Ballycarbery Castle
Ballycarbery Castle
4.5
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4.5
374 reviews
Excellent
195
Very good
114
Average
54
Poor
7
Terrible
4
FyingKiwi
Christchurch, New Zealand1,132 contributions
June 2024 • Couples
It was once one of (if not the most) grand castle on the Iveragh Peninsula. It certainly looks spectacular still, with its ivy-covered wall. However, sadly, it can now only be viewed from the roadside as public access to the castle has been closed. Yet it does remain an attraction to see, even at an imposed moderate distance.
Written 4 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andys26
Killarney, Ireland37 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Take the time to get off the crazy busy Ring of Kerry route and go to the North shore of the Estuary at Cahersiveen town for a while. There are 3 very interesting archeological structures there all within 1km of each other and you can walk around all of them. At a mere 500 years old - Ballycarbery Castle is the newest of those structures, the other 2 being 2 ancient Ring Forts circa 1000 years old. McCarthy Mór (which means "Big McCarthy") was the chieftain in this Region in the 1500s. The location of this Castle was very important to a smuggler. A sheltered Harbour and good vantage point to watch ships come and go. His daughter was Sadhbh (pronounced "Sive") was given a fort on the South side of the Estuary, Irish word for "Fortress" is "Cathair" hence Cathair Saidhbhiín, the name of the town - Cahersiveen in English. Great place to stretch the legs, and a blue flag beach (White Strand) is 1.5km from here. Kids love the castle, pretending to shoot arrows out the narrow slit windows at the cows in the fields. Be careful climbing, use your common sense but enjoy. And then either bring a picnic (lots of choices in Cahersiveen) or go back to Cahersiveen for lunch in the town that Sadhbh built.
Written 18 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy C
Sacramento417 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Ballycarbery Castle was one of my favorite things we did in Ireland. It's on the Ring of Kerry and there's a small parking lot, but no guided tour or anything like that. It's a ruin that still has some walls and steps intact. The great thing is that you can climb all over it (carefully) and imagine what the floorplan was. If you've toured other castles, you can guess where things might have been. Of course, like everything in Ireland, it also has beautiful scenery. There are two nearby ring forts which are also worth visiting. We spent probably an hour here, but even if you just stop and take a few pictures it's worth the trip.
Written 1 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cassandra H
12 contributions
Oct 2017
Was there in October of 2016. Went to Ireland for my Honeymoon and while driving the ring of Kerry made a wrong turn and just happened to come across this castle. It is a beautiful site. Be carful sometimes cows will wonder over if they are in the area that day.
Written 19 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vagabond-Sue
County Kerry, Ireland1,034 contributions
Jan 2018 • Solo
What a fantastic castle! Free to see! Used in a few movies, I think! I was there before it closed to the public. There are no fences or handrails,and one kid evidently fell off the castle (it's high!) while scrambling around, so...... now you can just see it from a bit away -- but it's still pretty impressive!!
Near here there are stone forts, viewing platforms, beaches, farms..... it's an amazing area of the Iveragh peninsula - not far off the Ring of Kerry road. Certainly good for a couple of days exploring. Don't rush it!!
A view of the castle I particularly like is from the Top of the Rock viewing platform.... magical on a blue day!
Enjoy!
Near here there are stone forts, viewing platforms, beaches, farms..... it's an amazing area of the Iveragh peninsula - not far off the Ring of Kerry road. Certainly good for a couple of days exploring. Don't rush it!!
A view of the castle I particularly like is from the Top of the Rock viewing platform.... magical on a blue day!
Enjoy!
Written 29 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ch6rlie
New York City, NY172 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
It is beautiful. I'd recommend it if your in a car. By foot I felt it was a waste of energy unfortunately. You can't get past the gate either, or well, are told not to.
Written 14 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bianca Z
19 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
This is such a lovely old castle = ruin of a castle which is
+ free
+ accessible at any time
+ has a free car park
+ looks gorgeous
+ if you are willing to ignore the "don't go beyond this point" sign you can even climb up to the first floor. (I take no responsibility for that)
- you need a car to get there
- if you follow the sign you just get another castle ruin
Tipp: Best go there during sunrise or sunset
+ free
+ accessible at any time
+ has a free car park
+ looks gorgeous
+ if you are willing to ignore the "don't go beyond this point" sign you can even climb up to the first floor. (I take no responsibility for that)
- you need a car to get there
- if you follow the sign you just get another castle ruin
Tipp: Best go there during sunrise or sunset
Written 27 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca H
Gilbert, Arizona, United States7 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
It was beautiful and fascinating, but there isn't a tour or a museum - and I wasn't 100% sure we were allowed to walk up to it and in it, but we did. It was exactly what you'd hope a ruined castle would look and feel like.
Written 22 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rvs-ru
Dublin, Ireland321 contributions
Sept 2013 • Friends
I've visited it 2 times already and every time it was amazing.
Pro tip: ignore the fence and get inside, just be careful and please don't vandalize it.
Pro tip: ignore the fence and get inside, just be careful and please don't vandalize it.
Written 14 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip D
Glen Rock, New Jersey40 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
Visited this castle as a mist approached from the water. Very cool! Hard to find, but every local can give you directions. Great picture taking, but watch your step.
Written 21 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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