Day trips in Kinsale
 

We will be heading to Kinsale in July for a wedding. While most evenings are filled with activites (harbour cruise, rehersal dinner, pub crawl) our days will be to ourselves. Can the Ring of Kerry be experienced in an afternoon? Are there bike rentals and paths in Kinsale? Any suggestions will be helpful. We do have a car.
Thanks

The Ring of Kerry is out of range.

West Cork has much to offer. Just travel westwards along the coast and enjoy the scenery and some charming towns and villages. If you want to make a big circuit, return by an inland route through Inchigeelah and Macroom. Don't miss Gougane Barra.

Blarney (we didn't go up for the kiss, just walked around ground...and shopped at the Blarney Woolen Mills...had a great scone with jam+cream at the cafeteria there)

Midleton Distillery(did volunteer for the taste test...nice lunch)

Cobh(we enjoyed St. Coleman's), took ferry back to kinsale

Charles Fort (in Kinsale)

I second the idea to drive west along coast and explore.

As Padraig suggests, West Cork is easily within range and would would get to Mizen Head or even the Beara Penisula. Don't try and do too much in a day since the roads can be narrow and you need time to enjoy them. I would get a good Ordance Survey map of the area (only have the old series, so don't know the number of the new one). You're most welcome to see my description and pictures of our fantastic West Cork tour:

http://www.hidden-dublin.com/tours/munster_index.html

Have a great time at the hooley!

Peter

Thanks so much for all of your help. Any tips on travel or Kinsale in general would be greatly appreciated. Any opinions on where we are staying: The Captin's Quarters?
Is there a bike rental place nearby?

http://www.cork-guide.ie/

This will help you

We were in Kinsale from May 26 - 29th. We stayed outside town in a holiday home near Old Head.
There is definitely bike rental in town. We rented bikes for the day for 10 euro per person. I forget the name of the shop, but it was next door to Kinsale Silver. I believe there are a couple of places to rent bikes. We biked up to Charles Fort, stopping to have lunch at The Spaniard Pub. We then took the coastal road back - I think it was called the Scilly Road.
Another day, we drove west to Mizen Head and Sheep's Head. I definitely recommend that drive, although it was a long day and may not work for you. You could do Mizen Head and skip Sheep's Head and I think you would be fine. There are wonderful towns along the coast to stop at along the way. Once you get to Mizen Head, you can walk over the suspension bridge out to the lighthouse. The views are spectacular!
Another day, we did go up to Blarney to see the castle. Blarney is a cute town, the castle is interesting, and it was nice to stop at the Blarney Woolen Mills to get our shopping done. We had lunch at the Lemon Tree in town and thought it was very good.
We loved Kinsale and the Cork area. You will have a great time!

Just a drive along the coastal road going down south is wonderful there are many little palces to stop off and take in the views. Make sure you are on the coastal road it self and if you get the chance stop off at Leap and Union Hall that web link I sent you will give you the details. You might also want to take a drive over to Glengarrif,stop off at Bantry bay on the way there or back to kinsale. As Padriag said West Cork has a lot to offer. IMO and this is just my thoughts The Ring of Kerry is overated but love the rest of Cork, an dthe people are wonderful.