We tried our best to sleep in as long as we could, but didn’t manage to sleep too long because the delicious smell of breakfast beckoned us out of our comfy bed.
We walked upstairs to the dining room at The Old Presbytery bed and breakfast and immediately dug into the buffet of fresh fruit, museli, toast, sweet breads and more.
I also ordered a cappuccino which came out perfectly creamy and frothy. Not a bad way to start the day!
I’ve never been to a bed and breakfast in America where you order off a menu, but that seems to be commonplace in Ireland which is rather neat! Ryan ordered the warm fruit-filled crepe while I opted for the crab frittata and we agreed to share.
The portions of fresh crab meat in the frittata were quite generous and I was very happy with my selection. Ryan’s crepe tasted like apple pie on a plate and was a winner, too!
Once we had food in our stomach, we packed up our suitcases and hit the road for a long day of driving and exploring.
After 90 minutes in the car, we found ourselves in Killarney at the Muckross House and Gardens.
I read some tips online that said this was a great place to park if you wanted to do some short hikes in Killarney National Park. We didn’t tour the house, but we walked around the property and thought the gardens were absolutely beautiful, even during the “off season.”
It was absolutely freezing outside and the wind was killer so lots of layers were necessary!
Tank top + Long sleeve shirt + Pullover sweatshirt + Zip-up hoodie + Parka = Good to go!
The Killarney National Park is absolutely stunning and we were blown away by the beauty of the mountains, lakes and gorgeous greenery.
A short hike took us to the Torc Waterfall located at the base of Torc Mountain.
Before heading back to the car, we ate a quick lunch at the Muckross House cafe and outlined the drive we wanted to make along the Ring of Kerry, a long route located in County Kerry that takes drivers through some of the most scenic parts of Ireland. We didn’t want to do the entire ring due to time constraints, but we managed to see some absolutely gorgeous scenery.
And we finally saw the sun!
Hooray!!!
Oh heeey, goats! These goats were walking right along the road and weren’t the least bit bashful! We talked to them and they just looked at us and kept on eating. How cool!
We veered off the Ring of Kerry as dusk was approaching because we wanted to make it to the Dingle Peninsula where we planned to spend the night before it was dark outside.
As we drove to Dingle, we took some one-lane roads that made us a little uneasy at times. At one point we turned the corner to find a herd of cows walking toward us and had to laugh!
They didn’t seem fazed by us in the least and walked right around our car without a second glance.
The drive to our bed and breakfast in Dingle was stunning and we pulled over a couple of times to snap pictures.
We were absolutely shocked to see a man surfing off one of the beaches. It was in the 30s outside!
The town of Dingle is very walkable and absolutely adorable. Like Kinsale, it’s a small fishing town and after checking into our bed and breakfast, Ryan and I headed out in search of another seafood dinner.
We had no trouble finding a good spot and popped into Out of the Blue Seafood. I left everything including my camera back at the bed and breakfast, but the food was fantastic. I ordered the seafood chowder and langoustines (a large prawn) and gave both dishes rave reviews.
Our third day in Ireland was wonderful!
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Muckross House always reminds me of Downton Abbey, but maybe that’s just me 😉
Pictures from the hike and drive look absolutely beautiful. That goat! Too funny! Ireland looks like such a beautiful place to see one day.
Wow! You really had a good time in Ireland. The most spectacular site I’ve seen there is Cliffs of Moher. I wish I could visit Ireland again! 🙂
You guys were made for each other! Such cute nerds 🙂
Oh my gosh, now I want a vacation after reading about your trip!! 🙂
I’m enjoying reading your Ireland reports. We were just there and your photos are bringing back great memories. I hope you got to drive the Dingle Peninsula – stunning!
I LOVED the ring of Kerry when I went. My family is originally from Kerry – it’s so beautiful!
This trip looks amazing and so beautiful! In a funny way, where you are in Ireland kind of reminds me of parts of the Pacific Northwest I just visited, minus the cows and goats. I love the look of these quaint villages – moving up my must-visit list quickly!
The crepe you had looks amazing! Muckross house and gardens looks like a really beautiful and majestic place! The herd of cows that y’all encountered is pretty funny. Can’t wait to see more!
How beautiful! The mountains and the water and those woods…just incredible. Looks like you’re having a great time!
Iv’e been there! You are basically doing the same route that I did last October…we did the whole country starting in dublin, went up north following the coast, came back down the west coast and ended in Killarny. I love Ireland! Looks like you are having fun 🙂 !!
The cows just walking in the road is too funny!
Have you got to see Funghi the dolphin yet? A nice walk near Dingle is out to most western point, where a huge number of immigrants left during the famine. I think we could see the Aran islands from there too.
I did the exact same route when I was there last September, although I stayed the night in Killarney at Sika Lodge. Kinsale — > Killarney –> Dingle.. awesome choice!
Muckross House was SO AWESOME, I loved it, gorgeous.
Enjoy Dingle! It’s a cute little town.
Ohhh it’s so beautiful there! Ireland = officially on my To Visit list!
Dingle has to be one of my favorite places on earth! And it looked about as dark, and gloomy, and as beautiful as when I went. 🙂
So curious: who/what is taking your and Ryan’s pictures of the two of you? Whenever my boyfriend and I travel together we always have to resort to the dreaded “hold the camera with one hand as far away as possible” move!
I was wondering the same exact thing!!
Me too!
We use the self timer 🙂
Looks like an unforgetable trip. So beautiful!!
Just found your blog while looking for a lentil recipe! So glad I did, it’s so inspiring. And I love all the photos. Keep up the good work! I’m looking forward to reading more about health and fitness 🙂
Wow! That looks like an incredible place to explore! Ireland and Scotland are still waiting on our travel bucket list to be crossed off so for now, I’m living vicariously through you! Breath taking!
BTW, I love your and Ryan’s pictures together – so cute!
haha timed self shots are so hard, but they always come out fun and cute. 🙂 Ireland is just as beautiful as I’d always thought it to be–can’t wait to someday go there!
I feel like that waterfall alone would have made everything worth it! And I think I might be too immature to travel abroad, because every time I read the word “Dingle” I giggled. 😛
We stayed in Dingle for a week and loved it!!
You’re taking the exact same route that we took! I love Ireland so much, I’m so jealous that you’re there right now!
What gorgeous scenery! So who do you get to take those crazy shots of you and Ryan? I would be so embarrassed to pose like that with a stranger taking the picture. You go girl!
Loooove that you think that wasa goat you saw!!
It’s actually a Black Faced Sheep that’s recently been shared, they can get very road friendly when out loose and there have been many times where the ones up in the area of Scotland I used to live have been chilling on the road on sunny days and quite simply refused to get up for the cars trying to get past 😛
You two are seriously SO cute. Looks like you’re having an amazing time!
Sounds like your trip has been amazing so far! All the food looks amazing and the scenery.. Just breath-taking! My fiancé and I are hoping to go there for our honeymoon!!! 🙂
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Hi! I stumbled across your blog looking for help planning our Ireland itinerary for July. Great info and cute photos 🙂
I have a question for you for planning purposes. We are planning to do the same thing, drive from our B&B in Kinsale to Killarney National Park to do a bike ride/ or just tour around and then on to Dingle town to our next B&B.
I know it will be a long day but is it doable? I am trying not to fit too much in but we are seasoned travelers and road tripped through Europe last year so I am feeling confident. Just wanted to hear your hindsight is 20/20 take on it 🙂 Also, did you take the route from Kinsale through Killarney National Park to Killarney or just straight up the highway to Killarney.
Thanks in advance for answering this if you get the time! I appreciate it! I’ll be following your blog from now on!
Tara