The view out over Derrynane Bay, part of the Derrynane Mass Path<\/p><\/div>\n

What else I love about Kerry<\/strong>
\nKerry is made for\u00a0road-tripping. Cruising along the almost empty roads of the Beara, Iveragh or Dingle peninsulas in winter is a journey that is sure to provoke\u00a0sharp intakes of breath as you turn another corner to find godly rays shining down through a crack in the clouds to spotlight the majestic mountains and rocky islet-studded seas.<\/p>\n

And speaking of Dingle, this is another corner of Kerry that I particularly love. An Irish-speaking port town with several excellent seafood restaurants, its very own whisky and gin distillery and more pubs than you could ever hope to visit in one crawl, Dingle is no hidden gem. In fact, it throbs with people during peak season. During our winter visit, it was quieter, though by no means sleepy. The traditional pubs, some of which double as shops, are as authentically Irish as they come, with bar tops lined\u00a0with bags of sprouting potatoes awaiting collection from locals. It’s also unlikely you\u2019ll get through a drink without getting\u00a0caught up in a conversation with your neighbour.<\/p>\n

Why you should go<\/strong>
\nKerry is a best-of-both-worlds destination. It has its vast expanses of lonely, wind-whipped wilderness for outdoor adventure as well, but also has warm and welcoming towns, a fabulous dining scene and salt-of-the-earth pubs where singalong and trad music sessions often last well into the wee hours. It’s as quintessentially Irish as it gets.<\/p>\n

How you can visit<\/strong>
\nThe closest airports are Shannon and Cork, which are anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours\u2019 drive from Kerry, depending on whereabouts you’re going. Dublin Airport, which offers a much bigger flight selection, is about four hours from Kerry by car. And car is definitely the best way to get around here, with a little hiking for good measure.<\/p>\n