Family In:sight into Fleming's White Bridge, Killarney

After leaving the county of Tipperary we headed to county Kerry, excited by all the comments we'd heard about this being a beautiful part of the country. We even met a woman on the ferry over who insisted we head over to Dingle in particular. It was 30 years ago that I came to this part of the world on a family holiday and I was keen for our girls to enjoy it as much as we had.

 

The Fleming's White Bridge Caravan Club site is located in Killarney, not far from many of the popular attractions that attract so many tourists to this area. It is a popular site with caravans, motorhomes and campers coming and going every day. The site is located on a narrow stretch of land between a river and railway line, one and half miles from the centre of Killarney. The site offers all the expected facilities: a clean, modern toilet block (you need to pay for showers), a games room, a campers TV room where you can make tea and coffee and a reception that is very welcoming and provides a wealth of information about where to visit in the local area. A short walk into the site leads to a river where you can walk the dog or spend time skimming stones, floating rafts, paddling or even braving the water for a wild swim!

 

Things to do and see in Killarney and county Kerry:

 

Killarney 

Killarney is a busy town and hub of much activity in the beautiful county of Kerry. You can easily drive into the centre but it is a short walk, allowing you to leave the car or motorhome back at the site. Killarney is a tourist town with many shops, cafes and pubs offering souvenirs and traditional Irish fare. 

We headed into Killarney a few times but one of our highlights was an evening spent at the Danny Mann pub. Although this is aimed at tourists and is not surprisingly filled with visitors from abroad it offers a good quality taste of Irish music and food. A selection of music is on the menu with singers and bands performing every night of the week. 

 

This national park is on the doorstep and many days can be spent soaking up the wonderful views. There is a wide variety of activities on offer to suit the tastes of all visitors from walks and cycle rides to boat trips and rides on the traditional horse and trap. We visited in October when the leaves were changing and the sun was lower in the sky providing a warm glow over the picturesque woodland, lakes and mountains - a photographer's dream!

 

Ross Castle 

Ross Castle is situated by Killarney's lower lake. It is an impressive 15th century castle that has undergone many changes during its chequered past. The castle is open to the public and tours around the building provide a good insight into the history as well as some beautiful views over the lake. Boat trips across the lake run from the nearby pier and bikes can be taken on board. 

 

Torc waterfall is about 5 miles out of Killarney. It is an impressive waterfall that attracts many visitors to the area. There is a car park at the bottom and routes of varying difficulties can be taken; the simplest route is a short 20 minute walk up the path to see the waterfall. The path continues to climb up into the forest and allows you to take in views of the surrounding National Park. For those wanting a more energetic walk you can continue up to the top of Torc Mountain or take a circular route around the waterfall, walking by the lake's edge before climbing into the forest.

 

Carauntoohil is Ireland's tallest mountain and is situated in Killarney National Park. It is 1038m tall and on a good day provides an amazing 360 degree view. There are a couple of routes up the mountain but the most direct is via Devil's ladder, which is steep in places with loose rock. Allow plenty of time to do this walk and fully appreciate the fantastic sights.

 

One of the "must do things" on the list that everyone recommends is the Ring Of Kerry, a scenic drive around the Iveragh peninsula taking in breath-taking views of coastal landscape. Keen cyclists could choose to cycle this route instead of driving it.

 

The Dingle peninsula is equally impressive with idyllic sandy beaches and rugged cliffs that hug the Atlantic ocean. Dingle itself a wonderfully quaint seaside town that is worth a visit. Whilst there hop on one of the many boat trips that promise sightings of the resident dolphin Fungie. They are so confident that you'll see him that you don't have to pay if you don't. We were disappointed and had an amazing hour out in the harbour watching him swim and ride the waves of the boat (see youtube video. The girls love wildlife and took the advantage to find out more from the skipper of the boat; Ella wrote her highlight of the week about it (

If visiting Dingle peninsula don't forget to stop off at Inch Strand beach, an impressively long sand spit that stretches into Dingle Bay. Walk, run or paddle on the beautiful sand and in the summer months you can hire water sports equipment and learn to surf in your own little Irish paradise.