Bus Hire in Kenmare

Kenmare is a small market town at the head of Kenmare Bay (Kenmare River), where the mountains of the Iveragh and Beara peninsulas meet. The town is the southern gateway to the Ring of Kerry and the eastern junction of the Beara Peninsula circuit, making it one of the best-placed overnight bases for exploring the two great south-west peninsulas. The town itself has a triangular street layout (distinctive in Ireland), a lively restaurant scene, and the Kenmare Stone Circle (a Neolithic stone circle on the edge of the town, the largest in Kerry).

Kerry Airport (KIR) at Farranfore is 45 kilometres north via the N71 and R562 (approximately 45 minutes by coach). Cork Airport (ORK) is 100 kilometres north-east via the N22 (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes). Killarney (25 kilometres north via the N71) is the nearest major hub and rail connection. Kenmare is also the starting point for the Beara Way long-distance walking route and the Sheep's Head Way.

Ring of Kerry from Kenmare

The Ring of Kerry (N70/N71, approximately 180 kilometres circular from Killarney, with the southern section running directly through Kenmare) is Ireland's most famous scenic drive. The standard coach direction is anticlockwise (Killarney out via Moll's Gap to Kenmare, then west along the N70 coast road via Sneem, Caherdaniel, Waterville, Cahirciveen, and back via Killorglin). Kenmare is the natural lunch stop on the southern loop; the town has coach parking on the New Road adjacent to the town square. Key stops on the Ring from Kenmare westward: Sneem (a brightly painted village on the Ardgroom inlet, 27 kilometres west); Staigue Fort (an exceptionally well-preserved Iron Age stone ring fort, 2 kilometres from the N70, 35 kilometres west); Caherdaniel (Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, with a fine beach); Waterville (Charlie Chaplin connections, Atlantic coast, 66 kilometres west from Kenmare).

Beara Peninsula

The Beara Peninsula (R571 from Kenmare westward, approximately 120 kilometres to the tip at Dursey Island and back) is less visited than the Ring of Kerry but arguably more dramatic: the Caha Mountains run the length of the peninsula, with the Healy Pass (a mountain road at 334 metres, 25 kilometres west of Kenmare, on the R574 into County Cork) offering one of the finest views in Munster over both sides of the peninsula. Glengarriff (25 kilometres south-east via the R569, in County Cork) has Garnish Island (also known as Ilnacullin, a formal garden island with peacocks and rare plants, accessible by ferry from Glengarriff Pier) and the Bamboo Park. Coaches can complete the Beara circuit as a full-day excursion from Kenmare; the roads are narrower than the Ring of Kerry, so allow extra time. Dursey Island (at the tip of the peninsula) is accessible only by cable car (one of only two island cable cars in Ireland).

Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunloe

Killarney National Park (25 kilometres north of Kenmare via the N71 through Moll's Gap, approximately 30 minutes) is Ireland's oldest national park (1932), with three lakes (Lough Leane, Muckross Lake, and the Upper Lake) and the Macgillycuddy's Reeks (Ireland's highest mountain range, including Carrauntoohil at 1,038 metres). The Moll's Gap viewpoint (on the N71, 17 kilometres north of Kenmare) overlooks the Upper Lake and the Black Valley. The Gap of Dunloe (a glacially carved gorge between the Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain, accessible from Kate Kearney's Cottage on the N72 at Beaufort, 8 kilometres south of Killarney) is too narrow for full-size coaches but accessible by jaunting car and on foot. Muckross House (5 kilometres south of Killarney on the N71) is a Victorian mansion in the national park with traditional farm exhibits and formal gardens.

What Bus Hire Costs in Kenmare

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Kenmare runs around 265 to 500 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 440 to 845 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 670 to 1,260 EUR per day. Kenmare is a premium scenic market with high demand from May to September. The town itself is small; most coach hire originates from Killarney or Cork with Kenmare as a day-trip stop or overnight base. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your details for a free quote.

Services Available in Kenmare