How to Visit Priest's Leap
Priest's Leap is a scenic drive, a mountainous pass, and an off-the-beaten-path place in Ireland. This travel guide includes tips on what to expect, how to get, and when to go.
There are tons of scenic drives in Ireland, but Priest's Leap is one of the most beautiful ones.
Surprisingly, it's not heavily visited by tourists who usually rush off to explore more famous places such as the Ring of Kerry or Cliffs of Moher.
In fact, driving up to Priest's Leap pass is one of the most overlooked things to do in Kerry and Cork, as the route traverses both counties.
Therefore, it can be easily considered one of the best off-the-beaten-path places in this area.
Yes, with its narrow winding road, hair-rising steep inclines, sheep grazing for their food, and spectacular views along the way, Priest's Leap is one of the best well-kept secrets in Munster.
However, visiting Priest's Leap comes with a few obstacles.
Don't worry. We got you covered. It's relatively easy to visit Priest's Leap, even without a guide.
So here is everything you should know about Priest's Leap before you go.
Where is Priest's Leap
Priest's Leap (Leim an tSagairt) is a 13-kilometer scenic drive in County Cork and County Kerry between Ballylickey and Kenmare.
It's a great alternative to N71 (which connects Cork with Killarney), especially if you're not pressed for time.
The route itself starts at Coomhola Bridge or the village of Bonane, depending on your direction of travel.
It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to tackle this route, depending on how many stops you make along the way.
History
According to a local legend, a local priest was crossing the mountains on the way to a sick person in this area.
The army pursued him, and just before he was captured, his horse made a miraculous leap across Bantry Bay to safety.
Today, a memorial plaque commemorating the event can be seen at this site and serves as a reminder of Ireland's Penal Laws in the 17th century.
The story was also immortalized by West Cork poet T.D. O'Sullivan in a poem.
Priest's Leap Drive
We visited Priest's Leap on our way from Beara Peninsula to Killarney National Park.
Instead of following the N71, we grabbed the chance to see a part of Ireland that most tourists miss out on.
While this stretch of N71 is also pretty scenic, the Priest's Leap offers a far more adventurous experience. And we are not afraid to say even a far more spectacular scenery.
Unlike some remote roads, the scenic drive that will take you across the Priest's Leap pass can be fairly easily included in your Ireland road trip itinerary, at least while you are in this area.
After circumnavigating Beara, we drove across Healy Pass, another fantastic mountainous road in Ireland.
Coomhola Bridge
This detour eventually brought us back to Glengariff, where we turned right onto N71 and continued to Coomhola Bridge.
When arriving from Ballylickey, don't cross the bridge here. Otherwise, you will end up on a different road.
From here, it's only 6.5 kilometers to the highest point on this route.
The first section is lined with trees and very narrow, and you will pass several homesteads along the way.
The road is winding, but there are not that many sharp turns (or even zig-zags), so the drive is pretty straightforward.
Priest's Leap
The final climb is fairly steep but not very long. There is small parking once you reach the pass, so make sure to take a break there.
Stretch your legs, and admire some of the finest scenery in Ireland.
At 465 meters, the views from the top are nothing short of spectacular. By the way, Priest's Leap is also the name of a nearby 519 m high mountain.
Knockboy Mountain Trail
If you have more time and the weather is favorable, you can find here a trailhead to hike to nearby Knockboy Mountain.
With 706 meters, Knockboy is the highest mountain in County Kerry.
The trail 4.5 kilometer out-and-back trail has an elevation gain of 200 meters and is relatively easy.
Bonane
Descending back to the valley offers a very similar experience, and the views are also stunning on this side of the mountain.
We started pretty late, and when we reached Bonane, we realized that we had met only a single car along the way.
Not only it really made the driving part much easier, but it also gave us an opportunity to explore this wild Irish landscape in its full glory.
Without any doubt, Priest's Leap was one of the biggest surprises of our Wild Atlantic Way road trip.
The scenery, the views, the road, the remoteness, all of this and much more are the main reasons Priest's Leap is definitely worth visiting.
And while places such as Gap of Dunloe or Sally Gap are famous for a reason, it's these little-known trips that make traveling so much fun.
Things to Know Before You Go
There is one more thing you should know about Priest's Leap before you go.
GPS Navigation
We've already mentioned that Priest's Leap drive connects Ballylickey with Kenmare, so this is nothing new.
But this scenic road is actually the shortest route between these two towns, as it's only 26 kilometers (the route itself is only 13 kilometers).
The distance between the towns via national road N71 is 39 kilometers.
Occasionally, GPS navigation can take you there without warning as it calculates this route as the shortest or fastest.
Driving Tips
Priest's Leap route features a single-track road over the pass in the mountains, and driving requires caution.
The road is very narrow, with many curves and even a few very steep inclines.
The road is paved but has a green strip in the middle, suggesting that it is not the most heavily visited route in Ireland.
There are many passing places along the way to let oncoming traffic pass.
Still, be prepared that reversing may be required when meeting oncoming traffic as the pullouts are not everywhere.
Here you will find more tips for driving in Ireland.
Dangerous Road
Before setting off on our Ireland road trip, we heard a few times that Priest's Leap is a scary (or even dangerous) road (for thrill seekers).
Honestly, it's basically just another narrow rural road that only requires keen observation of what's ahead.
This one has, as a bonus, a few steep inclines and a grass strip in the middle.
For me, the most challenging part was actually the first and last section of the route, which had narrow green corridors, hidden driveways, and zero shoulders.
Once you pass these sections, you will have a clear view of what's ahead, with only a few exceptions in the sections with a steep incline.
The rule of thumb is to use common sense, drive slowly, look out for sheep, and keep your eyes open for oncoming traffic.
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!
How Much Time Do I Need
We have already mentioned that you should allocate approximately 45 minutes for Priest's Leap.
Driving slowly and carefully is a great way to increase your safety, but there is one more hidden aspect of this journey.
This is a very scenic route that allows you to see Ireland from a very different perspective.
A land where time has stopped. So enjoy this precious experience and soak it all in.
How to Get
The easiest way to get to Priest's Leap is by car. If you're looking for a challenge, you can opt for cycling to the top of the mountain pass.
In case you decide for the first option, read our guide on renting a car in Ireland.
Killarney is about either 40 kilometers (N71) or 50 kilometers (N22) north of Bonane.
Cork is about 100 kilometers east of here, and the journey across the Irish countryside takes about two hours.
Bantry is only 10 kilometers south of Coomhola Bridge, which is the same distance you need to cover when driving from Kenmare and Bonane.
It takes about four hours to get there from Dublin or Galway.
Travel Resources
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
When to Go
Priest's Leap can be visited all year round. However, the best time to drive this scenic route is on a clear day in order to enjoy the views along the way.
The Priest's Leap drive on a rainy day may be a bit more challenging and definitely less scenic. In case of fog or mist, we would stick to the N71.
In winter, check the local weather warnings before you go.
Here you will find more tips on when to visit Ireland.
Where to Stay
Before or after visiting Priest's Leap, the town of Killarney is the most obvious place to stay overnight.
This is the main tourist hub while exploring this area, so it has the best selection of hotels for all travelers and budgets.
Kenmare is a great alternative to Killarney, especially if you prefer a less busy destination.
Further south is the little town of Bantry, which is a gateway to Beara, Sheep's Head, and even Mizen Head.
Kenmare | Brook Lane Hotel - Situated in a quiet location in Kenmare, Brook Lane is a charming boutique hotel that features stylish rooms with floor heating and large and comfortable beds, an on-site restaurant, and free parking.
Killarney | Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa - With its central location, Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa is a perfect accommodation for staying overnight after a long day on the road. The hotel features charming rooms, an indoor pool, a spa, free parking, and a gourmet restaurant.
Bantry | The Maritime - Located on the water's edge, the Maritime Hotel offers stylish rooms with sea views, a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, or exercise room. Free private parking is just the icing on the cake.
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.
