Discovering Charming Kenmare, Ireland with a Toddler
Kenmare, Ireland just very well be my favorite Irish town.
It’s got everything that I love about Ireland - a quaint downtown, historical pubs with traditional music, the smell of peat burning as you walk down the street and nearby natural beauty.
Kenmare Main Street
It’s also a great place to use as a base for exploring County Kerry with or without a toddler. It’s not as remote as Dingle or as touristy as nearby Killarney, and has so much to offer the average tourist.
What to See in the Town of Kenmare
Kenmare Stone Circle
On our first day in Kenmare, we grabbed Maeve’s stroller and hit the town. Is there a better way to kill time with a toddler than having them run around and climb on ancient stone circles? Despite the drizzle of rain, she loved exploring and playing hide and seek around the stones. Comprised of 15 heavy boulders, these 3,000 year old stones were placed strategically to align with the sun and moon at various times of the year, such as the solstice.
Kenmare Stone Circle
Cromwell’s Bridge in Kenmare Town
Also located in Kenmare proper, Cromwell’s Bridge is another worthwhile spot to hit up. The name is a mystery to locals, since Cromwell, the infamous British commander who fought Irish rebels in the 1600s, never set foot in County Kerry. The arched bridge, while secure, is not able to be walked on, yet it’s still an interesting bit of history and is a quite charming area in which to take photos.
Cromwell’s Bridge Kenmare
Reenagross Woodland Park
Located behind the Park Hotel, a 5 star luxury resort on the outskirts of Kenmare, lies the beautiful Reenagross Woodland Park, a nature preserve that overlooks the bay. We weren’t exactly sure if we were allowed to walk through, or if it was part of the hotel, so we tried our best at avoiding the valet upon arrival, but he engaged us in conversation and asked us where we were from, relieving our fears that we would be kicked out. The park has around 3 km of walking trails, and we took a short hike around the water before Maeve got tuckered out.
Reenagross Woodland Park
Kenmare Restaurants
We found the restaurants in Kenmare very family friendly, with most having a kids menu. Maeve got a kick out of ordering “chicken goujons” instead of the “fingers” we order in the States. We particularly enjoyed our meals at Davitt’s, Mulcahy’s and the Horseshoe.
Kenmare Restaurants
Sights Close to Kenmare That Are Accessible by Car
Uragh Stone Circle
Yes, another stone circle! As it turns out, County Kerry is littered with these ancient slabs and on top of being incredible to witness, they are also veritable playgrounds for little ones. This one is located next to a lake about 25 minutes from Kenmare in Gleninchaquin Park and, when we visited, we were lucky to be on our own to experience the beauty of our surroundings.
Uragh Stone Circle
Day Trip to Killarney
Only a short 40 minute drive from Kenmare is the picturesque town of Killarney. It makes a perfect day trip with a toddler, as there is plenty to see and ample time for car naps, especially if you take your time driving through the gorgeous mountain terrain of Molls Gap. If you do take a day trip, make sure not to miss:
Day Trips from Kenmare
Muckross House - Located in Killarney National Park, this 19th century manor house offers tours and extensive gardens.
Muckross Abbey - a short walk from Muckross House lies the Abbey, which Kevin and I first found and explored back in 2016 (I would bring a stroller). The ruins of the abbey, originally built in 1448 by Franciscan monks, are an excellent spot for toddler roaming. Don’t miss the overgrown yew tree in the ancient courtyard!
Jaunting Tour to Ross Castle - We also took a jaunting tour from the center of Killarney. Basically a horse and carriage ride, this tour took us around parts of the park and to Ross Castle, where we were given time to investigate. Unfortunately our driver had the thickest brogue we had ever heard, and we found it difficult to understand any of the information he was telling us.
Muckross House Ireland
Muckross Abbey Killarney
Muckross Abbey Tree
Jaunting Tours Killarney
Ross Castle Killarney
Ring of Beara
In my opinion, the Ring of Beara is extremely underrated, overlooked by tourists for the more popular Rings of Kerry and Dingle. More desolate and barren than the aforementioned rings, Beara is a 140 km scenic coastal drive that brings you to the edges of Ireland. We loved the spectacular views and the fact that the large coach buses that trudge through the Ring of Kerry and Ring of Dingle are not allowed on Beara. If you have a rental car, I would definitely recommend checking out this lesser known sight.
Ring of Beara Drive
Ring of Beara Ireland