A Guide to Derrynane Bay
Read our travel guide on how to visit Derrynane Beach, Abbey, House, national historic park, and the nature trail. Includes tips on the best things to do, what to expect, how to get there, where to stay, or when to go.
Derrynane is a small settlement situated on the Ring of Kerry in the southwest of the Iveragh Peninsula.
While this sleepy village is not as known as nearby Sneem or Waterville, we believe the local nature and history are captivating and worth exploring.
In fact, that's the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way road trip.
It is full of hidden gems and amazing places, and you never know what you will discover behind the next corner.
And believe us. The Derrynane Bay area is full of surprises.
So here's everything you should know about Derrynane before you go.
What to See and Do
Despite its small size, there are plenty of things to see and do in the Derrynane area.
At first, we were not sure what to expect as our trip was fairly spontaneous, and we included Derrynane in our Ireland road trip itinerary at the last moment.
And that's why we even missed the House, as we didn't plan our trip carefully.
Derrynane Beach
Without any doubt, Derrynane Beach is one of the best beaches along the Ring of Kerry.
And we are not afraid to say that this might very well be one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland.
Sure, the road that leads to the parking is narrow, but we were already pretty used to it. The reward was worth the effort, though.
During the high tide, Derrynane Beach is divided into several parts by rocks jutting into the season.
At the low tide, you can enjoy the beach, with its crystal clear waters and shallow swimming pools, in its full glory.
The middle part of the beach in Derrynane is a Blue Flag Beach and has a lifeguard in the summer season.
It has its own parking area, which we'll discuss later in the text, so stay tuned.
If you're looking for more Blue Flag Beaches in this area, head out to Ballinskelligs Beach on the Skellig Ring.
Derrynane Abbey
Situated on Abbey Island, the ruins of the 6th-century monastery are only accessible during the low tide without getting your feet wet.
The 350-meter out-and-back trail features amazing scenery and takes you from the parking across sand dunes and a sandy strip of beach to this peaceful place.
If you want to know why we enjoyed our Ireland road trip so much, it's thanks to these incredible places.
Also known as Ahamore Abbey, the site is fairly small and consists of a church without a roof, a couple of overgrown structures, and a small graveyard (Mary O'Connell is buried here).
The ancient ruins are only a short walk from the parking, and crossing during the low tide from the beach to the island is very easy.
The views of Derrynane Bay that awaits you at the monastery area are amazing and well worth the effort.
Honestly, this was one of our favorite short walks in Ireland.
By the way, if you're looking for a full island experience when exploring this area, make sure to visit Valentia Island at the farthest point of the peninsula.
Derrynane House
The childhood home of Daniel O'Connell, Derrynane House, is one of the top attractions in the Derrynane Bay area.
If the name Daniel O'Connell doesn't ring a bell, you should know that he was known as the Liberator and was one of the greatest figures in Irish history.
If this topic interests you, this home features charming interiors and informative displays (including the famous chariot), allowing you to learn more about O'Connell's life and the history of Ireland.
Today, the demesne landscape is included in Derrynane National Historic Park, meaning the house is set in a beautiful parkland and worth exploring even if history is not exactly your thing.
There is a small admission to the house, but you can explore the lush green grounds for free.
As we didn't plan our day in advance and just went with the flow, we missed the Derrynane House opening times.
That's how travel works, and we learned the hard way over the course of years that you can't see it all.
On the bright side, arriving at Derrynane early allowed us to explore the bay without crowds.
Derrynane Seashore Nature Trail
Without any doubt, the 1.2-kilometer looped Derrynane Nature Trail is one of the hidden gems of the Ring of Kerry.
It's not a well-known attraction of County Kerry, but it's absolutely worth exploring.
The nature trails usually feature beautiful landscapes and are great on their own, but this one is even more exciting.
It was created by a local named Vincent Hyland and allows you to explore Derrynane Bay in a unique way.
The trail has 20 stops featuring the local fauna, flora, geology, and history.
The best part is that you can take a virtual tour from your home, though we suggest saving the experience for the time of your actual visit.
If you want to learn more about sea life, birds at the tidal lagoon, butterflies, mobile dunes, wildflowers, rock pools, or prefamine history, this is one of the best places to visit on the Iveragh Peninsula.
Ogham Stone
As we did the Ring of Kerry clockwise, the Derrynane Ogham Stone was actually our first stop in this area.
Most of the time, this is a super quick stop for two reasons.
The stone is clearly visible from the road, as it stands about ten meters from the small entrance gate.
The second reason is more practical. There is virtually no parking.
You need to leave your car in the tiny parking opposite the stone, which accommodates a single vehicle (most of the time).
And what is an Ogham? It's a stone that features the earliest form of writing in Ireland, dating back to the 4th century CE.
By the way, if you're looking for more ancient history, only a few kilometers from here lies the impressive Staigue Stone Fort.
Opening Hours
Here are the opening hours for the top attractions in the Derrynane area.
Derrynane Beach
Obviously, Derrynane House is a natural attraction open 24/7.
While we recommend arriving early to beat the crowds, it might not be a bad idea to time to visit for the sunset hour.
If you want to plan your trip especially carefully, check the local tide timetables to know what to expect.
Derrynane Abbey
From what we understand, Derrynane Abbey is also open all day.
Ogham Stone
Ogham Stone can be visited any time of the day as well.
Derrynane House
Derrynane House is open daily from March to November, usually from 10 AM to 4:00 PM (and 4:30 PM in the summer season).
From November to December, the house is only open on the weekends from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Entrance Fee
The entry fee to Derrynane House is €5 per adult. Other than that, there is no charge to Derrynane Beach, Abbey, or the nature trail.
Generally, Derrynane is a great place to visit if you're visiting Ireland on a budget.
How Much Time Do I Need
In general, how long you should spend in Derrynane depends on your activities and travel plans.
If you just want to see the beach and the abbey, you should allow yourself about an hour to enjoy the local scenery.
In case you want to walk around the entire area and visit every place on our list, three hours sounds about right.
On a perfect picture day during the summer, you could easily spend the full day at Derrynane Beach.
When to Go
You can visit Derrynane and all its attractions any time of the year.
Summer is generally considered the best time to visit Ireland, and it's also a great period to explore Derrynane.
The weather should be great, days long and warm.
The only downside is the fact that the Ring of Kerry gets really busy during this period and also the prices for accommodation skyrocket.
Therefore, we believe that spring and autumn are even better seasons to visit Derrynane.
We arrived at Derrynane in May, and while the weather was relatively good, it was really windy and still pretty cold.
Winter is a slow season in Derrynane and the least busy time. Days are short, often cold and wet.
What to Pack
Most visitors come to Derrynane for the beach and nature, so bring clothes according to the season.
In summer, make sure to bring good sunscreen, sunglasses, a beach towel, and a waterproof dry bag. Outside this season, you will need an extra warm layer (or two).
A windbreaker or, preferably, a good rain jacket should be on your Ireland packing list regardless of your travel plans.
How to Get There
Without any doubt, the best way to get to Derrynane Beach is by car.
Just remember that as soon as you leave N70, the roads turn into very narrow green corridors, so drive carefully while there.
Here you can find tips for driving in Ireland and renting a car in Ireland.
Car
Derrynane is about 80 kilometers west of Killarney, which is often considered a starting point for the Ring of Kerry.
The nearest village is Caherdaniel, only 3.5 kilometers from here.
Twelve kilometers north of Derrynane sits Waterville, another lovely village worth visiting.
Portmagee, the departure point for boat trips to Skellig Michael, is 25 kilometers north of Derrynane.
You can get there in about five hours from Dublin.
Parking
Derrynane area has several parking areas, depending on what places you want to see.
In the summer, parking spots fill up quickly, so choose the one that has an empty spot and explore the area from there.
Luckily, all the attractions are within walking distance from each other, and you can get around on foot.
Derrynane Beach parking at the western tip of the beach is a great option for everyone. It's the one you can easily see on Google Maps.
However, another parking area is closer to the main Blue Flag Beach area, but the inconspicuous turnoff is easy to miss.
Before you reach the end of the road, look for the brown road sign (Strand) and a small gate and clearance bar (no large campervans allowed) on your left-hand side.
If you see the Keatings Bar, you've already missed the turn. Don't worry.
You can safely turn around at the other beach parking, as both parking lots are only 300 meters from each other.
Derrynane Nature Trail has parking as well. And there is also a parking area at Derrynane House.
Public Transport
Even though public transport does exist in this part of the Iveragh Peninsula, we wouldn't rely on it.
It runs usually only on certain days and generally connects the larger villages along the Ring.
Having our own transport for this area turned out to be a great advantage, as we were allowed to explore places at our own pace and make spontaneous decisions along the way.
Where to Stay
Derrynane area has a few bed and breakfast options that usually fill up quickly during the summer season.
Otherwise, you can find good hotels in larger towns along the Ring of Kerry, such as Waterville or Sneem.
Here is the list of the best hotels in Derrynane.
Derrynane | Derrynane Bay House - This cozy bed and breakfast has a fantastic location for exploring Derrynane. It features lovely clean, and comfortable rooms with lovely views and free private parking. Typical Irish breakfast is available in the morning.
Sneem | Parknasilla Resort and Spa - If you're looking for a luxurious place to stay, this resort near Sneem is an excellent choice. It boasts a tranquil location, modern and spacious rooms, a golf course, a spa, an outdoor swimming pool, an elegant restaurant, and much more.
Waterville | Butler Arms Hotel - Undoubtedly, this is one of the best hotels in Waterville. It has a fantastic location, a seafood restaurant, and charming rooms with ocean views. Free private parking is available.
Staying Safe
In general, the Derrynane area is a very safe place to visit.
The Blue Flag Beach, with a lifeguard on duty, is your safest option to swim at Derrynane.
As usual, don't leave valuables in your car, and wear proper clothing when walking outside.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Ireland.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Is Derrynane Worth Visiting?
Derrynane Bay was one of our favorite places on the Ring of Kerry. It's not as famous as Killarney National Park or Kerry Cliffs, but that can be a plus, as it also means fewer people.
The beach was tranquil in the morning, we enjoyed the short coastal walks, and we also liked the ruins of the ancient abbey on the island.
Plus, there is the house that has so much history and beautiful grounds.
Therefore, we believe the Derrynane area is definitely worth visiting. Of course, if your schedule and travel plans allow it.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
