The Brandon, County Kerry

Advantages: The finest mountain in the British Isles
Disadvantages: The weather. 'Fickle' doesn't begin to sum it up.

...Allow me to be all self-referential for a moment. 'The final part of my 'Places In Ireland' trilogy...unless and until I do the whole Douglas Adams 'Trilogy In Four/Five/Whatever Parts' routine.' - Me, 25th January 2008 Well, THAT resolution didn't last very long... Brandon Mountain (3127ft) - (Cnoc Bhreandáin) Brendan's hill In its utmost south-west, Ireland throws out four (if you're fussy, five) peninsulas, like a misshapen and gnarly hand attempting to claw defiantly at the sea. First there is Mizen, hilly rather than mountainous, and something of an hors d'oeuvre. Then, across Bantry Bay, is Beara, a land somehow splicing violently rocky peaks and jagged coastline with verdant gardens and gorgeous loughs. Next, crossing the Kenmare River, we come to Iveragh, scene of our previous visit to Carrauntuohill, spacious from... Read review

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Advantages: A spectacular, lofty peak overlooking one of the fairest of scenes...
Disadvantages: Well, unless you're lazy, none, really

...Grade-A pointy stuff is to be found in the west. Overlooking the County Kerry tourist mecca of Killarney (with its vast array of accommodation, hint hint) is a range of marvellously lofty (and monikered) hills, Macgillycuddy's Reeks, which culminate at Carrauntuohill, Ireland's highest peak. The Reeks are a long, spurred ridge with much ground over the magic altitude of 3000ft (indeed, there's substantially more 3000ft terrain therein than in the rest of Ireland put together), and Ireland's four highest mountains are all located here. Carrauntuohill lies towards the western end of the range, with the main spine running east and two prominent subsidiary ridges (the basis of the Coomloughra Horseshoe, of which more later) fan out to the north and west. In keeping with many mountain ranges, the southern and western slopes tend to be steep... Read review

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Advantages: superb accomodation, beautiful place,very hospitable,ideal for young children.
Disadvantages: A long drive from England

...As a family with young children we had tried various holidays in the past ranging from caravans to hotels, none of which had been remotely therapeutic.We had friends in the South of Ireland so decided to look for something in this area. I had been to County Kerry (south West ireland ) in my backpacking days and remembered it as being very dramatic and beautiful. I booked a week at Kennedy's farm online with no problems.We had to send a deposit and for a week in April May June,September or October the cost was 500 EUROS.In July and August this increases to 750 EUROS. I was a little apprehensive as this was a lot of money especially after counting in the cost of the ferry and the general cost of living in Ireland is not cheap.However when we arrived the accomodation was superb.We didn't use the upper part of the house at all... Read review

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