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38 maltatoday SUNDAY 18 MARCH 2018 Travel ≠≠ CITY BREAKS With St Patrick's Day being little more than a hangover today, you may be thinking that Ireland is all pints of Guinness and shots of whisky. Though the Irish have a reputation for holding their liquor, the country is full of wonderful surprises from gorgeous landscapes to a rich history that has left behind iconic castles and strongholds. The county of Kerry is a rugged land with stunning coastal landscapes and rural seaside villages. Get on the Ring of Kerry, a 179km- long road for the most scenic holiday of your life. NEED TO KNOW How to get there There are no direct flights between Malta and Kerry. Air Malta and Ryan Air offer regular flights to Dublin. From Dublin you would have to get a domestic flight into Kerry. Once in Kerry, you would be best off renting a car and travelling along the 179km road by car, stopping off wherever you fancy. Best time to visit The weather is best in Kerry in the summer time. Temperatures are warmer, daylight hours longer and rain showers less frequent. However this is when it is most crowded. Tour buses pack the narrow roads that are dangerously close to the cliffs' edge and scenic view points are crowded. During the spring and autumn, roads are significantly less crowded but the weather may be less co-operative. Dramatic storms and lashing waves may be reason enough to visit when the weather is less pleasurable if you can cope with a bit of rain and wind. Currency Ireland is part of the European Union and uses the Euro. Visas Maltese citizens do not need a visa to travel anywhere within the European Union, including Kerry. Ring of Kerry : Wild rugged landscapes steeped in history TOP SPOTS FOR SIGHTSEEING Perhaps the highlight of the tour, Skellig Michael, is a rocky island that is home to an abandoned 7th century monastery. The Christian monastery was continuously occu- pied from the time it was founded until it was abandoned some time during the 12th century. It be- came, together with the island itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. 12km off the west of the Iveragh Peninsula, there are ferries that cross over to the island from Portmagee during the warmer months. Balleycarbery Castle, 3km from Cabersiveen was built in 1398 but is little more than a ruin. However just a few hundred metres away is a stone fort dating back to 600AD that is well worth a visit. Recently restored, the fort contains walls that are six metres high and three metres thick and are one of the best examples of early medieval stone forts found in Kerry. Kenmare, between the Macgil- lycuddy Reeks and Caha Moun- tains, is a small town that stands out from any other in Kerry. The reason for this is its colourfully painted houses and shop fronts. The Holy Cross Church, conse- crated in 1864, has a beautiful wooden roof and 14 angel carvings, intricate mosaics and stained glass windows that hang over the altar. Check out the stalls on the town square that sell vegetables, cheese, honey, gourmet ice cream, bread, smoked salmon and other artisan produce during Kenmare's weekly farmers' market.