Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Farther on, you'll ford a stream. There has never been a bridge here; this bit of
road—nicknamed the “upside-down bridge”—was designed as a ford.
14.9 km:
Pull off to the left at this second group of beehive huts. Look downhill at the
rocky field—in the movie
Far and Away,
that's where Lord Ventry evicted (read: torched)
peasants from their cottages. Even without Hollywood, this is a bleak and godforsaken
land. Look above at the patches of land slowly made into farmland by the inhabitants of
this westernmost piece of Europe. Rocks were cleared and piled into fences. Sand and sea-
weed were laid on the clay, and in time it was good for grass. The created land, if at all
tillable, was generally used for growing potatoes; otherwise, it was only good for grazing.
Much of it has fallen out of use now. Look across the bay at the Ring of Kerry in the dis-
tance and ahead at the Blasket Islands (Na Blascaodai).
16.1 km:
At Slea Head (Ceann Sléibhe)—marked by a crucifix, a pullout, and great
views of the Blasket Islands (described later)—you turn the corner on this tour. On stormy
days, the waves are “racing in like white horses.”
