommended for the views. Travel is in a very comfortable Lexus SUV, and its AWD makes it very dependable on country roads. Pickup is included.

Ring of Beara for two peopleUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30Ring of Beara tour for two people: drive through Killarney National Park, then continue through Healy Pass on the Ring of Beara, with an optional stop at Garnish Island. Premium, 8 hours, with flexible timing; if more time is needed, that's no problem. The Beara Peninsula is the most scenic spot in the southwest of Ireland, so a private tour is strongly recommended for the views. Travel is in a very comfortable Lexus SUV, and its AWD makes it very dependable on country roads. Pickup is included.

Ring of Beara for one personUp to 1 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30Ring of Beara tour for one person: drive through Killarney National Park, then continue through Healy Pass on the Ring of Beara, with an optional visit to Garnish Island. Premium, 8 hours, with flexible timing; if you need more time, that's no problem. The Beara Peninsula is the most scenic spot in the southwest of Ireland, so a private tour is strongly recommended for the views. Travel is in a very comfortable Lexus SUV, and its AWD makes it very dependable on country roads. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Peter Stanley tours

Is this one for you?Book solo if you want a guide focused entirely on you and the landscape. Book the group option if you're sharing with others and want to split costs while keeping full control over stops and pace.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Ring of Beara and why is Healy Pass worth the detour?

The Ring of Beara is a loop drive around the Beara Peninsula through villages like Ardgroom, Eyeries, and Allihies, with views of the Atlantic coast. Healy Pass cuts through the middle of the peninsula and reaches a high viewing point where you see both Kenmare Bay and Bantry Bay at once. Most group tours cannot access it because the road suits only passenger cars and vans.

Can we stop for lunch and choose where to eat?

Yes. Castletownbere is the main lunch stop, a fishing town where restaurants serve what came off the boats that morning. As a private tour, you can also stop at other villages or restaurants along the way, and your guide can recommend places where local people eat.

What is Derreen Gardens like to walk through?

Derreen Gardens is a subtropical pocket of rhododendrons and exotic plants on the peninsula's quieter side. The walk feels like moving through a rain forest, with little ponds and dense plant growth. It's a short, easy walk and quite different from the coastal and mountain views elsewhere on the tour.

Is Garnish Island included, or do we have to pay extra?

Garnish Island is optional and depends on boat availability on the day you tour. It is not included in the base price, so you can choose whether to add it when you book or ask your guide about it on the day.

How many people can fit in the vehicle, and does luggage travel with us?

The tour is available for one person, two people, or three to four people in an SUV. Luggage travels with you in the air-conditioned vehicle, so you can bring what you need for the day.

What is Uragh Stone Circle and why is its location special?

Uragh Stone Circle is an ancient monument standing between two lakes on high ground, with a view down to Gleninchaquin Waterfall. The tallest stone rises 10 feet above the ground, and the central stone is believed to have been an altar. The setting between the lakes and the waterfall view make it one of the most visually striking stone circles in the area.