Narrowing things down even further and I'm sure this question may seem crazy to some but here goes. We are doing the Slea Head drive out of Dingle and Mizen Head near Bantry (not on the same day) after lots of reading and suggestions that they are an absolute must. I haven't gotten the impression that the ROK is a must, in fact some folks found it disappointing. Would love to hear from anyone who has been to any or all and what your impressions were. It would save us alot of time if we didn't do it but I don't want to have any regrets. Thanks, as always!

We did all three. There are some nice areas on the ROK, especially the Portmagee and Valentia Island area since the buses can't get down to that area, and if you have lots of time, you might want to drive it. If you have limited time, Dingle and Mizen Head will give you the "better bang for the buck" in my opinion.

I vote with Budman on this. I also have done all three and the ROK would come in 3rd on this list unless you spend the night in Portmagee. If you do and the Wx is nice they have boat trips out to the Skellig Rocks. I you are out on the Mizen Peninsula at lunch or dinner time stop at the Herons Cove in Goleen, great restaurant that overlooks a small harbor. It is also a great B&B. Have fun

Obviously it's a matter of taste and what you like, but both my wife and I are underwhelmed by Ring of Kerry and Dingle after all the hype (although early Christian stuff very good).

Scenically we love the Beara pensinsula (go and see the Dursey Island cable car - check times) and the north end of the Healy Pass. We were even more impressed by Sheeps Head peninsula.

Mizen Head we wouldn't go near again (large car park and visitor centre) but the rest of its peninsula isn't too bad.

Thanks all, that kind of confirms what I was thinking. For the time we could gain and still see amazing scenery on the other drives - we might just give it a pass. Appreciate your comments -cheers!

Should have added that if you are after views go up to the old coastguard station on Brow Head (E of Mizen) near Crokhaven if it's a clear day.

The entire RoK is a long drive and my opinion is that the northern coast is a bit less scenic. We will be making an attempt to do the roads that cut through the middle which I understand is a fantastic combination of mountain and lake scenery. The Gap of Dunloe tour is well worth it if you are looking at some outside time.

The Mizen Head lighthouse is anticlimactic but the walk out to it is very nice. Yes, you are walking on a paved path, but crossing the bridge makes it worth it. I agree that Brow Head is well worth it. As you make the bend around the bay coming into Crookhaven, there is a small road to the right that climbs the hill which looks more like a driveway. Take that to the top and walk to the ruin of a signal house. Another beautiful and short drive is the back (not coast) road from Crookhaven to Goleen. Again, a tiny road climbs steeply from the main road on the north side of the bay. The views from the road looking over the tiny finger that Crookhaven sits on are really quite beautiful. The road is one lane wide with very few opportunities to get out of the way, you may need to park bravely in the middle of the road to enjoy it. Stop at O'Sullivan's in Crookhaven for a pint and dinner at the Crookhaven Inn. This is a non touristy opportunity which can sometimes be hard to find in Ireland. If the tide is in, stop at the Heron's Cove, otherwise the view is of a bit less spectacular mud field. I've stayed there twice and the food and breakfast is quite good. The owner's help are very friendly, but she can be a bit gruff.

Taking the road to the end of the Sheepshead peninsula is a wonderful option, though good weather is a must. There is a wonderful, albeit muddy hike to a lighthouse that sits on the rocks at the edge of the world. If I were to pick a lighthouse to hike to, this would be high on my list. It's about 30 minutes each way. As you get closer, there are a number of options for a path. The one to the left along the rocks is spectacular but not for the feint of heart. Dropping off the cliff into the sea would be an option in high winds.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Thanks Bill for such a detailed response. I guess the answer to my question is there sure are alot of other options. Funny that ROK gets all the attention. I think we just prefer to be off the beaten path!

Well, the RoK is quite beautiful and I enjoy it very much but it requires a full day and the north half just isn't as interesting. There are plenty of little things to do and if you were near there on a day that the seas were calm, a boat trip out to the Skellig Rocks would be a memory that would last a lifetime. The RoK gets a huge amount of bus traffic though which can really detract from the scenic beauty at times. All that said, I'm sure I'll make some more trips around it or through it and in fact, will be there in May.

Bill