Derrynane loop

Derrynane national historic park

A short drive from Waterville brings you to this free car park with spaces for coaches and campers.

The house

Instead of heading into the grounds of the house, head toward the coast down a grey gravel path that leads to cropped grass heading towards the sea. There are a number of worn paths, head right. Have a look back at the gardens and out to see.

Beach

It would be easy to spend the whole day on the beach at Derrynane, though it would be a shame to miss the rest of the area completely. On the far side of the beach is a tidal island. If the tide's not high it's easy to get to.

Path to the beach

There are several ways down to the sand and more car parks.

The beach at low tide

Leaving the beach at Abbey Island

A stone path leads up to the burial ground housed in the ruined abbey

Abbey window

Abbey Island hare

On the island, there are no paths and plenty of marshy areas. The rare Kerry lily can be found here. It's easy to return to the beach and pick up the trail again, although a climb up to the higher parts of the island will be rewarded with excellent encompassing sea and mountain views.

Islands

A camera doesn't do this view justice

View to the Skelligs

The small two, on the horizon

Inland from Abbey Island

Heading round the island rather than returning to the abbey, which would have been easier

Cove

After leaving the island and crossing the beach to a car park, turn left to pick up the trail again. Look for a marked gap in the wall on the right side of the road before the pier and follow the path between fences and cut rhodedendrons.

Shoreline

Passing the Derrynane inshore response building, the path winds around the rocky shoreline

Shade

Huge rhodedendron bushes provide a break from the sun. Or a place for huge puddles to collect, depending on the weather.

Steps up the rock

At one cove, the path isn't obvious until you notice the steps cut into the rock.

Starting to ascend

The first climb brings you above the shore and widens the view again

Harbour

Dropping back to the shore one last time to leave a private road at the harbour reveals some houses, one of which is abandoned

View from the abandonded house

This could be a garden would be in the teeth of winter's gales and storms. Beautiful in summer though.

Climbing

The road from the harbour climbs, but not too quickly, away from the coast up the hill.

Hillside

The views change again as the surroundings change from coast to hillside.

Path to Caherdaniel

After following the road for a while, the path to Caherdaniel is clearly signed.

'The best view in Ireland'

The trail climbs slowly up the hillside, sort of following the contour of the hill. At the very top is a sign for a B+B and a flat rock that makes an excellent place to sit and enjoy what I'm told is the best view in Ireland.

Track down the hillside

Foxglove in the shade

Back to the house

This bell is easy to find on the road

Restored summer house

the map says, but it would be disappointing if this were not actually the home of a bearded wizard

Gardens of the big house

The road passes this garden to return to the car park