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Kenmare to Portmagee driving route

I’m extremely excited that we were able to secure a spot on a boat to Skellig Island this June, but I have two questions about this portion of our trip.

First, we plan on leaving from our accommodations in Kenmare super early to get Portmagee in time for our 9:30 am boat departure. The boat trip ends around 2:30, at which point we plan on driving the rest of the Ring of Kerry and returning to Kenmare for the night.

It appears that the fastest way to Portmagee from Kenmare is via the southern portion of the peninsula (Sneem, Waterville, etc.); however, this also seems like the more scenic route compared to the northern portion of the loop. I know that we won’t have much time to stop for pictures on the way to Portmagee since we will be on a time schedule. Would it be silly to drive back the same way we came and skip the northern part of the loop (Kells, Glenbeigh,etc.) all together? This would also us to stop and explore the areas that we had to drive past on our way to Portmagee.

Or would it be more advisable to take the longer northern portion to Portmagee, allowing a bit of time for a couple of photo stops along the way, and then be able to take our time getting back to Kenmare after our Skellig trip via the southern portion of the peninsula? I guess I’m just wondering if we will miss too much if we don’t drive the entire route. The following day we will drive the Kenmare to Killarney portion of the Ring before making our way to Dingle where we will have a couple of days to explore.

Thank you for your help!

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Suggest minimizing your stress level and just taking the more direct route to Portmagee in the morning, then enjoy a relaxing drive on the way back to Kenmare. There's a short spur called the Skellig Ring Road that hooks back up with the ROK as you leave Portmagee. Very scenic (though narrow in places) with some picture postcard views of the Skelligs from the headlands on a sunny day. There's also a Chocolate factory tucked back along the route that would make for a fun stop, and which for us was a destination in its own right. The route joins the ROK near the picturesque little town of Waterville - another suggested stopping point.
On your drive thru Killarney and on to Dingle I'd suggest stopping at the Gap of Dunloe/Kate Kearney's Cottage, which we thought one of the most scenic little glens in all of Ireland. Can walk the Gap for all or part of its 3.5 mile length (each way) or hire a jaunting car for the trip - a supremely touristy but supremely enjoyable thing to do. You'll use up most of a flash drive taking photos. It really is terrific.